Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-03
CALM BEFORE STORM.
Preliminary Booming al The Democratic
National Convention City.
THE BLANDITEs MOST ACTIVE.
They Claim 1t Is Their Man Against
the FieIa-stone or Bryan Tempo
rary Chairman-Senator Harris
Permanent One.

| Permanent One.
! CHICAGO. July 2.-The proverbal calm
before the storm prevailed to-day. Having
accomplished everything possible in ad-
vance OF the arrival OF a respectable
number Of political delegates on the
ground, the Democratic Bimetallic Ma
tional Committee and those cooperating
with it took a rest from their labors, so
far as meeting or comforting is concerned.
until tomorrow evening, when another
| roundup Of all OF the white-metal sup
porters then in Chicago will be in order.
| The ranks Of the 16-to-l advocates were
reinforced to-day by the arrival Of Dr.
| j. j. Mott. OF North Carolina, who IS
| chairman OF the Executive Committee OF
the Independent new Silver party, form
ed in Washington a year ago. For rea-
sons which he deemed sufficient. and
which he has not explained, the head OF
| the silverites did not take up his abode at
the Sherman House. where the silver
headquarters have been established, but
| instead chose hosiery on the same
street, but couple OF blocks away. From
| here, and without consultation with any
| or the silver people that had preceded
| nun, he sent out an invitation for a con-
| ference on Saturday night OF representa-
| tives OF every party and faction favorable
| 10 silver, including Populists, silver Demo-
Gratis and silver Republicans.
As to what 1t was intended to accom-
| plish by this conference Dr. Mott was
reticent, but the expressions OF sentiment
among those that focked to his quarters
during the day indicated preference Cor
the nomination next week OF such a can
didate as could be endorsed by the Silver
and Populist conventions at ST. Louis
three weeks hence, upon a platform
dealing with no other issue than that of
the free and unlimited coinage OF silver.
The Executive Committee Of the Inde-
pendent Silver party meets here on Satur-
day, and at tomorrow nights meeting or
conference OF the Democratic Blmetallic
Committee and the silver delegates a
committee will be appointed to meet the
Independents with view toward united
action.
THE CHAIRMANsHIPs.
Sentiment among the silver men crys-
tollized to-day IN favor OF the selection
OF either Governor Stone, Of Missouri.
OF w. j. Bryan. OF Nebraska. as tempo.
rary chairman of the convention. with
Senator Isham G. Harris. OF Tennessee
and Major Towles, secretary OF the Ri
metallic Committee. as permanent chair
man ana secretary respectively Tho
story was published this afternoon that
senator Harris had been definitely chosen
as permanent chairman, but at headauar-
ters, In the Sherman House the fact that
no meeting had bene held to-dar was
cited as proof that this was purely guess
work.
Through Senator Jones, tho sllve,
men went on record to-day as opposed 10
the suggestion made by members of the
national Democratic Committee that
Senator d. Il. Hin might prove acceptable
70 Dotn factions as temporary Chairman
senator Jones insisted that, while ner
sonally he had the highest regard for
MS New York associate in tho Senate
chamDer' he could not countenance the
luea OF supporter OF the gold standard
presiding, even II for short whIle onIv
Ster convention that was opposed TO
his Views to !.
senator Hill. he said, would nor ba az.
ceptable to the silver people and con.
sequently there was nothing TO ha gai,ad
~ Iurther consideration OF his alleged
availability. 1''eSu
THE VARIOUS BOOMs
IN the absence Of materIai-in the shane
seicSates with votes-for the making
eI 80 or the winning OF converts. the
boomers expended their ammunition To-
day on the motley crowds that invariahI,
niVaue the hotels on the eve OF a ma
uonai convention. Much after the fash
ION OF the sideshow men at the cir
GUS tney took possession of the rotun-
uds OF the hotels. and held forth 10 those
incnned to listen concerning the r,er,tq
OF their respective candidates. Al ono
tine this afternoon four distinct booros
were IN process OF advocacy ON the
ground moor Of the Palmer House and
the cheers and yells and shouts and trori-
cal Calculations Of the listeners combined
10 create a din that can he 40 nj,
imagined as described. We"
The friends Of Mr.. Bland waro 81. 49,.
active. In addition TO their beadnna ,a.oss
az the Palmer and the Auditorium anne
they opened up rooms TODAY an
the entresol OF the Sherman House wbera
a committee lay In wait TO corral such of
tns arriving delegates as might first seel,
me quarters OF the silver committee
MI BANDS friends were I'm high featbe.
to-day, and while unable. on account ~
the small number OF delegates already
IN slsht to give out any definite figures
insisted that the prevailing sentiment In
the city, and the adyices which thew
were receiving from outside. warranted
them In taking the stand that n vas
Bland against the field, with the field
already giving evidence OF being On the
run.
The friends OF Ex-Governor Boles. how
ever, were by no means disheartened bv
the claims OF the Bland men. and fell
back on the argument that II was votes
rather than shouting that made nominees.
Delegate Brewster OF CrestOn. one OF
the chiefs of the Boies bureau. who had
talk with Governor Altgeld tust before
the latter left for Springfield last night,
quoted him as declaring that he had
not spoken word on the subject OF pres
idsntial possibilities: that ne was no
more friendly 10 Bland than to Boies.
and that the time had not yet arrived
when the Illinois delegation could fasten
Itself TO any one candidate. Out Of this
tho acherents Of the Iowa man managed
10 extract considerable comfort.
THE TWO BIS.
There was more or less talk about the
hotels to-day concerning a ticket made
up OF the two B's-Bland and Boies--but
the Iowans frown down any suggestion
that their candidate would accept second
place. Vice-president Stevenson and
Governor Matthews, Of Indian, were also
talked OF considerably for tho second
place on the ticket. In the event OF the
nomination for the presidency going TO
Mr.. Bland. and late In the day. ex-Gover-
nor Campbell OF Ohio. was talked Of in
tho same connection. Not a single name
OF any person hailing from east OF the
Alleghanies was brought up. however.
and, as one q tire silver people put II.