Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-07-04
A BLAND COMBINE FORMED.


Have Joined Hands to Nominate tho Ea-
nous Silver Advocate for President.
CHICAGO, July IA week in advance
of the date set for the opening of the
democratic national convention, the
leaders of the silver element have girt
themselves for the fray. Yesterday
the Sherman house, where the white
metal headquarters have been located,
resounded with the shouts of it's advo-
Gates, while its register bore more dis
tinguished names than have been ia
scribed in the books of the hostelry for
a quarter of a century. So far none of
the principal advocates of the gold
standard have put in an appearance,
and consequently the silver people
have undisputed possession of the field.
From to-day, however, the former will
begin to be in evidence and from now
on every day will witness some new
phase of battle royal between the
majority and the minority. The con-
spicuous features of the opening of the
war were the conference between the
bimetallic democratic national commit
tee and the outside silver men, the
meeting between Cows. Stone, of Mis-
souri,, and Altgeld, of Illinois, and the
declaration of the Illinois delegation in
'avor of the abrogation of the two
thirds rule as essential to a presiden-
tial nomination. AS to the first, it was
much more largely attended than had
been anticipated, in view of the fact
that it was simply a preliminary meet
| ing. t.
The situation was discussed and it
was agreed that the silver forces need
only to work harmoniously in order to
iusure the adoption of an out-and-out
16 to platform. What gave the con-
| ferees the most concern was the matter
OF the temporary organization of the
| convention. The fact was dwelt upon
that the sentiment of the national
committee was opposed to that of
majority of the elected delegates, but
on the other hand it was insisted that
it did not necessarily follow that the
committee would go so far as to at
tempt to gain any advantage or at
tempt to consummate any strategic
stroke in the exercise of the authority
vested in it. In order to be on the
safe side, however, it was determined
to appoint committee of FIVE to wait
upon the executive committee of the
national committee and 'to confer
with that body in reference to all ques-
tions and matters affecting the tempo
rary organization and proceedings"
The committee, as designated by
Senator Harris, who presided over the
conference, is composed of Senators
Jones, Turpie, Daniel and Cows. Stone
and Altgeld. This committee repaired
to the headquarters of the national
committee at the Palmer house after
dinner, but were informed that Chair
man Harrity would not arrive until to-
day and that meeting of the execu-
tive committee had been called for
noon. The delegates therefore inti-
mated their desire to be given an audi
ence at o'clock.
The conference between Cows. Stone,
the leader of the Bland forces, and Alt
geld was held behind closed doors in
the latter's quarters at the Sherman
house, Col. Charles Jones, of st. Louis,
being the only outsider present. Near
ly one hour was consumed in the con-
ference and at it's conclusion not one
of those present would say n word con-
cerning its import. Gov. Stone, how
ever, appeared to be in particularly
exuberant spirits, and insisted that
Bland could not be kept out of the
nomination. Sixteen to one, he said,
meant Bland; Bland meant 16 to L;
both meant free silver-that was the
issue OF the day.
The news of the conference spread
quickly and it was at once taken for
granted that the Bland leaders had
made some kind of an alliance with
Gov. Altgeld, at whose word the 48
votes of Illinois will be cast as he wills
it and as unit on all questions. Gov.
Altgeld was asked point blank whether
such an alliance had been effected, but
he merely smiled and answered that
the time to talk had not arrived. The
conference created considerable un-
easiness among the supporters of Gov.
Boies and some decidedly bitter talk
was INDUCED in concerning the alleged
antagonism of Altgeld toward Boies.
At the Boies headquarters in thr Pal
} mer house it was declared that if al
lowed to use their own inclinations
two-thirds of the Illinois delegates
would vote for the Iowa man.
Senator Isham G. Harris, of Tennes-
see, the chairman of the democratic
bimetallic committee, may be the per-
manent chairman of the national con-
vention. This is a part of the pro-
} gramme of the silver men, which in
. cludes the removal of the national dem
, ocratic headquarters to Chicago and
the election of Senator Jones, of Ar
kansas, as chairman of the national
committee, tosucceed William Harrity.
[ Coast Defenses.
WASHINGTON, July 1.-The work of
) constructing coast defenses authorized
| by congress will begin July l. Pre-
| iiminary arrangements for carrying
| out the projects contemplated have
, been made by Gen. Craighill, the chief
l of engineers, and one-half of the $5,-
900, 600 available under the law will be
expended Immediately under plans al
: ready approved. The remaining
| amount will be exnended hv cnntrnct