New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-02
THE PLATFORM TINKERED.
AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE THE CHICAGO
PRODUCTION LESS ODIOUS.

PRODUCTION LESS ODIOUs.
AMENDMENTS OFFERED BY SENATOR HILL AND
REJECTED IN CONVENTION NOW APPEAR
IN THE AUTHENTICATED COPY
The story has been revived that the "authen-
ticated" platform OF the Chicago Popocrats which
Is being circulated as the genuine thing has
been tempered with and that at least two I'M
portant changes have been made with view OF
making the document less Objectionable to decent
citizens. The principal alterations consist In the
insertion OF two amendments offered by Senator
Hill. which were understood to have been rejected
After a careful comparison G. the newest edition
Of the platform with the copy made public at Chi
cago on the day Of its adoption by the Convcn-
ton. Senator Hill finds two OF the rejected amend
ments incorporated In the latest edition. Neither
Of these amendments" Mr. Hill Is quoted az say
Ing. was adopted by the Convention
The reason for these attempts to change the
platform Is found in the popular Indignation that
has resulted from the Anarchstic thrurts Mt the
Supreme Court OF the United States by the Chi
cago Convention. I'VE opposed to life tenure
In the public service" was the language OF the
Popullstic platform proposed to the Convention
Mr. Hill moved TO add In defence OF the Supreme
Court the words except as provided In the Con-
stitution" The amendment hooted at and
defeated but 1t now appears as part Of the certi
fed platform
The tinkers It appears. have also been at work
on the financial plank. Senator Hill moved to
amend II by adding: But It should be carefully
provided by at the same time that any change
in the monetary standard should not apply to ex-
listing contracts.
This amendment shared the fate of the 9th
err according to Senator Hill and others who
usually know what is going on in conventions
they are members Of. Vet 1t comes out as In
the platform ahopsssA
The absurdity of the contention that the Su-
preme Court amendment was adopted is shown by
Senator HIS speech when the platform was be-
fore the Convention. He then said:
In this platform you have declared. for the first
time in the history Of this country. that you are
opposed to any life tenure whatever in office Our
Establishment OF this Government gave great
Judges a life tenure OF ONCE. What necessity Is
there for revving this question? How foolish. how
Are Democrats whose whole lives have been
devoted to the service of the party, whose
thoughts. whose hopes. ambitions and aspira lions
all lie within party lines, to be driven out Of the
for the great Judges Of our Federal courts? No
no This is revolutionary step. IT Is an unWise
step. 1t is an unprecedented step IN our party MS
tory.
In his reply Mr.. Bryan. In the speech which Sc
cured him the nomination. did not attempt to re-
flute Mr.. HIS argument
Another plank Is alleged to be inserted In the
revised platform which is not In the original 1t Is
as follows:
The Constitution OF the United States guarantees
to every citizen the rights OF civil and religion
the exponent of political liberty and religious free
DOM and II renews It's obligations and reafiirms Its
devotion these fundamental principles of the
Constitution.
1t would seem that the first question which the
Popullsts need settle among themselves Is
whether the 'revsers' OF their platform have not
been guilty Of forgery
REPUBLICAN PROSPECTS IN MINNESOTA.
REPRESENTATIVE TAwNEY SAYS THAT HARD
WORK WILL. INSURE VICTORY
Washington Aug. ! (SpcciaD.-Representat tive
James A. Tawney. OF Minnesota. who has been In
this city for day or two. talks encouraginSly of
Republican prospects at home. II believe he
said to-day that with vigorous effort and thor
ough organization on the part Of the Republicans
we will be able TO carry Minnesota for Mckinley.
hut the hardest sort of work is necessary to our
success because all the elements In opposition to
Republicanism going to effect thorough
fusion In 1894 Senator Nelson's vote for Governor
was AZ s44: Becker. the Democratic candidate got
53579 votes and Owen. Popust. received 1881.
while the ProkbltOnists polled 5000 votes 1t VIII
be seen from these figures that the Republican
ticket won by very handsome plurality, but by
only a small majority over the Democratic and
Populist nominees. Another thing that must be
taken into account IL that Of the most in
fuential men In the party have bolted the Repub-
lican tcket-men like John Lind, who Will be the
fusion candidate for Governor; Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor Day. Congressman Towne. Frank Nye. who Is
one Of the NEST brilliant stump speakers in the
State and others OF equal prominence That their
detection is matter OF consequence Is not to be de-
MED
'It must also be remembered that a number or
sound money Democrats are boilers from the chi
cago ticket. Already there are signs OF reaction
against the free-silver movement. Ii Is noticeable
In my own town and IN other parts OF the state
Ny belief is that from this time forward there VIII
be changes the part OF voters VINO nave
only been temporarily misled by the fiat-money de-
usion The advocates OF silver have hurt their
cause greatly by raising the sectional plan or a
Southern and Western alliance against the East
The Injurious effects of trying to array one part OF
bv all patriotic and intelligent citizens. The silver
champions have also done themselves harm by
publishing detached sentences OF speech made by
Mr. Blaine in favor Of the Bland Allison act
whereby they seek TO prove that were Mr. Blaine
alive he would he against the st. Louis platform
They artfully picked out certain expressions USED
by him in which he spoke of both gold and silver
as the money OF the Constitution and said he was
against the decentralization of either metal But
they left out tho passages where the great states
man spoke OF the dishonesty Of stamping dollar
as such when IL contained less than 100 cents. and
whereby the bullion owner appropriated wrongfully
the difference between the coin and bullion value
Nor did they print what he said In the same speech
about the corporation of Germany and the states
of the Latin Union with the United states In the
restoration of silver. This unfair scheme was ex-
posed by The Minneapolis Journal. which pub