Evening star., 1896-07-07
SOME SIDE CHANCES
Views Of the Convention in Session
at Chicago.
IT PROMISES TO Be MEMORABLE
Only One Thing That Can Be
Taken for Granted.
S REMACY OF SILVER
Special From a Staff Correspondent.


which assembled today, promises to be ore
of the most memorable in the history of
the country. 1t is more than the peer of
the st. Louis convention in the way Of
individualities and eccentricity. There Is
nothing that can be taken for granted
about it. except that 1t is rank-wild on
silver and nothing can interrupt It's course
In that direction. In ever other respect
1t is paradoXical, and In some respects
contradictory. 1t is a silver convention;
convention of the silver party. AS such it
promises to be a success. Any attempt
on the part of those in control to make it
seem anything else is simply a ridiculous
trlfilng with terms. To be thoroughly con-
sistent and homogeneous in It's organiza-
ton the silver republicans and populists
should be represented in it and partici-
pate directly as they do indirectly in its
proceedings.
The primaries resulting in the election
of a majority of silver delegates were con-
Quoted under the direction and with the
assistance of a thoroughly silver organiza-
tioE-a national committee, state and coun-
~ committees, and Independent of the ma
lCnai democratic organization. This sill
yer organization was composed Of demo-
Gratis exclusively, but 1t did not take In
Oil ueiiioCfdtS Inc test Tor ASSOCIATION
with 1t was not only that all democratic
doctrines should be subscribed to, but that
the doctrine of free coinage of silver
should be indorsed. Possession of all the
rest of the democratic faith was not suffi-
cient without silver. Devotion to silver
vas the supreme test. Every gold man,
however, strong his democracy was ex-
Guided from such an Organization The
h,t
cipie and majority of the delegates elect
ed. The functions of the preliminary sill
yer executive of national committee ended
with the election of the delegates, but il
was Immediately replaced by the appoint
inent Of committee, composed Of one
member from each state, having slye.
delegation. That committee is now the au-
thofity in this convention, and will be un-
Iii d new committee is selected in the usu,u
way with representative from each state
III winch the silver men will have a large
majority. The present silver committee
ior ali practical purposes, takes the place
Oh the regular democratic national commit
tee, whose term does not expire until a
new committee is appointed. They have
really superseded the national committee.
making silver the test for everything. The
geld men are given no voice. and no part
IN the organization, and the authority of
the silver committee is recognized as su-
perior to that of the regular national COM
nittee. AT every step of the proceedings
silver Is made the test article of faith
Every other doctrine is subordiuated so
that any silver man, however he may diff
fer from old-tme democrats on other oues-
tlons, is eligible to the organization which
the convention represents. They are not
willing to call it convention of the silver
party, but the facts speak plainly for
themselves. 1t is fully expected that every
silver man, democrat, republican or popu-
ilst VIII rally under the banner raised by
this convention.
oy lhe actlon OF the rival committees
last evening the question was suuarelv
presented TO the convention as to whether
the authority of the regular Democratic
organization or that of the silver organiza-
uoh should be recognized. 1t was a radical
step Tor the silver men to take when they
decided to turn down the national commit
tee. 1t was almost the last step necessary
TO establish the fact that this convention
lacks some of the elements TO entttle if Ia
oe regarded strictly as an oid-line demo-
cratic convention.
II was not without struggle that the
silver men We're brought to take this sion
1t brought more confusion into their ranks
than has anything that had before han
Pe1.ed. The action was rendered the more
significant by the fact that Hill is very
popular among the men who are now fight
ing him, and that the single objection to
MS being temporary chairman was his nor
agreeing with them on silver 1t was un-
derstoou among the silver men before they
decided on this course that Hill could he
trusted not to say anything which might
lnJure the party in the fight to come They
had no rear OF him. but they simply would
not recognize any gold man as entitled f.,
consideration.
Alter 1t was decided on the men of cooler
Judgment set about to see if it could not
be adjusted before the convention met this
morning. Men who have been great lead
ers in the democratic party up to a few
short weeks ago are utterly without stand
Ing with the present organization. They
are not treated with consideration nor re-
spect. More than that, Taubeneck and
Jerry Simpson; Dubois, Hartman and
Towne; Stewart and Jones and NeWlands
of Nevada-populists, republicans and in
dependent silver men-have more influence
| In this convention than have Hill, Whitney
Fellows, Flower, Pattison, Don NJ Dickia-
son, w. E. Russell or any Of the other old
line democratic leaders Of the east The
latter are democrats, but not silver men,
The former are silver men, but not demo-
Gratis. Between the two the silver men are
chosen for associates and advisors.
Hills Work for Harmony.
Hills entire time at Chicago has been
devoted to bringing about some sort Of
show of harmony in the party. At once on
his arrival he abandoned all idea of being
able to convert the silver majority. His
one idea has been to make 1t possible for
all democrats to at least give a nominal
support to the ticket of this convention
and to prevent bolt. He has tried to
soothe the spirit Of personal antagonism
and has tried to hold his own people down.
while trying to reason with those on the
other side. He believes he has accomplish
ed one thing-that he has prevented an
actual bolt Of the gold forces. Some indi-
viduals will either leave the convention or
else announce Immediately after the nomi-
nation that they will not support the tick
ct, but 1T Is the belief Of both Mr.. Hill and
Continued on Ninth Page.)