Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-06-12

Hanna as Silent as "Bill-the-
Stilr'-Thurston for Permanent
Chairman.
st. Louis, Mo-, June 11.-None of the
large delegations have arrived in the
city yet. The delegates now in the city
are simply those who have come ahead
of the State delegations to arrange mat
ters for the delegations from States
where there may be contests.
Henry Cabot Lodge, who is talked of
for chairman of the committee on plat
form and resolutions, has telegraphed
to Murray Crane, the national commit
teeman from Massachusetts, to rally the
friends of the gold standard. Mr.. Lodge
said that no evasion would be tolerated,
and that straddle would be disgrace
full
The Indiana platform, he said, de-
clares for the best money known to the
world, and pronounces emphatically
against the free and unlimited coinage
of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1. 1t has
been suggested to amend this declara-
ton by striking out the words, AT a
ratio of 16 TO l" so that the paragraph
would read "Unalterably opposed TO the
free and unlimited coinage of silver"
1t was agreed that if the words AT
ratio OF 16 to L. were kept in the plat
form. ii might be construed to mean
that the Republicans were in favor OF
the free coinage of silver at some other
ratio. There has been so much talk
about the Indiana platform that the
suspicion gained ground that the Nc
Kinley people were in favor OF it. Moth
ing definite or authoritative, however,
can be had from those supposed to rep
resent Mckinley. The supporters OF
the Ohio man from the East declare that
Mckinley is in favor of the gold stand
ard. The supporters of Mckinley from
the West insist that he is in favor Of
the largest use of silver consistent with
the maintenance Of the parity Of the two
metals. Mr. Hanna, who could settle
the uncertainty in few moments, de-
ciines 10 speak. There is no doubt that
the dispute will be taken into the con-
vention. 1t cannot be settled in the
committee.
There is demand from some sections
that the platform should declare for an
international agreement and pledge
the party to take steps to bring about
such an agreement. This is the pea of
some of the Eastern States, where it is
claimed that the party might be able to
run against a free coinage declaration
by the Democrats. Yhere is another
body that does not want more said than
to declare against free coinage without
an international agreement, and 20 say
nothing more.
More than a week ago there was sent
out TO the papers various forms Of tinan-
cial planks and int!matiOns made that
it was a form of declaration which was
wanted. Platforms are coming in from
every part of the country. The more
the matter is considered the more
probable il appears that the national
platform will conform closely TO that of
the Indiana convention, with all refer
ence to a ratio stricken out. The In
diana platform declares against the free
and unlimited coinage of silver at
ratio of 16 1" 1t is proposed to cut
off the sentence quoted and ED with
a straight declaration against free
coinage. 1t is quite apparent that
there is a determination TO make the
platform for the single gold standard.
I Of inO E.,a u
plank satisfactory to Teller has been
abandoned.
Others features of the platform are
also under discussion, especially the
tariff plank. While declaring for the
American system of protection, it is
quite probable that the Ohio platform
will be closely followed. AT least that
has been the talk among the Mckinley
leaders whenever the tariff plank has
been mentioned The deficiency in rev.
enues will be declared attributable to
the Inefficient tariff.
The main interest centers upon the
currency plank and next in order Of
importance is the tariff and these are
the only themes that have thus far been
discussed.
All the talk about chairman or the
national committee for the campaign
results in the one conclusion that Hon.
Marcus A. Hanna will be selected if he
will consent to take the place. 1t has
been about definitely settled that c. w.
Fairbanks. of Indiana, will be the tenn
porary chairman o. the convention.
There seems to be determination to
make Senator Thurston, OF Nebraska,
the permanent chairman Of the conyen-
ton. Mr. Thurston had expected to-
make the first speech, seconding the
nomination Of Major Mckinley. 1t is
possible that even should he be perma-
nent chairman, he will also make the
seconding speech for Mckinley.
Discussing the probabilities as to the
nominee of the convention for the Vice
Presidency. Hon. Henry c. Payne, ma
tional committeeman from Wisconsin,
said today that the nomination would
in all probability go East, and he
thought it would be thrown to either
New Jersey, New York or Pennsyl-