New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-12
A WHITE HOUSECONFERENCE
FREE-SILvER DEMOCRATS IN WASHING
TON IN STATE OF MIND.
THE GATHERING SECRET AND Mr.. WHITNEY
AMONG THOSE PREsENT-PREPARArIoN
TO CONTROL THE CHICAGO
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBUNE.1


Washington April 11.--Despite their professions
OF confidence in the ability Of free-silver
faction to control the Chicago Convention and
dictate the platform and candidate. indications
are not wanting that the leaders Of that faction
in Washington are already becoming nervous and
apprehensive For several days they have
seemed to feel that there was something In
the wind" which BODIED them ILL., and which they
were at a loss t. explain. The appearance In
Washington OF William Whitney, closely fol-
lowed by that of ex-Postmaster General Bissell
ex-Congressman Caoe. OF Illinois; ex-Consress-
man Bynum OF Indiana. and other Administra-
ton Sound Money Democrats Of more or less
prominence. undoubtedly aggravated the anx-
iety OF the Democrats whose war cry has been
Free Silver or Bust" ard who at the same
time have been profuse with their assurances that
they would not bolt the Chicago platform or
candidate no matter what might happen
But they felt sorely tried to-day when they
heard that plans for their undoing were already
in course Of preparation. From sources when
they regarded as trustworthy several OF them
learned that q secret political conference was
held at the White House last night. which did
not break up until midnight or later the subjects
Of which were the condition Of the Democratic
party and what means and influences could
be cffectlVely emplOyen 10 cOTtTol tHe SHNos"
convention. According to the information re-
ceived this conference attended by num-
Der Of distinguished Sound Money" Democrats.
including Secretary Carlisle. Secretary Lamont
Postmaster General Wilson. ex-Secretary Whit
nev ex- x-Postmaster-Cicnera Bissell. ex-Congress-
man Gable. ex-Congressman Bynum and several
others
or course no free-silver Democrat could be
found who professed to know anything about the
de,oils of the conference but all OF them were or
the opinion that II was an important one and
that the Administration had already begun 10
null the wires TO control the National Convention
In conversation with "A Tribune correspondent
this afternoon one of them hazarded the guess
that president Cleveland is getting ready to be
persuaded TO be candidate for renominatlon.
Another said "The presence Of William G.
Whitney at such a conference was exceedingly
significant after all that has been said by MS
friends about the inharmonious relations De-
tween himself and President Cleveland. and his
own repeated assertions that he would not under
any circumstances be candidate for the Presi-
Dental nomination. Perhaps Mr.. Cleveland
think. Whitney can fix things at Chicago as well
as he did four years ago
Southern Representative said: well. II
Whitney is training with that crowd have no
further use for him. I have been inclined 10
favor his nomination on a conservative platform.
but | cannot. and will not. trust any man whom
President Cleveland chooses as his politcai heir.
That is asking altogether too much would De
glad 10 know by-the-way why Colonel Morrison
vas NOT invited 10 that secret conference. Per-
hans he was invited and failed to attend IL
So II was another exhibition Of his good sound
con,non-sense The Democratic National Con-
vention this year will not be cut-and-dried az
fair run by any man or clique and the majority
will control H. Mark my prediction