St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-07-03
Democratic Convention.

Interest now centers IN Chicago
where, next Tuesday morning, the
democratic national convention will
be called to order in the Coliseum,
the largest building under a single
roof in the world. The Coliseum
occupies five and a half acres of
ground, will easily seat $4,000 peo-
pie and is the most conveniently ar.
ranged convention hall ever erected.
The trusses span 215 feet at their
base and at their apex are nearly
100 feet from the floor. Every piece
of metal is thoroughly inspected.
The building is all Of steel, iron and
glass except the floor, which is as
near fire proof as modern science can
make it. 1t will probably be the
model for such buildings hereafter
constructed. Chicago will easily
handle the crowd and send it safely
home. A medical and surgical staff
"a new departmental be in con-
slant attendance during the services,
prepared for all emergencies in that
line.
The old political warehouses; ex-
pect one of the hottest fights in the
history of the party gatherings and
will be surprised if the convention
adjourns inside of a week. Unlike
the St. Louis convention, where it
was pretty certain what would take
place, the Chicago convention is
mystery that cannot be solved be-
forehand.
All the delegates have been chosen
and including those from the terrific.
ries and the District of Columbia
there are $50. 1t is estimated that
344 of these are for gold and 5S5 for
free silver. The silver party thus
lacks " of two-thirds majority,
which from the beginning of demo-
cratic conventions has been the ma
jority required 20 adopt a measure.
Under the leadership of such able
men as w. c. Whitney, VIM. E. Rus
sell and Others, the gold men are
making strong fight, though Mr..
Whitney says that the cause looks
hopeless and the silver men are con-
hdent of running the convention to
suit themselves. He regards the cr-
sis as similar to that OF 1860 and
fears the disruption of the demo-
cratic party if silver candidate is
nominated. Still he does not despair
OF success and hopes that the deter
mined attitude of the Eastern demo-
Gratis may bring about some change
tor the better. Other Eastern lead
ers, while stating that they will fight
for gold as long as there is any hope
OF success, will not bolt silver ticket
and think that the great majority
of democrats will support it. The
most frantic of the Western and East
ern silver men think they can make
the hight alone, but in such case the
avalanche of votes for Mckinley,
protection and sound money would
bury the silver craze so deep that it
would never rise.
Mr.. Whitney says there can be no
compromise and in case of silver car
rying the day there is likely to be a
more serious bolt than anticipated.
Several prominent Eastern business
men, democrats for many years, have
decided to bolt silver ticket and
many Others will follow. 1t is re-
ported that Pl resident Cleveland has
said he would never vote for Nc
Kinley and will not support a silver
ticket. In that case he probably
won't vote at all.
Several candidates are in the field
and it is impossible to pick the win
ner. Bland of Missouri has the lead
with 1856 delegates, Boies of Iowa
1876, Blackburn OF Kentucky 33, Rus
sell of Massachusetts, "a, Whitney of
New York 81, Matthews of Indiana
80, Pattison of Pennsylvania &C,
Stevenson of Illinois 80, Teller of
Colorado ~, Turpie of Mississippi 9,
doubtful 368. Either Bland or Boies
appear to be the logical choice if the