The San Francisco call., 1896-07-02
The Californian Liked by a Large
Following for Second
Place.
STEVENSON a DARK HORSE.
Would Make formidable Candidate
Against the Free Silver
Champions
TIE CALLS HEADQUARTERS,

The first day of midsummer is savagely
hot in Chicago. You could almost boil an
egg III the lake. The effect of the heat on
the delegates from the Rocky Mountain
and Pacific States is especially distressing,
Yet there is great activity in Democratic
circles and interest in the coming conven-
ton increases with each passing day.
About the hotel corridors, at the head
quarters of the different candidates and
the clubrooms of different party organiza-
tions great swarms of excited men are
seen.
The campaign for the Democratic Presi-
Dental nomination before the convention
of 1896 is indeed in full blast. There was,
however, no particular change in the stu
alton to-day. The silver men are busy
counting up their majority. They are
well organized and fully equipped to meet
the enemy, and believe they will have lit
tie difficulty in gaining the victory. The
gold forces, on the other hand, are equally
determined, and when Whitney gets here
tomorrow the fur will begin to fly in sew
eral directions.
Bland seems to be still in the lead for
the Presidential nom ination, with Boies a
close second. Matthews will control his
own delegation. but is not likely to gain
much strength outside of Indiana. Black
burn is spoken OF quite frequently, and
White of California seems to be considered
with some favor, especially for second
place on the ticket. With Southern man
at the head of the ticket the second place
will probably go to the far East or the far
West. The South and West, however, now
that they realize their absolute power, are
not unwilling to accept the whole bakery.
BANDS boom received an impetus to-
day when IL was discovered that Governor
Stone OF Missouri was making love to Gov
ernor Altgeld of Illinois, and that old
time invitation that the Governor of North
Carolina extended to the Governor of
South Carolina, frequently passed between
the chief executives who are struggling so
hard to control the destinies of the ap-
preaching convention and through 1t the
National Democracy.
While these two leaders of the "un-
washed Democracy" are hobnobbing to-
gether, drinking mint juleps aud flirting
with the unsophisticated delegate from
the interior, another little Presidential
boom few in that they nothing about
until late in the day. 1t had
wings, but they seemed to be clipped.
1t was centered about the person of Vice
President Adlai z. Stevenson. who arrived
from Bloomington, H., to-day and en-
gagged room at the Palmer House. Mr..
Stevenson has thus far taken no pert in
the silver controversy, and is looked upon
as dark horse. He Is in training for the
race and awaits the tap of the bell. It is
known that Stevenson has a large follow
ing in the South, and should the Illinois
delegation support him he would make q
formidable candidate against the free sill
yer philosoph ers who are now so enthusi-
astically mentioned in connection with the
presidential nomination.
The Vice President received me cor
daily, and so nicely did he refuse to dis
cuss the great principles of last years
Democracy that did not press him for an
opinion.
The arrival of Chairman Harrity OF the
National Committee did not create a rip
pie of interest The silver men believe
that they could get along just as well
without HIM, and as far as they are con-
cerned he might as well remain at home
Harrity is persona non grata to the sill
yer wing of the National Democracy. and
should he insist on forcing upon them q
gold man for temporary chairman they
will probably take the affairs of the con-
vention into their own hands.
The National Reform party, which was
organized year ago by Professor William
J. Seelye of Wooster University, Ohio, has
opened up headquarters here, and will
make fight to have its platform indorsed
by the Chicago convention. Among other
things, the preamble declares for the equal
coinage OF silver ana gold at 16 to 1; the
abolition of the liquor traffic; restriction
Of immigration; equal suffrage regardless
OF sex, with a reasonable educational
qualification; an adequate protective tariff; !;
settlement of international disputes by
arbitration; suppression of all organized
trusts; postal savings banks, and election
of United States Senators by direct vote of
the people. All these provisions and more
of like character the managers of the new
party are anxious to shoulder on the old
line Democrats of the country.
FRANK MCGUIRE.