The evening times., 1896-06-27

There is much interest manifested In
this city as TO the effect which The con
ference of prominent Democrats. held
last night in New York, will have toward
preventing any serious detection from the
party ranks in Nove.Ibcr should IL rabid
free silver platform be adopted by the
Chicago convention.
The wisdom OF the agreement reached
by cx-Secretary Whitney and his associates
that under no circumstances would they.
bolt the action of tie convention meets
with Lcarty approval here.
1t is considered to lie especially desirable
that all splits and fact.onal fights should be
confined to the Republican PARTY, and that
the Democrats should make sacrifices aud
concessions In order that they may present
an unbroken front to the enemy.
By pursuing this course tue party will
have the prestige OF harmony within its
own ranks, ana the dissatisfied ones can
take their private revenge "A I the POLLS, ana
do whatever knitting they consider ex-
pedicnt.
There are many right here in Washing
ton holding Federal offices under the pres
cnt a administration, who cannot bring them
selves To the support OF u free silver can
didate and would prefer to vote for gold
Republican.
PARTY NOT TO BE HURT
This course they will adopt, but it will
be done SO quietly that the party as II
whole may not be injured by public ex-
hibition of disaffectiOn.
EX-SecretaTy Whitney expects to leave
for Chicago next Tuesday, and Will then
begin u personal supervision OF the fight
that is to be made Tor the gold standard.
Senator Hill is today having a confer
ence with Mr.. Whitney, and together they
going g1rpfittly nnipt
| can DE utilized In Strengthening their posi-
ton and snatchlng victory from defeat.
Last night there gathered at the resi-
| dence OF MIR. Whitney number of men
prominent III the councils OF the Democrats
| party. Among them weP. Chairman Har-
rity and National Committeeman French
| OF Connecticut, Cable of Illinois, Quincy OF
Massachusetts. Ross or New Jersey, Shee-
han OF New York, and smalley of Vermont
These men Tepresc pted the leaders
| among the membership Of the DdtioDui com
| mittee WHO are opposed to the adoption OF
/ free silver platform. They met Tor the
| purpose Of determining what course should
| be pursued i'll the event that free silver
was stuffed down their threats at Chicago.
There were men at the conference last
| night who advocated u bolt Oh the part
! OF the gold Democrats of New York, Penn
| sylvania, Maryland and the New England
| States.
| There We're other Democrats at this con-
| ference who protested against any such
| course. Mr.. Smalley, for instance, has
| always insisted that, the delegates who
| enter convention should be bound by its
proceedings, and Mr.. SmaIley has not IA
vored a bolt on the part of the gold Demo-
| Gratis.
| Indeed, there We're other Democrats at
Whitney's home last night who declared
I
nomination OF as conservative a Democrat
| as possible, and then abide by the result
II would do no good, they said, for the
| gold Democrats TO bolt the convention; it
has always been the policy of the Demo-
| crat par rty Co abide by the determination of
| the majority. and the gold Democrats
could do as they pleased during the cam
paign if the candidate as Chicago did not
suit them. The majority OF those who at
tended Mr.. Whitney's conference last night
were. it was declared opposed to any bolt
| Of the gold democrats at Chicago.
A GOOD FIGHT
With the aid o T a steering committee which
is TO be appointed, aud with the fact that the
| gold Democrats hold over one-third OF the
delegates, and can thus prevent the nonl-
ination OF 4 free-silver Democrat, or, rather.
a free-silver Democrat not to their liking
| MIR Whitney and his friends said that they
| were prepared to put up good fight.
This line of action is precisely what n
| large proportion of the Democrats here de
sire to have pursued. Notwithstanding re-
| ports to the contrary, Secretary Carlisle and
! other pronounced advocates of a gold
standard, have declared that they Will
swallow the dose, no matter how bitter II
| is, and support the nominee.
| But by supporting I he nominee 1t is by no
means meant that those who are not 50
disposed must take a brass band and tour
the country making speeches for the ticket,
which they secretly hope will be defeated.
All the support that comes from such
sources will be of the most passive charac.
| ter, and in many instances a negative vote
viii be slipped into the ballot box.