New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-09
A COMPLETE SILVER VICTORY.


| Chicago July S.-The silver forces encouraged
by their substantial victory of yesterday in the
skirmsh the temporary craftsmanship,
promptly followed up to-day their advantage by
SELLING absolute and unquestioned control Of the
Democratic Nationai Convention. The division
! yesterday afternoon the trial of strength be-
| tween Senator Hill and Senator Daniel. the gold
standard and free silver coinage candidates for
the temporary presidency OF the Convention. had
shown that the silver leaders, though command
Ing the support Of an overwhelming majority OF
the delegates were still unable to muster the
two-thirds vote necessary to effect Presidential
nomination.
The tally lists kept by the anxious account
ants Of both factions made 1t clear that the free
coinage majority. large as 1t was. which had up
set the traditions of the party and reversed the
decision of the National Committee, lacked
forty-eight votes Of the total necessary to put
the choice Of a Presidential nominee beyond the
reach OF possible interference from the gold
standard minority. BY increasing the represen-
tation allotted to the Territories from two dele
gates apiece to six; by admitting the Bryan
free-cOinage delegation from Nebraska. and
finally by arbitrarily converting a free-conage
minority In the Michigan delegation into con-
trolling majority the silver leaders were
abled. after n long and bitter contest In the Con-
vention to-day. to approach tho task Of framing
and Issuing n party platform and choosing a
Presidential candidate with majority equal to
all possible emergencies and demands. Sixty
four votes were added to the silver roster as a
result of the days fight over the permanent
roll. which ended tonight In the decisive over
throw OF Don NJ. Dicklnson's power IN the Mich
igan delegation. and the oustng of enough Of his
followers to throw the vote Of Michigan under
the unit rule from the gold standard to the free
coinage column.
STRENGTH OF THE SILVER COLUMN
The full free-coinage strength In the Conven-
ton can now be put at q minimum of 62l with a
fair prospect Of reaching from 6fO to coo before
the roll OF States is called for Presidential noml-
nations. Six hundred and twenty votes Will he
two-thirds majority OF the Convention II every
delega;- r. present and records his preference
The frec-coinage men did not fasten their grip
irrevocably on the Convention without desper-
ate resistance from the gold-standard forces
Few Of the Eastern delegates had suspected that
the silver managers would go to the ex-
treme OF unseatng Mr.. Dckinson's follow
In Michigan simply to Insure them
selves a technical two-thirds majority. II
admitted that the Nebraska fvee-coinage delega-
tion would he seated, for Its face the evidence
behalf OF the contestants although the Ma
tiona Committee had excluded them from the
temporary roll
But In Michigan no serious ground OF contest
could be discovered by impartial observers, and
II was evident that to admit any or all Of the
free-coinage applicants would logically impair
the title OF the entire delegation. The sole
ground on which the contests were based was
the charge that President Cleveland's ex-Post-
master-Genera had taken certain unfair ad-
vantages Of his unsuspecting silver opponents at
the State Convention which unexpectedly de-
clared the devotion Of the Michigan Democracy
to the cause Of sound money"
scRUPLEs FLUNG TO THE WINDS
But so urgent was the desire Of the ee-coinage
managers to barricade themselves behind an alb
soutey safe majority or keen their purpose
to wreak political and personal revenge one
OF the conspicuous advisers of the Cleveland
Administration. that ell scruples as to the
flagrantlv trumped-up character of the contest
in Michigan openly deied and the capture
Of the delegation was resolved on an essential
stroke of policy. The Committee on Credentials.
which first made pretence Of hearing the case.
decided to expel not only the four district dele
gates finally elected, but also to put on the ex
ecutioners list Mr.. Dickinsons four delegates
at-arge This decision evoked much dis
satisfaction. however. ard the absurdity Of re-
placing the four delegates -large by self-chosen
substitutes with absolutely pretence OF
credentials was made painfully apparent
that the silver managers. fearing revolt in their
own camp reassembled the Committee on
Credentials and reopened the contest.
After much delay and confusion a second re-
port was agreed on which allowed the four Dick
oio at- -larQ IN tai ats
and threw ou; only the four district delegates
whose votes constituted balance Of power In
the delegation on this report the Convention |
wrangled most of the evening. finally defeating |
minority substitute. declaring the sound |
money delegates from the IVth and IXth dis
trcts entitled to retain their places, by vote of
55S to 36S.
Senator White. of California. afterward chosen |
permanent chairman of the Convention led a |
small revolt OF free-coinage men against the de-
cision OF the other managers To upset Mr.. Dick
nson's power In Michigan. but not more than
thirty or forty delegates followed him out OF the
silver camp Many turbulent outbreaks marked
the long and bitter struggle to seize the control
of the Michigan delegation from Mr.. Dckinsons
leadership. and more than once the mob In the
galleries hostile TO the dominant faction on the
floor. took the Convention wholly out OF the pre-
siding officers hands. Senator DANIEL struggled
gallantly with the claque. but rather ineffect-
lively. and finally gave the gavel up to his
cessor with a sigh of profound relief. After In
stalling the permanent chairman. Senator White.
OF California the Convention adjourned until to-
morrow at 10 o'clock.
THE PLATFORM ALMOST BRUTALLY FRANK
The platform To be presented to the Conven-
tion by Its Committee on Resolutions az the
future creed Of the Tihmanized and Atgeldized
Democracy has at least tn, merit Of unmistak-