The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-07-07

The national committee today select
ed Senator Hill for temporary chair
man and passed upon all the contested
cases which were brought before IT,
Unlike the action Of the Republican
committee at st. Louis, It refused to
admit members OF the press to the
sessions Of the committee. and its pro-
ceedings were entirely behind closed
doors. The committee decided to take
up the contested cases first. There was
little interest manifested in them with
the exception Of the Michigan and Ne
braska cases. These. It was expected,
would determine the relative strength
of the gold and silver men on the
committee. The Nebraska case was
settled in favor Of the gold men by a
vote of 2s to %. which was about
test vote, as was shown later by the
vote for temporary chairman. A MEM
Der Of the committee who was in favor
Of the gold delegation and voted with
the majority, said the case was very
peculiar and that it was very hard to
tell which side had the regularity, al
though II was his opinion the gold men
had a long series of precedents and
should be seated. The contest. how
ever. was decided on a straight vote
as TO the preference Of members Of
the committee as 10 the gold and silver
delegations. The probabilities are the
convention win seat the silver delega-
tion. The action Of the committee in
seating the gold delegation from Michl-
gan was a surprise TO the silver men.
But one vote was cast against placing
the gold delegation on the temporary
roll, and that was cast by Campau,
who is one Of the silver leaders Of
Michigan. Thomas, Of Colorado, made
a motion TO seat the gold delegation,
and AZ members Of the national COM
mittee voted to do so. In view OF the
threats that have been made by the
silver men that the four delegates-at-
large from Michigan would be seated
in order to cast the vote Of that state
for silver and secure a two-thirds ma
jority in the convention. il remains to
be seen what action they will take, now
that the silver men on the national
committee, with one exception, voted to
seat the gold delegates
The other contests were OF minor /
Importance and the decision in each
case was in no sense a test. The i'm !
portant feature of the meeting of the /
committee was the selection of the tenn /
portry chairman. As has been
predicted, Senator Hill received
majority Of the votes Of the committee,
and tomorrow when Chairman Harrity
calls the convention to order he will |
present Hill for temporary chairman.
The vote in the committee, % to 2S, /
showed the silver men were not salts /
fled, and the announcement was i'm .
mediately made that a minority re |
port would be presented, and Mr.. Dan I
iel, who was defeated in the committee, /
would be the choice Of the silver men 1
for temporary chairman. This means
that there will be fight in the conven-
tion as soon as the chaplain finishes his
prayer.
There was an interesting scene in the
committee after Hills selection, when
Thomas announced the determination
of the silver men to elect another man,
and inquired of Chairman Harrity if
the silver man would be recognized to
place another man in nomination, a
question which Harrity resented as a
reflection upon his fairness.
Both the gold and silver delegations
from South Dakota were ordered plac-
ed on the roll by viva voce vote,
each being given half vote,
The Populist leaders today issued the
manifesto in behalf of Sem
ator Teller:
Upon the eve Of action by the Dem
ocratic national convention about to
assemble, we find the situation such
that we deem it proper to address all
friends of free silver coinage and flnan-
cial reform in the United States. As
members of the peoples party we have
a position merely of careful
and have not attempted
to, nor shall We attempt to dictate to
the national convention. If the Demo-
CONTINUED on Fourth Page.)