New-York tribune., 1896-09-02
PRICE THREE CENTS!
AN ARMY FOR SOUND MONEY
GOLD DEMOCRATS ASSEMBLE
ALL PARTS OF THE UNION REPRE-
SENTED AT INDIANAPOLIS.
BRAGG AND BUCKNER THE FAvoRITE TICKET
NUMBERS AND EARNEsTNEsS THE FEATURES
OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATS BIG
GATHERING - NETWORKS
SOLID DELEGATION
SOLID DELEGATION
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrsuNE.l


SOLID DELEGATION.
lBY TELEGRAPH THE rRrsuHE.I
indianapolis. Sept las far as a numerous
and representative attendance rnestness Of
purpose and fixed determination to accomplish
what 1t set out to do concerned, the Indian
apois Convention Of sound-money Democrats
will pass into history as one OF the NEST re.
markable incidents In the political history of the
decade. While there will not be as many people
here as there were at the Convention which
nominated Bryan and Sewail. and while the abb
sence of brass bands. marching clubs and torch
light professions may suggest to the unthink.
ing mind lack of enthusiasm the one will be
more than compensated by the character and
influence Of the men comp 'ng this gathering
and the other will be h; led with satisfaction. II
not delight, by all sensible people. No political
movement. certainly has ever shown in its in
ception and the early period Of its existence
greater vitality or stronger promise of healthy
growth than this has.
SUCCESS ALMOST PHENOMENAL
When the managers of the new. or. II you
will, rehabilitated. party look back to July
20. the day which four Indiana scund-money
Democrats met in this city. d upon their oyn
responsibility sent to representative sound
an invitation to meet In Chicago three days
later and take such steps might seem neces-
sary to preserve the integrity of the Democratic
party. they may be excused for regarding the
success which has attended their labors as
phenomenal - great National party surely.
with compact organization in nearly every
State never before sprang into life inside OF
one month. The movement which. few days
ago only. spoken of in the East IN terms
os pompous incredllity and belitted with crush
ing condescension. is more than likely to play
an important and decisive part in the coming
campaign. 'lf any one is sceptcal to the
vitality of this movement" exclaimed John r.
Wilson. secretary o. the National Committee,
to-day. "let him call to mind what has been
accomplished IN thirty days" 1t sounds like
boast, but it would be useless to deny that
1t rests on solid foundation.
CROWDS FILL THE HOTEL LoBBIEs.
Within the last twenty-four hours the city has
taken on a different look Where yesterday one
OF two delegates formed the centre Of group OF
inquirng spaper men in an otherwise desert
ed hotel lobby there are to-day crowds surging In
AMI out Of the Denison. the Grand. the Bates and
other headquarters Since late last night the
trains have brought IN delegation after delega-
tion and early this morning the streets were alive
wi yellow badges and gded bugs worn on the
coats OF the visitors.
Many well-knovn figures appeared In the
crowd-fgures that had been seen in Chicago In
July or had become familiar to attendants at
Democratic National Conventions for a quarter
of century past. There were Go 'ernors and
ex-Governors. United States Senators and other
high officials. business men and bankers
and lawyers Every calling and profession
mad ptod >bay oVsrv
part of the country too; from Maine. from
Florida. from far-off Washington. from Lou
isiana and from Texas. Whichever their
home. they created the impress
siol of representing the best element in the
community that sent them. The contrast be-
tween them and the crowds that are usually en-
countered at'Democratic conventions was moth
ing less than striking. This brief reference to
the cha acter of the men composing the Conven-
ton is necessary. perhaps to appreciate the in
fuence which this movement will exert in the
campaign.
SELF-SEEKING ELEMENT OvERSHADOwED.
Among a body of ''telligent and self-respect-
ing men like this ii would be idle. Of course. to
look for perfect unanimity to the best means
OF accomplishing an object apparently desired
by ALL That object Is the defeat Of Bryan: the
more crushing the better. The suspicion. il is
true, has been aroused that with some of the
forces behind this movement the defeat Of the
Altgeld- -Timan candidate is not the prime in
centive of their present activity, and that more
selfish and less patriotic motives hidden un-
der the cloak of an assumed Indignation These
form however a CON aratvely insignificant
element in this Convention and for the purposes
of the present campaign are powerless, proDa-
blv to do mischief. Their influence be felt
only in the futur- organiZa n of the party. and
their counsels will carry little or no weight for
the present
The great bulk of delega : as has already
been said desire honestly TO compass the at
of Bryan or that they make no secret what
ever A not inconsiderable number argue at
a direct vote for Mc,-ney is the ceanest and
most effective method The third ,ket idea
appears to them blunder; especially so in
states where ventions have already been
held or where successful fusion has been ac-
complisbed Others contend. and not without
reason that In no other way can the vote
which under no crcumc. would go to Nc
Kinley be directed from Bryan.
THE CENTRAL WEST THE BATTLE-GROUND.
The East cuts little figure in these dis
cussors That part of the country is regarded
as safe beyond the shadow Of doubt II Is
the Central Western States which looked
upon as the debatable ground Here. 1t is
shown live old-linc Democrats who under no
possible pressure can be got to cast Republi-
can ballot. and TO whom the alternative OF vot.
ing fer Bryan will appear only less distasteful
but who would unhesitatingly do that rather
than break the record of a lifetime of Demo
cratic featy and devotion.
To such people. and they counted by thou
sands in Indiana. Illinois. Iowa. Kertucky ana
Ohio. a third ticket would present convenient
and easy bridge between th' traditions OF the
past and their present convictions. That those
who favor providing such bridge on whicn
the prejudices of oldline Democrats can cross
in safety in sub-tantiai majcrty IN 'ne
Convention can be 10 longer doubted. but II