Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-07-02
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORTS

hundred to the Grand Army and /, 800 to
the people of Chicago.
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORTS.
/ ehSef Men Determined to Rule the Con-
| vention at Any Cost.
| The committee of five appointed on be-
half of the silver delegates to confer with
the executive committee of the national
committee made its report to the silver
/ delegates at we'll attended meeting held
at the Sherman House. The report was
made by Senator Jones as chairman of the
committee The committee was continued
In existence by unanimous vote The
report covered the facts of the meeting as
heretofore sent out.
| This brought out some very vigorous
speeches, all very much in the same line,
anu all evincing determination to have
the temporary chairman at whatever cost.
Senator-Elect Money, of Mississippi, was
one OF the most outspoken of the speakers.
he TOOK the position that the selection of
| q temporary chairman should not be left
| TO the national committee at all, even
though there should be promise to name
| a silver man, but that the silver delegates
should demand the right to name the
chairman.
Others advised a more conservative
course, and it was informally decided to
leave the matter as the committee had pre-
sented 1t, agreeing to accept any silver
| delegate of recognized standing who
might be chosen by the national commit
tee, in case one such should be selected
There was no abatement. however, in the
| demand for silver presiding officer, the
delegates agreeing that they did not pro-
pose to allow gold man to be put up to
make the opening speech.
The plan of proceeding of the silver
| men in case of the selection of gold stan
dard advocate by the committee was de-
veloped during the course of the meeting
They consider that about one-third of the
members of the national committee are
| silver men. In the event indicated these
members will present n minority report
| naming the choice of the silver men for
presiding officer, whereupo: the contro-
versy will be brought to an issue upon the
| floor of the convention.
The silver men also discussed the ad-
visibility of abrogating the two-thrds
rule in accordance with the recommentla-
tion of the Illinois delegation. No formal
action was taken, but the prependerance
OF sentiment was so strongly against a
| change that it was made practically ceF-
tain that it will not be attempted. This
is due to the fact that it was considered
that such a course will be unnecessary.
| Several members presented figures to
show that the change will not be neces-
sary. These figures on the face of the re-
turns received place the silver strength at
59s as against 1872 gold delegates, but as
surances have been received which lead to
the conclusion that the silver vote will
reach GIL, and it is confidently believed
that the display of so much strength
will bring the few other votes necessary to
| give the required two thirds. These figures
| are independent of contests.
Governor Altgeh was asked whether he
would accept the temporary Craftsmanship
of the Democratic convention in case he
| should be chosen by the silver forces and
replied that he would not. II would not
have it under any circumstances" he said
"a presiding officer, if he is an honest
man, can be nothing but n figurehead. l
want to be where 1 can do something, and
would not surrender my place on the floor
for the honor, however great