The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-07-03
ALTGELD IS DICTATOR.
SILYERIIEs ENTIRELTDoMiNATED
 BY THE FREAK BOSS.

Tillman's Ranting-He is Altgeid's Only
 Rival-The Name of Demooraay Used for
 Altgeldism and Populism-The Silver
 ties Making Great Clatter--AIaking All
 the Noise Now.
 Chicago, July 2.--The hotels are flll- ing fast and the temperature is rising fast likewise. Everything indicates ia hot time" and the rule of misguided ranters here at the convention. Cover nor John r. Altgeld is the leader and guiding splrit-the power behind the throne. Said the Evening Sun last night:
 This man who. sworn to uphold law, has pardoned anarchy and connived at riot, stalks through the various politi- cal headquarters with a manner appro- priate to one who owns a show and directs the performance. And in all the planning of the silver men there Is no mention of the democratic party, It's principles, no allusion whatever to its past record or it's possible future, neither respect nor reverence for it's customs and traditions.
 The one question that seems to con- cern the Bland boomers, the Boies shouters and all the other factions of the silver men is, What is Altgeld go- ing to do? And following meekly at the heels of this political freak, com ing and going at his beck and call, changing their plans and convictions to meet his wishes, expressed or implied, are men whom the democratic party once delighted to honor, and who were once power in the defence of the prin- ciples it represented. Here are Isham G. Harris, United States senator from Tennessee, relic from the days of
 lckson and Van Buren; Jones of Ar | kansas, Cockrell of Missouri Turpie of Indiana and Daniel of Virginia, all fol- lowing the lead of Altgeld, and seem inglV not ashamed of it.
 It may sound harsh to call 1t anarchy, socialism or civil revolution, but the silver craze in evidence here seems to be compound of all three. There is no argument; no reasons are advanced for the proposed change in the tinan- cial system of the country; the battle cry is simply, Down with the money power of the East!' Not man of them from Altgeld down to the shout CTS in the ranks apparently cares a rap for the democratic party. They would smash it into smithereens if they could. These are some of the reasons why this gathering seems but mock cry of a democratic convention. The l name of the party is used merely as a motive to draw the wavering, hesi- tating few into line for Altgeldism and populism.
 To-day the silver men apparently have everything their own way. They are here in large numbers, while mere handful of sound money men are on the ground. The latter are sparring for time awaiting the arrival of reinforce | ments from the east, expected ir large | numbers tonight and tomorrow. The gold men here are not yielding an inch and talk bravely, even hopefully, of l the fight they are gong to make, but l the odds are against them, It is doubt l full if the coming of MT. Whitney, Sena- l tor Hill, ex-Governor Russell and the l other democratic leaders can change | the result which the silver men have | already mapped out The sound money | members of the national committee who are here to-day are devoting theil | time and attention to the details oi | arrangements for sounding the conyen- l tion They admit that there Is little o1 | nothing they can do to change the po- l litical situation while so few of them are on the ground. They have not abandoned or even changed any part oi their original plan. They propose to go ahead and present the name of Sen l ator Hill for temporary chairman, and I to urge the adoption of the money l plank of the New York state platform 1 as the financial declaration of this con vention
 They are hopeful of change in tils | situation after the arrival of Senator | Hill and MT Whitney, but are not sure l of it. Already the question is arising l as to what form the protest of tn, sound money democrats will take.
 John W. Tomlinson, leader of the fret
 silver delegates from Alabama, wht
 has been here for three days attend
 ing all the silver conferences, in speak ing of the proposition to make Senator
 Hill temporary chairman, said: "Th,
 
 objection to Senator Hill, but Cover
 nor Altgeld does not want him, and
 suppose that will settle 1t. The gover
 nor would like to have the place him
 self, but he is keeping quiet about if"
 It was the southern delegates tn,
 sound money men expected to win ove by argument and appeals to thei party loyalty, but it seems that what
 ever Altgeld wants is good enough fo
 them. Senators Jones and Daniel
 were at first disposed to accept Hill al
 temporary chairman, but they hay
 fallen under the baneful influence o
 the boss of the silver men. Pitchforl
 Ben Tillman Is here, and he, too i
 working hand in hand with Altgeld
 but is trying to outdo the latter in ex
 treme and vicious talk The silve
 men held long caucus late last nigh
 and decided among other things tha
 they would control the convention iron
 start to finish.
 They will also issue a manifesto to
 day or tomorrow, and some of tn
 sub-leaders have proposed to hold
 conference on Monday to agree on
 candidate. This plan is said to be ia
 vored by Altgeld. and If so it will g
 through.
 The question of abolishing the two
 third rule for nominations is still unde
 discussion, but it will not be done un
 less the rabid free silver men find i