New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-06
were very irascible people and hard to enease
IN any reasonable talk In fact there was sen-
erai encouragement expressed over the situa-
ton.
SENATOR HILL CRITIC1SED'
HIS ABSENCE FROM THE BIG MAss-MEET-
ING CAUSES UNAVOIDABLE COMMENT.

SOME OF THE REASONS SUGGESTED FOR IT
PREVIOUS VIEWS on FREE sII.vER-DoN
NJ. DICKINSON MAKES THREATS
10y TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIpuNE]
~n,oo.o r,,y 1.-THE gold Democrats who
have contr,ved to squeeze into this convention
arr not pleased with the tactics of William I.
Whitney and David Il. HILL Both gentlemen
they suspect. arc so animated with desire u
he nominated for President in 1900 as to be un-
willing to make the stiff fight needed IN pehah VI
the gold standard II any impression is 10 oe
made upon the minds Of the free-colnage ma
tority of the convention. Mr.. Whitney ana MI
Hill they point out drew up straooie P"'
form and had it adopted by the Democra's VI
New-York. and then coming to Chicaeo' 'hes
exhibited surprising tinidity when IL WAS i''-
posed 10 make any attack OF vigorous ii'u'e
upon the free-silver cohorts. Both Mr.. Hiii anu
Mr. Whitney for instance. were "piieo W ap
pear at the mass-meetng of the gold Democrats
at the Auditorium Theatre last night. Ne1ner
lived up to his engagement. 49,.
II Ia true that Mr.. Whitney was present. pu'
Il was in the recesses of a private box whence
no call Of the 5000 people present was aple u
wrench him. And for Mr. Hill. he remaheo
at the Palmer House and permitted the Demon
stration for gold standard to go on without "'''
Mr. Hills public excuse for not attending the
meeting was that ne was candidate lot 'e'i'
porary chairman of the convention and did not
wish to embarrass any OF the silver ieaue's VIII
desire to support him for the position by ap-
pearing at the meeting. but this statement Is
not widely accepted. 1t is asserted that the act
ual reason for his decision not to attend the
Auditorium meeting his knowledge that
savage attack would be made there upon Gov
ernor Altged and he did not desire to counte-
nance that attack II Mr.. Altgeld should be re-
elected Governor of Illinois he would have
great influence upon the selection of the Illinois
delegates 10 the Democratic National Conven-
ton Of 1900. and Mr. Hill. like the prudent, wary
politician that he is decided not to complicate
himself
Altgeld knew as long ago Thursday that
Hill did not intend TO attend the Auditorium
meeting Hill had been told that Franklin Mac
veash, the leader Of the gold Democrats In Hi
nois. would point out in plain language that
sAltged had gained the mastery Of the Illinois
delegation through the medium OF fraudulent
primaries in Chicago. and would otherwise at
tack Altgeld 1t did not matter to Hill that Alt
geld was the chief leader of the free-coinage
Democrats. and he GIilD was ostcnsibly one OF
the leader of the gold Democrats Altged. in
view Of 1900 must not be offended in profound
way
There Is good reason. also to suspect that MT
Hill wished 10 convey to the free-conage Demo
Gratis by remaining away from the Auditorium
Theatre. the idea that he was not bitterly OPP
posed to their free-conage propaganda, but
was merely posing as a gold champion in chi
cago in consequence of the emphatic views OF
New-York voters. HILL they could but remem-
her had In 1892. before the Democratic Ma
tional Convention was held. made speech at
I,lmira In which he had boldly declared In favor
Of the free coinage Of silver at ratio or 10 70 l.
thus taking ground even more radlcai thah Una,
of the 18-to-1 advocates Mr. HILL also tneS
recalled in 1898 had written a letter 10 Evan T.
Howell the Editor of The Atlanta Constitu
ton" in which he said: I'VE should be for free
coinage under an international agreement IL ~
he nossible to procure one--and for which every
exertion should be made-and. If not possible,
then for independent bimeta!lism: ke. us pre-,
pare not for present victory, put LOT Nic'ois
Mr. Hill by thus intentionally remaining away
from the gold-standard meeting at the Auoi-
forum Theatre. imagines no COUP. una. ne na1
of Ilnois-Altgeld-and opened a promising
filtration with the free-coinage Democrats OF the
Nation. $500 ,s o.. aa,.
their desire to do something in the Convention
for the maintenance of the gold stahoaiu ~
show Of activity was made IN the o,ltc.s n,on Os
sending committees out among the deleea'lons
OF the various States TO learn their seiltients
upon the currency problem, and IL was also te
solved to hold an experience meeuhs ia ~.
evening. Negotiations also were openeu :" ~. -.
leading silver delegates TO ascertain Whe'n ~ VI
not they would oppose upon the moor Oh Wv, !i
Convention the appointment by the Deihocih'i'
National Committee OF Senator fflii as tei" ~
rary chairman. The Indications are that .ne
free-coinage Democrats Will insist upon na.lIls
an avowed free-silver man in the CHAIR as 'e,il-
porary chairman and will therefore oppose N.Y.
Hill II he is pressed for the place.
Don NJ Dickinson, one Of the leaders OF INC
gold Democrats. is harassed by the silver Denio
Gratis of his own State and by various oniteu
state. Senators who failed to get ell the patron
age from him they desired when he was los.
master-General They threaten to convert li,s
.rold delegation into a silver one by turning ou'
three OF the gold delegates and putting lree-
Coinage men ia their places. Mr. Dickinson Is
~otd Reviewer TO have received proffer of pro-
section from the Bland leaders IL he wouid con-
sent 10 cast the vote of the Michigan deiesation
for Richard p Bland for President Inns proi,
fer he is reported T. have decnheo anu ~ &c, nj
made threats which corrugated the Drows oi
some of the silver leaders. He pointed OUT, IL 's
alleged that Michigan had not yet nonlhaseo
unv Presidential electors and hintcu that
Sree-coinage man should be nominated TOT fresi.
dent nossibly the Michigan Democrats mign!
-conotude to nominate gold electors ano ihs.iuI
them 10 vote for some gold Democrat LOT fresi.
dent Mr.. Dickinson. 1t VIII be oDser!eu ~. .ta,
some trump cards ana proposes 70 une 49,
an an effective fashion before his Michigan ue'e
.,atSor 20 converted from a gold one into silver
one r.. -. Nan, vor,x have
olao refraincd from naming any candluates io'
Presidential electors but nestner Mr nm ny, ~.
NJ Whitney has intimated that possibly goic
electors will be named If free-cofnage Demo
GRAFT Is nominated for the Presidency
-~-rr1JrR,s BOOM TAKING SHAPE.