The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-06-16

ST. LOUIS. June 15-On the eve of
the tenth national convention Of the
Republican party 1t Is estimated rs. 600
strangers are the guests Of the Mound
City tonight. The most remarkable
feature about the convention so far has
been she absence OF bad blood among
the partisans Of the various candidates.
The triumph of Mckinley has been 90
complete thus far that his friends can
afford to be magnanimous, and his OPP
pcnents can do nothing but acquiesce in
the ascertatned will of the majority.
The partisans of Reed, Quay, Morton
and Allison still wear their buttons and
are as staumch as ever in their loyalty,
but they reAlizs the helplessness of
making shrieking or offensive demon
STATIONS In favor Of their champion and
the managers of the anti Nc Kinley
candidates have practically sheathed
their swords.
This does not mean that they have
abandoned the field, with the exception
Of Governor Bradley. of Kentucky, who
dropped out last night. The names of
the other candidates will be presented
and voted for and will probably poll
their full strength.
The real struggle that Is going on is
over the financial plank in the platform.
Around it all interest centres. 1t Is the
real battle ground. Upon tariff, upon
ell other questions, there is substan-
tisl unity. Free silver and gold are as
irreconciliable as the poles and the rad
ical silver men are prepared to stake
their all upon the issue.
Knowing they cannot succeed they
are even now formulating the manifesto
that will sever their allegiance to the
Republican party. But these radical
silver men are largely outnumbered.
Headed by Senator Teller, of Colorado,
they have only mustered five States and
one Territory-less than fifty deleg stes
IN all, out of q total OF over 900.
The real struggle ia between those In
fsvor of 6 gold declaration for the main
tenance of 9 gold standard, except
through an international Agreements,
and those whose friendlinass TO silver,
although opposed to free coinage, makes
them seek to avoid q specific endorse-
ment of the gold standard. The result
OF the meeting of the various State
delegations to-day demonstrated en-
phatically that the convention will not
dodge the Issue nor equivocste In
language.
Twenty-eight States. comprising the
territory east OF the Mississippi and al
most the entire South. elec ted members
OF the resolutions committee and in
structed them to vote for gold decla-
ration. Wisconsin,, Minnesota, Ne
braska, Oregon and Washington also
took strong ground for gold. In Indiana,
Gen. Lew Wallace was chosen q member
OF the resolutions committee after he
had declared that he would not stand on
the Indiana plank and that the utter
snces for the maintenance for the gold
standard could not be made too strong
for him.
Minnesota. with her eighteen votes,
instructed Ex-Governor Merriam to in
sist upon declaration OF the gold
standard. Michigan and several of the
Northwestern States. notably Iowa and
the Dakotas, and several of the South
ern States, Georgia, Mississippi and
Louisiana announced their opposition to
free coinage, but did not favor a too.
radical declaration in favor of the gold
standard.
Iowa WAS particularly solicitous and
feared that IL might carry the North
west into the Democratic camp In case
the Chicago convention pronounced
later for silver. The Eastern delegates
are overjoyed at the outcome, and be.
lieve that the result OF to-day's action
removes the last uncertainty as to the
character of the financial plank.
Senator elect Foraker, of Ohio, who
lie to be chairman of the committee on
resolutions, has prepared rough draft
OF platform covering most OF the sub
jects to be presented and this will fur
nish the basis Of the work of constructs
ing the platform.
The selection by the various State
delegations to-day of their mem bership
on the committees was not marked by
sensational incidents save in New York
and Missouri In New York all the
smouldering bitterness between the
Plat and anti-PlHtt factions broke
forth and ex-senator Warner Miller,
the head of the anti Plat faction,
threw down the gage Of defiance to the
New York leader. He made g ringing
speech, in which he spurned the
leadership OF man who had
declared that Mckinley was unfit
for the Presidency and moved
to depose him by making Chauncey M.
Depew chairman OF the delegation.
Mr.. Platt was reelected chairman.
In she Missouri delegation, Chauncey
I. Fillsy, who for years has been the
Missouri representative on the national
committee, was defeated In his am biition
to again be national committeeman and
Richard Kerens WAS elected. This is