New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-01
PREPARING FOR THE FIGHT.
SILVER MEN GETTING READY TO RUN THE
CONVENTION TO SUIT THEMSELVES


COMMITTEE TO LOOK AFTER THE NATIONAL
DEMOCRATIC CoMMITrEE--ALL THEY
WANT rs A FREE SILVER PLATFORM
AND A FREE-sIIvER CANDIDATE
Chicago. June 3O-The Natioral Democratic
Committee will meet on Monday to select the
temporary officers If the Convention Among the
names suggested for the temporary Craftsmanship.
besides that OF Senator HILL are those of Senator
Villas. Of Wisconsin; Senator Gray Of Delaware,
and Hugh G. Wallace of Washington.
Senator lsham G. Harris of Tennessee. chair
man OF the Democratic Bimetallic National Com
nittee is talked of for permanent chairman. This
Is said to be part of the programme of the silver
men, which includes the removal Of the National
Democratic headquarters to Chicago and the
election Of Senator Jones, of Arkansas as the
chairman Of the National Committee. TO succeed
William f. Harrity. Senator Harris reached the
city last night. He came to Chicago almost d.
rectly from Atlantic City. where he has been rest
ing IN expectation Of the appointment as perma-
nent chairman Of the Convention Mr.. Harris is
splendid parliamentarian. and when presiding
over convention cannot be confused. intimidated
or bulldozed. Such man. the silver men say
must be the chairman of the Conve n:ion and
they further assert that Senator Harris just fills
the bill
The removal OF the National headquarters II,
Chicago. the silver men declare will certainly be
accomplished. They say that as Illinois will be
the battle-ground. 1t Is necessary that the direct
ors Of the campaign be in close touch with the
men on the field making the fight. The Republ-
cars, the silver men assert. would have changed
their headquarters to Chicago had they not feared
that the Eastern capitalists would have refused to
make their usual contributions to the campaign
fund. This objection. the silver leaders say will
not hold the Democrats. They do not expect they
will be able to collect any campaign money in the
East In the event that the Convention declares for
free silver and nothing will be lost financially
by the removal OF the headquarters
SILVER MEN EARLY AsTIR
Senators Harris. of Tennessee. and Jones' Of
Arkansas. were carly astir to-day. and their par
lors We're full Of callers when they left the break
fast table In response to numerous questions
from friends Of Ex-Governor Boes and ex-Con-
gre ssman Bland, Senator Jones said explicitly
that the Bimetallc Committee proposed to take
charge Of and to steer the silver cause through
the prelininaries of the Convention we'll
the floor after Il had been organized They pro-
pose to keep their eyes open and to be prepared
for whatever shrewd or sharp play the gold
standard people might attempt to Indulge In
At the same time 1t was not proposed TO dictate
candidates save to throw It's influence for men
sound on the silver question. Nor would it
undertake to force any officers upon the Conv,n-
ton. It was the prerogauve OF the Democratic
National Committee. said the Senator. to name
the temporary chairman and that prerogative
ould not be ntcrfered with II the committee
acted fairly and selected Democrat who could
be depended upon to rule jlhtly. Otherwise the
silver men would present a candidate Of their
own. who natural consequence of the over
wlelming predictions Of the body would Of
course be elected.
When Senator Jones asked whether he
had said last night that Senator David B. Hill
would be acceptable to him in this capacity. ne
answered in the Affirmative II believe Senator
Hill is a fair man. and would have absolute
confidence in his ability, justice and mpartiality
as presiding officer. If he is selected think
there will be attempt by the Convention to
take this appointment out OF the hands Of the
National Committee We differ widely the
financial question. but l regard him as man
who would be perfectly fair and conservative in
the performance Of the duties Of temporary
chairman
Among the faces in the corridor and
lobby of the Sherman House this morning
those Of George =. Keeney. of San Francisco,
general secretary Of the American Silver Asso-
citation: Mr.. Delmar. secretary of the New-YOrk
State Silver Committee; Charles Welsh, secre-
tary of the Iowa State Central Committee Cen
oral Master Workman Sovereign. Of the Knights
Of Labor; Senator Dubois, Of Idaho; Senator
Pettigrew, Of South Dakota. and Congressman
Shafroth. of Colorado. the three Republican sill
Cockrp1l Of Missouri. Senator
Martin of Kansas: ex-senator FELTON,. Of Call
fornia; Senator Turpie. Of Indiana; Myron d.
King private secretary of Governor Matthews,
of Indiana. and Secretary Nelson, of the Illinois
State Central Committee.
MIR. sTEVENsON's CANDIDACY
In the interchange Of opinions concerning
Presidential timber. considerable prominence
was given to a report which had reached here
from the East this morning that Vice-President
Stevenson looming up as candidate and
that ii was possible that the Eastern Democrats,
to many OF whom he IS known to be acceptable.
might seek coalition with the Southern delega-
tons with the view of forcing his nomination.
Among the silver men, however the suggestion
was not received with favor although none Of
the spokesmen of the assembling forces were
willing to couple their names with an expression
Of opinion in the absence Of an authoritative
announcement that the Nlce-freSideht was ACT
ually In the field
1t was pointed out, however that he would have
70 go into the Convention without a single vote
from his State Governor Altged's antagonism to
him being pronounced. and that moreover. he is
not acceptable TO the silver element because he
has never Indicated the possession OF any pro
nounced views that issue. As 10 his strength
IN the South 1t admitted to be considerable.
but at the same time. far from sufficient to IN
s,re his success with the sold support oi the
sound-money Eastern element. Nevertheless. the