The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1896-07-10
THE sKiRMiSH LINE.

I
po"ed by a. Compact. Determined ans
tnconqrerabie Minority Significant
Conference between Aitgeid and stone.
CHICAGO. july IA week ia advance
OF the date set for the opening OF the
democratic national convention the
leaders Of the silver element have
donned their armor and girt them.
selves for the coming fray. lcsier.
day the sherman house, where the
white metal headquarters have been
located. resounded with the shouts
and wells OF its advocates, Respondent
IN IL TO badges, buttons and other
Insignia. while its register bore more
distinguished names than have been
inscribed IN the cooks of the hosiery
for a quarter of century.
10 far none OF the principal advo-
Gates Of the gold standard have put
ia an appearance, and consequently
the silver people have undisputed pos
session Of the field. From to-day,
however, the former will begin TO be
IN evidence, and from now on every
day viii witness some new phase o. "a
battle royal between the majority and
the earnest, aggressive and uncon-
querable minority.
The conspicuous feature. OF the
opening of the war yesterday were the
conference between the bimetallic
democratic national committee and
the outside silver men, the meeting
between Governors Stone of Missouri
and Altgeld OF Illinois. and the decla.
ration OF the Illinois delegation in ia.
vor OF the abrogation of the two
thirds rule as essential to presiden.
tial nomination.
As to the first, it was much more
largely attended than had been an
ticipated. in view OF the fact that it
was simply preliminary meeting.
Among those expected, but who had
rot arrived in the city, were ex Con-
gresham Casey Young. OF Tennessee;
ex-speakcr Charles L. Crisp, OF Gcor-
ria, and Allen w. Thurman. of Ohio. I
These, however. were the only con-
spicuous abscntees from a total of 81
state committeeman aud members of
the central executive committee
The preliminary meeting lasted less
than an hour. The situation was in
formally discussed and 1t was agreed
that the silver forces need only 10
work tremendously ia order 10 insure
the adoption of an out-and-out l6-to-l
platform.
What gave the confcrecs the most
concern was the matter Of the tenn
porary organization Of the convention
The fact was dwelt upon that the SEN
tinent Of the national committee WAS
opposed % that OF a ma jOrity OF the
elected delegates. but on the other
hand, II was insisted that il
did not necessarily follow that the
committee would 60 so far as to gain
any advantage or consummate any
strategic stroke in the exercise OF the
authority vested in it. In order to be
on the safe side, however, it was finally
determined TO appoint committee Of
1--we 70 wait up on the executive com
mittee Of the national committee and.
as the resolution diplomatica llv put
X, ITO confer with that body in refer.
cnce to all questions aud matters af
iecting the temporary organization
and proceedings.
This committee, as designated by
senator Harris, who presided over the
conference, Is composed of Senators
Jones, Turpie and Daniel. and Gov
ernOrs stone and Altgcld.
This committee repaired TO the
of the national commit
tee at the Palmer house after dinner,
but were informed by Secretary
>heerin that Chairman larrity would
not arrive until this morning. and
that meeting If the executive com. r
mittce had been called for nocn. The f.,
delegates therefore irrtimated their
desire to be given an audience at two I
o'clock
The conference between Gov. Stone
he leader Of the Bland forces, and
Altgcld. was held behind double closed
ioors in the laticr's quarters at the
sherman house Col. Charles III.
Jones, Of st. Louis, being the only out i
'ider present or within 100 yards Of !
.arshot. The conference was evil
lently prearranged as Gov. Stone y
vent direct TO the Sherman after reg q
steering al the Auditorium. "
Nearly one hour WAS consumed liz u
he conference. and at its Conclusion o
10 one would say a word or breathe a n
uggestion concerning its import Il
Iov. stone. however. appeared TO he il
-. ]
nd insisted that Bland could not be p
ept out of the nomination. Sixteen al
o one, he said. meant Bland: Bland
icant 10 TO /, both meant free silver, Il
nd that was the issue of the day. n,
The news Of the difference spread hi
ulckly around town, and il was a, 81
nee taken for granted that the Bland NJ
saders had made some kind of an al nj
aDce with Gov. Altgcld. at whose N
'ord the 81 votes of Illinois will be n,
ast as he wills it, and as a unit on all =,
ue stions.
Gov Altgcld W as asked point blank :. =,
neither such an alliance had been ef. -, -
,cted, but he merely smiled and an. -
vered that the time to talk had not
rived. The conference created con-
derable uneasiness among the sup. on
)rters of Gov. Boies and some decid. IL,
lily bitter talk was INDUCED in con. III
'rning the alleged antagonism OF =,
ov. Altgeld toward the grand ole -.
an of the Iowa democracy. =.