Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-02
THEGOLD DEMOCRATS
Assembling Of the Sound Money Con-
vention at Indianapolis.
PRELIMINARY ORGANIZATION TODAY
Ex-Governor Flower Chosen Tenn
porary Chairman.
THE PROMINENT CANDIDATES
Special From a Staff Correspondent.

| Special From a Staff Correspondent.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, September "A
| self-satisfied, triumphant smile spreads
over the countenance of the gold standard
| democratic convention today 1t challenges
! the public thus: You didn't think we
would be here: what have you got to say
| noW? The gold demo Gratis radiant.
| Banners of blue and yellow and red fut.e-
| proudly in the wind. The convention is a
success. 1t is just what its promoters de-
sired 1t to be. There is no immense crowd,
| bur there is crowd enough. The great ma
Jority have come in since O'Clock yester-
| day Up to that time there was very lit
| tie Indication OF the presence Of a con-
| vention. The delegations from Nassachu-
| setts, Illinois. New York and Alabama and
the smaller delegations from many other
states have swelled the crowd, and several
| bands now play patriotic music in the
streets. With each delegation there are
| about as many spectators and enthusiasts
as there are delegates. The estimate of
one of the morning papers fixes the num-
Der of strangers in town at 1O,WO. This
is an overestimate. Four thousand is
nearer the figure. This makes a very re-
| spectacle gathering, and when it is re-
| membered that the convention is not at
tended by the professional politicians and
| ward workers and ragtag and bob-tai,
| that make up the crowd at most political
| conventions, the attendance is quite as
| large as could be expected. In fact, it is
! in excess Of expectations The men here
| are very earnest citizens who have left
| their business to perform what they con-
| siGer their duty. They are here with one
object in view, and there IS nothing to at
| tract the classes who not III sympathy
| with their object. 1t is an ideal co1ven-
tion-dignified, respectable, nuslness-lke
| and earnest if almost entirely devoid of
| picturesqueness.
There Is an absence of interesting Incl
| dent; the strife and bitterness of conven-
| ton interests that charact erize the most of
| political assembiages is entirely absent
Last night and this afternoon the corridors
! of three principal hotels We're crowded. but
| rot SO much as to render it difficult to
| move about. There was no hustle nor con-
| fusion, and in the streets there was moth
| ing to specially attract the attention of a
| stranger as unusual.
| Earnestness was indicated wherever dele
| gates were assembled. On every hand there
| Is an air of content and confidence Heated
| argument is out of the question, since they
all agree, and they are not the sort of men
| to talk and make noise for the sake Of
| noise.
! Comment on De Witt Warner.
This is illustrated by the comments oc-
| casioned by eX-Representative John De
| Witt Warner. Warner in his earnestness
| talks loud. He is the only man here who
| does talk loud. Late last night he found
| silver man who had strayed into the Bates
House and got into an argument with him
l he
| usual moderation and quetness, and at
| tracted probably twenty or thirty people,
! The incident excited comment at once At
| breakfast this morning delegates were talk
| ing about it. The opinion acquesced in
| was that. though they recognized that Mr..
| Warner was very earnest, they did not
! think he should have allowed himself to be
| draw INTO discussion in hotel corridor
| 1T is so dreadfuly undgnitied," as one
| man Tut it, Ito get into discussion with
| one OF these silver cranks. He ought to let
| them alone
The silver ques ton is discussed sereneIy
| in the hotel corridors. The delegates con-
| suit quietly among themselves as to the
| form the platform declarations should an
| pear, the choice of candidates and the pros
| poets of election.
The Outlook.
| The matter OF greatest interest is the
| exchange of views among the delegates as
to the outlook in their respective localities
| Ihe usual report is that the people have
| not yet gone crazy, and that the iGea of
Bryan winning is not worth talking about.
l have talked with a number of intelligent
men. delegates to the convention, who de-
clare seriously that they do not believe that
Bryan will carry single state. Most of
the delegates smile at your ignorance when
you ask if there is any chance for Bryan in
| their states.
| NO enthusiasm for any Of the candidates
mentioned before this convention is shown.
| Occasionally some one of the followers of
the delegates will shout for some one. but
the look of surprise aimed at him from all
directions usually silences him.
The only name that is cheered by any,
! body Is that of Cleveland. A proposition
| for three cheers for Cleveland gets a readv
response at any time, and such a thing i.
not regarded as undignified. The attitude
toward Cleveland is respectful, deterential
| anu devoted. Ihe mention of his name is
| always received with some mark Of re-
| spect. There is always some one pointing
TO his picture with the remark that there
| is the man to be proud of.
The news from Vermont has excited
mere interest and enthusiasm among the
delegates here than anything else. Ii is the
| general topic of the delegates and a subject
| OF conSratulation. 1t is spoken of as an
| lholcatlon OF what Is going to happen.
| Uncertainty Over Candidates.
| The situation as to candidates here is
almost as much mixed as it was at Chi
| cago, and is as liable to a sudden turn
| The ticket at present confessedly in The
| lead is Bragg and Buckner. That Buckner
should go OH the ticket is conceded, but
| there appears to be grave doubt as to the
policy of nominating Bragg. He is SO far
in the lead, as We'll as can be judged that
| 1t is going to be difficult TO defeat him. but
very earnest effort is being made TODAY
by those who think better choice might
be made. There appears to be nothing per-
sonal about either the opposition or the
| advocacy of any particular candidate. This
is merely a case of conflict Of opinion as to
which man might make the strongest run.
Men from all sections who oppose Bragg
appear to be practically unanimous in the
opinion that Villas, from the same state.
| would be a better candidate The difficulty
| about him is that he is here for Bragg, and