, 1896-07-03
THE DEM. CONVENTION.
MUCH SPECULATION CONCERN
ING THE BOURBON MEET
ING IN CHICAGO.
Trouble Over the Selection Of the Tenn
porary Chairman-Silverites De-
mand That They be Allowed to
Name Everybody and Everything
Rich New Workers Coming.

Chicago. July 2.-The executive COM
mite of the national democratic n
vention has decided to recommend to
the full committee that they proceed
in the usual way to designate a man
for temporary chairman of the national
convention.
1t is not yet determined whether the
executive committee will assume the
responsibility of naming the man for
this place, and that matter is still I'M
der consideration.
The decision to recommend this
course has been arrived at not in de-
fiance of the request of the silver men
but it is claimed because it is in ac-
cordance with the precedents in the
party. Still there are evidences that
the members of the committee resent
the demand of the silverites as with
out warrant, and it is believed they
have reached the point where they pre-
fer to take the chances OF an open fight
in the convention to submit tamely 10
what they look Upon as an unjustified
effort at d%ictation.
There is no doubt that if the full
national committee accept the recon-
mendation it will result in the precipi-
tation of a lively skirmish on the
floor of the convention, on the thresh-
old OF its proceedings. The silver men
are quite determined upon this point,
and show no disposition to yield I'M
less a pronounced and well-known sill
yer man should be named by the ma
tional committee, which there is now
no reason to believe will be the case.
II a gold man is selected. the silver
minority of the national committee will
bring in a report recommending a sill
yer man. and the first contest between
the gold and silver forces will be fought
out there and then.
HARRITY'S POSSIBLE COURSE
1t has been intimated that in Ease
affairs reach this stage, Chairman
Harrity Of the national committee will
refuse to order a general call, and will
arbitrarily seat the gold candidate.
Mr.. Harrity's friends say. however.
that he will not assume that the case
is not in accord with the precedents
and with his ideas Of fairness to all.
The silver men refuse to believe that
he would pursue such a course: but
shake their heads ominously when
asked what would result II he should.
The gold men on the national COM
mittee are united upon a man for pre-
siding officer. but they discuss names
more fully than the silverites, men
tioning those OF Senators Hill and Viii
as. and Of Mr.. Hugh Wallace, member
Of the national committee from the
state of Washington and son-in-law Of
Chief Justice Fuller OF the United
States court.
There is liable to be a division among
the gold forces Of the committee, with
the administration gold men consti-
tuting one faction and the anti-admin-
istration gold men the other faction.
Senator Hill heads the latter wing
and Senator Villas and Mr.. Wallace the
former. 1t is claimed that Senator
Villas is not anxious for the place, and
there is a tendency of the administra-
ton men to unite upon Mr.. Wallace. 1t
is believed that he would be willing to
accept the honor Of the nomination.
taking his chances in the convention
In a contest with the silver men. The
administration men are largely in a
majority of the gold men, and 1t Is
claimed eve have a majority of the
committee against both the silver men
and the anti-administration gold men.
There is, however, a belief among mem
bers of the committee that Senator
Hill might prove acceptable to the sill
yer people. and in case they would sig
nifty a willingness to accept him. he
might be named as a compromise can
didate nv the committee.