The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-07-03
HARRIS FOR CHAIRMAN.
No Doubt But the Selection Has
Been Made
FOR PERMANENT PRESIDING OFF,
GER AT CHICAGO.

Bland Appears To Be Leading Candidate
For Presidential Honors With Field
Against Him-New York Delegation
En- Route For Windy City-George
Fred Williams Proposes To Be In IT."
Chicago. July 2.-Senator David B.
Hill will not be acceptable to the silver
forces, as temporary chairman of the
national convention. This is what Sena-
tor Jones of Arkansas, the recognized
spokesman Of The white metal con-
ferees, told q representative of the
United Press today. The Senator was
asked: Assuming that, the national
committee selects Senator Hill as tempo
rary chairman, would be be acceptable to
the silver forces?''
This was the reply For Senator Hill
have the highest personal regard. Un-
der any other circumstances I would be
glad to see him preside over either the
preliminary or permanent proceedings of
a Democratic National convention.
'tIn this convention, the advocates of
free silver will bs in overwhelming ma
jOrity. The address of the temporary
chairman of the convention, T. as regard
it, ID the principal address of the gather
ing. 1t should be in harmony with the
sentiments of the convention. 1t should
voice its views and forecast the policy
that is to he established. With his
present affiliations, Senator Hill could
not fulfil this trust. Therefore, warmly
as / regard him personally, l am com
PEELED to say that the submission to use
of his name as temporary chairman
would not be acceptable, and will not be
conced ed. -
The members of the National commit
tee were busy at the Palmer house today,
attending to the convention arrange
ments. An informal conference was hold
regarding the situation, which the silver
men created yesterday. The matter of the
distribution of tickets among the state
delgatiOns and newspaper men, engrossod
the attention of the committeeman.
Chairman Harrity did not appear in the
committee rooms until late, having been
engaged In conferences with local and
visiting gold politicians elsewhere
1t was stated at the free silver head
quarters this afternoon that the choice of
temporary chairman had narrowed down
to GOV. Stone and Congressman Bryan.
Mr.. Altgeld does not desire the honor.
DIR. j. j. Mott of North Carolina, chair
man of the executive committee of the
| Independent or New Silver party, formed
in Washington, year ago. has sent an
invitation for a conference Saturday
night Of the represen tatives Of every par
ty and faction favorable to silver, inolud-
ing the Populists, Silver Democrats and
silver Republicans. AS to what is in
tended to accomplish by this conference,
Dr. Mott is reticent, but expressions of
sentiment among those that dooked to
his quarters during the day. indicated q
preference for the nomination next
week of such candidate as could be en-
dorsed by the silver and populist con-
vsntion at st. Louis three weeks hence,
upon platform dealing with no other
issue than that of the free and unlimited
coinage of silver.
The executive committee of the Inde-
pendent Silver party meets here Satur-
day. At tomorrow nights meeting of
the Democratic bimetallic committee
and silver delegates committee, a time
will be appointed to meet the Indepen-
dents with view toward united action.
The sentiment among the silver men
orystaliZed today by the selection of eith-
er Gov. Stone Of Missouri OF W. j. Bry-
ant of Nebraska for temporary chairman
of the convention, with Senator Harris
Of Tennessee. and Maj Towles, secretary
of the bImetallic convention, as perma-
nent chairman and SECRETARY respective
ly.
The story was published this afternoon
that Senator Harris had been definitely
chosen as permanent chairman at the
headquarters in the Sherman house. The
fact that no meeting has been held today
was Cited as proof that this was purely
guess work. IN the absence Of delegates
with votes, the boomers expended their
ANN unition today on the crowd that
invade the hotels on the evening of ma
tional convention: They took possession
of the rotundass and held forth to those
inclined to listen concerning the merits
of their respective candidates. At one
time this afternoon four booms were in
progress on the grQund floor OF the Pal
mer house and the cheers and shouts of
the listeners created a great din. The
friends of Bland were the most active.
In addition to their headquarters at
the the Palmer and the Auditorium an
mex, they had rooms in the Sherman
house.
BANDS friends insisted today that the
prevailing sentiment i'll the city and
the advices they were receiving outside
| warranted them In declaring that it was
Bland against the field, with the field
all ready to run. The friends of exGov.
Boies argued that it was the votes rath-
or than the shouting that made noml-
nees. Delegate Brewster of Creston, one
Of the chiefs of the Boies bureau, had a
talk with Gov. Altgeld before the latter
left for Springfield last night and quot
ed him as saying he had not spoken a
word on. the subject of presidential
possibility, and that he was no more
friendly to Bland Shan to Boies; that
the time had not arrived when the 1lli-
nois delegation could fasten itself on
any one candidate.
= There was more or less talk about the
hotels today concerning the ticket made
up of Bland ard Boies, but the Iowa peo-
pie frOwn down any suggestion that
Boies would accept second place.
Vice Presidents Stevenson and Gov.
Matthews of Indiana were talked of
considerably for second place on the tiok-
ct in the event of the nomination for
the Presidency going to Bland, and late
in the day ex-Goy. Campbell of Ohio was
talked of in the same connection.
Not q single name of any person hail
ing east of the Allegheny was brought
up. The friends of Gov. Matthews
We're reinforced today by the arrival
Of Will English, son of the late W.
Il: English, who was a candidate for
Vice President Eon she Hancock ticket in
1850. Although not free silverite, Eng
ilsh is warm friend of the Indiana