Great Falls weekly tribune., 1896-07-10
MASS OF CHAOS
Ont of Which Will Evolve a PERI ct
Platform and Proper Can
didates.
THE SITUATION LAST NIGHT
Convention Gossip as 1t Comes From
Pre.jndiced GoIdbug
Sources.


convenes in the coliseum tomorrow, al
is confusion. Only one thing looms lik,
a searchlight in the fog that hangs ovel
the situation and obscures the vision O.
the wisest and most far. sighted leaders
that is, the convention will be for silver
at lG to l. As for candidates, the con
vention is still groping in the murk
The din of Bland and Boies boomers is
deafening, and SO infectious at times
that it almost carries the public off ite
feet, Bland is uuquestionably in the
lead 30 far as actual votes are concerned
bic strength approximating 80, on a
liberal estimate, with Boiee moving along
at his heels with about 200, but neither
is able to demonstrate as yet how he can
win. La this chaotic condition of affairs
gossip and speculation cast about for
dark horses. William J. Bryan, the "boy
orator Of the Platte" Vice President
Adlai Stevenson, John r. Mclean.
the Ohio journalist, the blue
Grass orator, Senator Joe Blackburn.
and Senator White of California. all
share the distinction of being canvaesed
Even Senator Hill of Now York is talked
OF and his famous Elmira speech of 1893
Is recalled as an evidence that he is a
blmetallist and would make a strong
compIomse candidate. The name of
ex Gov. Campbell of Ohio is also heard.
The Pennoyer boom from Oregon was
formally launched today and ex-Con-
gressman Sibley Of Pennsylvania an
nounCed his candidacy.
At work in the background is the som
atorial movement for Teller, with the
free silver republicans and their allies,
the popn,ist leaders, straining every
| nerve to impress on the convention the
| advlsabillty of nominating the Coloradian
With all these silver forces struggling
against each other, with the gold men
solid and compact, ready to obey orders.
1t Is a shrewd political prophet that can
point the way out. 1t will require at
least another day for the fog to lift.
The silver leaders now reluctantly admit
on the eve of the convention
that their wo-thirds majority is an
undlsciplinrd mass running hthcr and
thither, possibly 10 be stampeCcd in the
end They started out with the an
bounced intention of getting together
and arranging program to be put
through by sheer force Of their majority.
They were 10 abrogatc the two-thirds
rule and select their candidate in a eau
Gus OF the silver men. Both these
projects were put aside and they are
now at the door Of the convention with
the question of candidates open and
deadlock inevitable. II will require
every silver vote in the convention to
nominate, and the friends Of any one
candidate can, if the gold men do not
plump their votes to silver man who
may be Formidable but not the choice of
the majority, prevent an early nnmina
ton. This would, of course, play into
the hands Of those who are mancuyering
to bring forward Teller IA, the oppo,tunr
time, or, settle on a dark horse.
The gold men are without definite
program, They are practically reconciIed
to defeat SO far as the piatform is con
cerned. but seem possessed of vague
hope that something will tnrn up which
will secure tor them an acceptable candl-
date. Among some Of the radicals there
is still talk Of a bolt. McDermott, one
Of the delegates al lurge from New Jer-
eey, announced shat he would walk out
Of the convention, and the contestng gold
delegation from Texas made UP their
minds that they did not want admission
to convention which vas, as they ex-
pressed it, determined to plant itself on
the silver hercsy But under the advise
Of Whitney and Ilil the fear Of d bolt OF
any proportions is being dispclled ard
come Of the gold men who woro yastcr
day exceedingly bitter arc more composed
and ready 10 accept the situation.
Should there be 1t physical withdrawal
from. the convention, however, it ia likely
that the boltrrH viii later place ticket
in the field The silver men will go into
the convention tomorrow with nothing
decided ae to platform and there promises
to DO ruction and perhaps bad blood
over this matter,
The majority largely favors a simple
platform which will aubordinute all
other questions TO the financial issue,
which they regard a5 the vital and para
mount issue Of the coming battle at the
polls. A very considerable number. !
with their eyes on the votes Of tho silver
republicans, desire 10 completely ignore
the tariff question, while others are iu
favor Of a moderate declaration for tariff
which will raise sufficient revenue for the
government On the other hand, there
are radicals who want an absolute free
trade plank in tho platform.
Gov. Altgeld and Senator Ben Till