Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-15

posters, samples of which they proceeded
to paste every available space. These
ICSterS We're of ali aggressive yellow hue,
which caught the eye from distance, and
their flaming red letters announced that
Were for gold" The Massachusetts men
have resorted to this spectacular device to
impress their financial views upon the con-
vention, intending also to plaCard the town
with their announcement and to keep in
circulation the banner with the allitera-
ton.
''Solid as gold for Reed.
SOLID as Reed for gold
A Group of Silver Men.
The reverse of the financial picture was
furnished by the silver men, who were
among the earliest to gather in the lobbies
of the Planters, retreating to an alcove,
where a dozen of them drew their chairs
into circle for consultation. In the group
were Hartman of Montana, a Congress-
man and also a delegate; Towne of Min
ncSota, another member of Congress- who
carries no convention credentials, but came
a free lance, to forward the cause of the
white metal, although his state delegation
is pledged to gold; Bryan, the Nebraska
democrat. one of the silver wheel horses of
the last Congress, who stands very close
to Bland, as well as sundry lesser lights.
While turning cool. face to the interview
er at this stage of their campaign, these
| men indorse the declaration by Hartman.
that We want them to be right or to be
honest which, from the silver point of
view bears the Interpretation that the con-
vention is desired to make a 16 to / free
coinage plank or to adopt the single gold
standard.
Their early morning efforts We're turned
to the attempted conversion OF several
southern delegates whose money predilec-
tions still bear an Interrogation point. Mr..
Towne doubts the ability of the republicans
to poll anything approaching their normal
majority in Minnesota on any platform
which does not do something for silver.
Day of Platform Agitation.
Today promises to be one of platform agi-
taton. The three-cornered fight has drawn
the lines very sharply. The men from the
east who are demanding gold in the plat
form, are very determined, and such men
as Platt Lodge and other opponents of
Mckinley seem to feel that they are plac-
ing Mckinley in a hole by insisting that
an emphatic gold declaration shall be
made. Their program is to force the fight
in the committee on resolutions, and, if
they cannot win in the committee, to carry
it to the floor of the convention.
Lodge, the Reed manager, is to lead the
fight for a gold declaration. If 1t is not
granted he and his friends and other Reed
men have a faint hope that tine refusal to
put gold in the platform will soldify the
gold vote on Reed. But the fact that so
| many Mckinley men are for gold gives rise
to the hope that the gold men may be sue
cessful.
1t has been the effort of the friends of
Mckinley to avoid fight on the floor of
the convention between the two factions,
preferring the single standard and against
| free coinage. There has been a drift to-
| ward a moderate expression in favor of
gold, and there is quite a pressure from
several states for declaration against
free coinage, and not to have the word gold
used in the platform at all.
Senator Lodge, who drafted a gold
declaration. and 1t is ndorsed by repre-
| sentatives of a number of states, has been
| pressing his plank with a great deal Of
persistency,an has irritated some of those
who would prefer a milder declarat ation.
Gen. Grosvenor of Ohio said this morn
| ing: 1--WE know that there is being a great
declaration. The probabilities are that no
| one will know what the financial plank will
| be until the committee on resolutions re-
Port. 1t may be that the fight as to the
| the convention The financial plank will
| be what we want, and that is all there Is
| to it,
| The Question of Bolt.
The silver men were at first disposed to
aid the ultrs-gold men in securing the
| straightest kind of a declaration, but there
| is indication that they are not quite
| so enthusiastic in that direction as at first
| There are some who seem anxious to
| make dramatic exit from the conven-
| ton hall, but a count up to date finds A
number OF Waverers and the probability
that there would be representatives of all
delegations left on the floor makes the
proposed grandstand play seem little
! doubtful to the effect. There is a dis
| position toward moderation among some
! prominent silver men which may make the
bolt less pretentious than advertised.
Among the Anti-Mckfnley Men.
In the headquarters of all of the candi-
dates for the presidency who are opposed
| to Mr.. Mckinley there was this morning
/
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