The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-25
LOOKS LIKE ONE CONVENTION.
sILvERITEs IN CONTROL OF THE
STATE COMMITTEE.

Chairman Clay Declines to Discuss
the Matter on the Ground That His
Position Makes IL Improper for
Him to Do SO-The Right of the
Committee to Disregard Party Pre-
cedent Questioned by Many POIiti-
cal Leaders.
Atlanta. Ca, Jan. A.-Chairman Clay
Of the state democratic executive COM
mittee made trip to Atlanta to-day
While private matters brought him 10
town. yet his presence was the cause Of a
good deal of political gossip bearing upon
the proposition of the free silver element
in the party to override precedent by a
consolidation OF the state conventions for
the purpose OF gaining an advantage over
those who stand by not only the prece-
dents and traditions OF the party in the
matter of its conventions. but TO its true
principles of finance as we'll
Chairman Stay would not talk on the
convention subject al ALL though wherever
he appeared among the politicians that
was the uppermost subject discussed.
When seen by the Morning News CORE
spondent, the chairman of the state COM
mittee was the center Of a little group
of well known politicians, who were as
cussing the matter in the lobby OF the
kimball house. He was asked Tor state
ment of his views on the single convention
proposition, but replied that he could not
discuss the matter with propriety in ad-
vance of the meeting of the committee,
the time for which was still unsettled,
Il am one of the jurors, so TO speak, who
must pass upon the question" said Chair
man Clay land, therefore, ] do not think
that it would be becoming in me to an
nounce my personal views in regard to
it. Such a step. might be regarded as an
attempt on my part to influence the other
members of the committee in advance Of
our meeting"
The agitation of the one convention pro-
position has brought up the question as
TO whether the state executive committee
has any right or authority to disregard
the precedent of the party in the prdmis-
e.. which has heretofore been to hold two
separate state conventions in presidential
years. 1t would seem to the loyal parti-
san, who has Interior motive in view and
interested only in party success, that the
committee has no authority to disregard
this precedent, and in fact, that the issue
should not be allowed to come before the
committee when it meets. much less be
made the subject of juggling and wire pull
ling in advance Of the call for the commit
tees meeting.
1t is quite evident, however. that the
committee will pass upon the question, and
as a majority of the committee are in
favor of the free and unlimited coinage of
silver after the ideas of Representative
Crisp and Senator Bacon. it need not be
taken as a surprise If the time honored
custom of holding separate conventions is
dispensed With, and a single convention
called TO transact all the business of the
party this year.
When asked to express himself on this
feature of the case, Chairman Clay declin-
ed to be interviewed for the same reason
that actuated him in refusing to express
himself with regard to the main PROPOSE
tion. From his statement on that, how
ever. II is plain that the chairman believes
the state committee has the right to deal
with the question, and that 1t will do so.