Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-15
! FIGHT FOR SILVER
How It Will Be Brought Before the Demo-
cratic Committee
A RcappOrtionment of Representa-
tion In the National Convcn-
tfOn to Be Proposed.

The exclusive announcement in The Star
few days ago of a fight to te made before
the national committee for a change in the
representation Of the states IN the national
convention created considerable talk.
1t was learned on undoubted authority
today that the biggest fight before the ma
tional committee when it meets tomorrow
will be on this question. The fight will be
as important as that over the selection Of
the city in which the convention is to be
held.
To Give Silver Men Control.
The proposition to be made before the
committee tomorrow will be to reapportion
the representation in the national conven-
ton according to the representation in
Congress-in other words, that for every
democratic member of the House and every
democratic Senator there will be allowed
two representatives In the national conven-
ton. For every republican member and
Senator there is to be one representative in
It is to prevent the eastern democrats from
controlling the national convention as here
tofore and to throw the control of it to the
supposed ''rock-ribbed' states of the south
and west. 1t would also give the silver
men the control Of the national convention.
The proposition will probably be made to
the committee by Clarke Howell, the MEM
Der of the committee from Georgia, or by
Senator Morgan of Alabama, who will rep
resent the member from his state by proxy.
There is no doubt that the question will he
sprung, unless there is a change in the
plans before tomorrow morning. Those
who favor the plan, among them the two
gentlemen named, will back the proposition
by all the oratory at their command.
A prominent member of the House, who
is said to have been working for the plan
for months in a quiet way, declared 20 a
Star reporter that The proposition would
have strong backing IN the committee.
Tired of Eastern Domination.
The same member, and another equally
prominent in his party. said that southern
bly, tired Of eastern domination Of the con-
vcntiou, and believe The rlan outlined to be
the only solution Ct the matter. They
vehemently declared that there was moth
ing fair in allowing a state like Pennsyl-
vania, which never went democratic in its
history, to have more votes in the conven-
ton than three or four smaller states,
" hich invariably go democratic.
If the national committee refuses 10 take
action on the proposition the fight win he
carried before the national convention. If
the leapportionment of representation can
rot be secured for this year an effort Will
be made to have it put in force for future
conventions.
the proposition to the last ditch, not only
because it is unfair, but because it will
tend to further disrupt the democratic
party. They say that 1t is unhrotherly and
undemocratic, and they are surprised that
any such feeling could originate in the
party.
All the southern silver men in the House
and Senate favor the proposed proposition,
and 1t was intended at first that a delega-
ton of them should appear before the na-
tional committee and present the matter.
The plan now, as stated, is for q member
oil the committee to present the matter.