The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-07
NiITTEE.

Chicago, July 6.---The national Demo-
cratic committee met to-day, selected
temporary chairman, and passed upon the
contested cases, which were brought be-
fore 1t. Unlike the action of the Repub-
lican committee in ST. Louis, it refused
to admit the press to the sessions of the
committee, and it's proceedings were en-
tirely behind closed doors. The commit
tee decided to take up the contested cases
first. There was little interest in them.
with the exception of the Michigan and
Nebraska cases. These, it was expected
would determine the relative strength of
the gold and silver men on the commit
tee.
The Nebraska case was settled in favor
of the gold men by II vote of ~ to %
which was about test vote, as was
shown later by the vote for the temporary
chairman. Members of the committee.
who We're in favor of the gold delegation.
and voted with the majority, said the
case was very peculiar, and it was very
hard to tell which side had the regu-
larity, although it was the opinion that
the gold men had II long series of precc-
dents and should be seated The contest,
however, was decided on IA straight vote
rs to the preference of members of the
committee as to the gold or silver delega-
ton. The probabilities are that the con-
vention will seat the silver delegation.
The action of the committee in session
was surprise to the silver men. But
one vote was cast against placing the
gold delegation on the temporary roll,
and that was cast by Mr.. Campau, who
is one of the silver leaders of Michigan, n
most pronounced silver man, and who
has been emphatic in his denunciation of
the present administration. Mr..
of 10 a.,
seat the gold delegation, and AZ members
of the national committee voted to do so.
In view of the threats that have been
made by the silver men that the four del
egates at large from Michigan would be
unseated in order to cast the vote of that
State for silver and secure n two-thirds
majority In convention, il remains to be
seen what action they will take now that
the silver men ON the national commit
tee, with one exception, voted to seat the
gold men. The other cases were of minor
Importance. OF course the important
feature of the meeting of the committee
WAS the selection OF temporary chair
man for the convention.
As has been generally practically set.
tied, Hill received a majority. of the COM
mittee votes, and tomorrow when Chair
man Harrity calls the convention to order
he will present Mr.. Hill for temporary
chairman. The vote in the committee.
"a to % showed that the silver men were
not satisfied, and the announcement was
made that minority report will be pre-
sented, and that Mr.. Daniel, of Virginia.
who was defeated in committee. was
made the choice of silver men for tempo-
rary chairman 1t means that there will
be fight in the convention tomorrow
as soon as the chaplain finishes his
prayer. There was I'M interesting scene
Ill the committee after Mr.. Hills selcc-
ton, when Mr.. Thomas announced the
determination of the silver men TO elect
another chairman.
When Mr. Clayton, of Alabama, made
his speech, asking for the selection of
Senator Daniel for temporary chairman.
he indicated very plainly the purpose
OF the silver men by appealing to the gold
men of the committee not to name u man
for temporary chairman who was unsat-
isfactory to the majority of the conven-
ton and precipitate Il fight as soon as the
convention is called to order The COM
mittee completed its work by selecting
the minor officers, to which there will he
no objection.
AS soon as the South Dakota contest
was decided the interesting feature of the
meeting occurred.
Mr. Harrity announced that the next
business i'll order was the selection of
temporary chairman for the national con
vention. Henry Clayton, of Alabama,
placed in nomination John w Daniel, of
Virginia. He made an eloquent plea for
his candidate, and said that he was on of
the greatest orators of the South, and
man who would make an admirable pre-
siding officer. His speech was greeted
with applause by the silver men
w f. Sheehan, of New York, placed
in nomination Senator David b. Hill He