The San Francisco call., 1896-07-04
Platitudes Are Not to Have a
Place Among Those Who
Prepare Planks.
RIVAL CHIEFTAINs ARRIVING.
Gold Forces Headed by the New
Workers. Propose to Fight to
the Last Ditch.
HEADQUARTERS UNITED PRESS,
HERALD BUILDING.


1t looks as though the Chicago Demo-
cratic Convention would be quite as lop-
sided as the recent Republican gathering
at st. Louis. There has been no break to-
day In the monotony OF the signs and
tokens of what is to happen. 1t is to be
free silver convention. Moreover, with
surprising unanimitY the controlling men
of Eastern and Southern delegations have
declared their preference for Teller.
Nearly all his associates OF former asso-
ciates in the Senate who believe in free
coinage are giving him their support.
The list includes Turpie of Indiana, Jones
of Arkansas, Harris OF Tennessee, Walsh
OF Georgia, Chiffon of Texas and Cockrell
of Missouri.
When the Eastern delegates and friends
of the gold standard reach Chicago they
Will lind the silver men have absolute con-
troll of the situation.
Conferences have been frequent during
the day. Out of all this consultation but
one concrete fact seems to have been
evolved. The platform will be concise,
short and clear cut, without so much as
an ambiguous word that can be miscon-
strued into meaning anything other than
an out and out declaration for the free and
unlimited coinage of silver at ratio OF 16
to 1.
Senators Jones of Arkansas, Bate and
Harris of Tennessee, Blackburn of Ken
tucky, Tillman of South Carolina and
Cockrell of Missouri, Senator-elect Money
OF Mississippi, Representative Richardson
OF Tennessee and Hon. John r. Mclean
have been in conference during the day,
and all are agreed that the financial plank
shall be given that prominence which its
importance demands, and that its text
shall be so short and its meaning so fixed
and determined that he who runs can
read it understandingly.
"Platitudes will be eschewed by this
convention," said Senator Jones of Arkan-
sas to-day. "The silver men represent
the plain people Of the country, the think
ing masses, and our declaration will be
such that no man can jugg.e with its
meaning or seek to represent it as some
thing that it is not. This convention is
to be run by the silver men; we are in
control and everything that is done will
be by the consent of the majority only.
This situation might as well be accepted
by the minority at once. The minority
viii be accorded all its rights and will be
part and parcel of the Democratic con-
vention, but the voice of the majority is
the voice OF the party in the convention"
When asked if he had any fear of the
delegates being weaned from their allegi-
ance to silver, Mr.. Jone replied with a
negative that was emphatic and con-
vincing as to the sincerity OF his own
views.
''If the gold men are hoping to be sue
cessful in proselyting among the silver
men," he continued, lit is high time they
understood the character of the timber of
which this convention will be constructed.
The delegates to the convention are men
who can neither be bought nor bulldozed.
They are Iirm in the faith and nothing can
shake their loyalty to the cause which they
put above oil other political questions
Long months ago when we first organized
the silver movement in Washington we
took care to provide against such infu-
ences, and wrote our people in every dis
trict to see that strong men were selected
as delegates
While there seems to be 10 concentra-
ton upon any one for temporary chair
man, the general opinion is that either
Senator Harris or Representative Richard
son, both of Tennessee, may be made
permanent chairman and that Senator
Blackburn of Kentucky may be tempo
rary chairman. All these gentlemen
are good parliamentarians, Mr.. Harris
having been president pro tempore of the
Senate, Mr.. Richardson a frequent and ex-
perienced occupant of the Speakers chair
during the two terms of Speaker Crisp, and
Mr.. Blackburn having frequently presided
over the Senate.
Concerning the report that the National
Committee intended to attempt to force
gold standard man upon the con vention
for temporary chairman Mr.. Richardson
said to-day:
Nothing of the kind will be done. OF
course, we recognize the fact that the
committee, as at present constituted, is
against silver, but the committee will be
very apt to remember, also, that the con-
vention is largely the other way. If it de-
cldes by majority vote to recommend to
the convention gold man the minority
OF the committee will offer substitute
naming silver man. When the commit
tee makes its report to the convention this
substitute will be offered, and substitute
is always voted on first The substitute
VIII De adopted, and If there Is to be a
brush about this question it will be sho rt
and quick and result in sweeping VIC
tory for the silver men,
Governor Altgeld's idea that the con-
vention can complete its work in one day
is secuted by experienced politicians.
One ofthem said this afternoon that while
he was in favor of reasonable haste, he
recognized the fact that 1t REQUIRED time to
carefully transact the business of Ma
tional Convention. The platform would
cause some debate, depending entirely
upon the pleasure of the convention, exer-
cised through the gavel of the chairman.
1t Is not improbable that some prominent
person representing the gold side of the
question will be selected to sntagonize the
report of the committee on resolutions,
and with that single speech discussion
will end. This will be accomplished by a