The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-02
DEMOCRATS TRY
TO GET TOGETHER
Silver Leaders, According to Harrity,
Simply "Fenced for Points,"
ALTGELD AND STAFF ARE ACTIVE
They Have Enlisted the Bulk of the
Bimetallic support for the Abolition
Of the TwO.Thirds Rule..Vice.
President Stevenson Declines to
Discuss the situation.

OF the IWO.Ihlrus NuIessNlces
President Stevenson Declines to
Discuss tho Situation.
Chicago, July 1.-The reconnoitre to-
day Of the skirmish guard of the silver
forces upon the outposts of the national
Democratic committee as planted by its
subcommittee was variously viewed by
the participants after the former had
retired to its own camp. According to
Chairman Harrity the visiting delega-
ton, composed of Senators Turpie,
Daniel, Jones and Governors Stone and
Altgeld, simply fenced for points"
And, according to Governor Altgeld and
Senator Daniel, the fencing was en-
tirely satisfactory to the silver side.
At least one of their colleagues. how
ever. was inclined to regard the out
come as draw, with the indications
favorable to the silver men getting the
worst Of 1t when final conclusions were
tried with the national committee next
Monday. The purpose Of the visit of
the silver delegation 20 the national
subcommittee. as stated in the United
Press dispatches Of yesterday, was to
present the views of the leaders of the
white metal majority concerning the
selection OF temporary chairman, the
disposition OF contests and the roll call
on the temporary organization. Sena-
tor Jones led in the presentation of the
silver case and was followed by Sena-
tor Turpie and Governor Altgeld.
When they had concluded Chairman
RI Ia rrit Ntyhn hE a fol
with his associates and found them
to he of one mind, explained that the
sub-committee was possessed of no in
herent power to settle the question at
issue. He referred the delegation to
the record Of the preliminary proceed
ings of the subcommittee and the ma
tiOnal committees of 80 and "a and
pointed out that 1t was the exclusive
province of the full national committee
to pass Professionally upon contesting
delegations in making, up the prelimin-
airy roll of that convention. AS to the
matter Of temporary chairman 1t was
one also altogether within the control
and discretion of the national commit
tee, but he was willing to promise that
nothing definite In this direction should
be done until the delegation had been
afforded on Monday, an opportunity Of
comforting with the fun body For the
present himself and his associates,
without prejudice to either side, were
poweiiess 90 act. With this ..Tlmp of
comfort the delegation was compelled
to be content. AS it withdrew Cover
nor Altgeld expressed the opinion that
judging from the reception accorded it,
1,ar trh
amicable arrangement would be
reached when the delegation was af-
forded an opportunity of outlining it's
position to the national committee.
BIMETALLISTS QUIET.
The bimetallic Democratic national
convention dispensed with its morning
and afternoon sessions pending a report
from the committee appointed to await
on Chairman Harrity and his associ-
ates, but its quarters were the principal
centre of attraction and were crowded
by local and visiting silverites through
out the day. The action Of the Illinois
delegation in determining to lead the
attack for the abrogaton of the two
thirds rule was fruitful topic of dis
cussion and during the day it developed
that Governor Altgeld's scheme was in
danger from an unexpected source and
that Michigan rather than Illinois
might become the pivotal state and
WELD the balance Of power in the con-
vention. Two delegates from the Fifth
district of that state. William +. Nc
Knight and George p. Hummer, both
active free silverites. were among the
visitors to headquarters and conferred
at length with members of the execu-
tive committee. The situation in the
Wolverine state Is that while IA out of
the rs delegates are silverites the dele
CATION is instructed for gold and bound
to that standard by the unit rule. 1t is
! proposed however, to precipitate a fight
on the enforcement of that rule in ad-
vance of any action on the two-thirds
issue In the event of the unit rule
being declared inyalid there would be
no necessity for the substitution of
majority vote for the two-thirds vote,
for the silver votes of the Wolverine
state would give that side the necessary
nominating majority and one or two to
spare This was the suggestion exploit
ed by the Michigan delegates. but it
was not received with especial enthu.
| siasm.
ALTGELD ACTIVE.
Governor Altgeld and his lieutenants
had already enlisted the bulk of the
bimetallic support for the abolition of
the two thirds rule, and it was held by
most of those approached by the Michi-
gan men that the Illinois scheme was
an easier and a surer way of placing
silver nominees upon a silver platform
than any other attack upon the time
honored unit rule. Part Of the plan of
the Michigan silver men is to go before
the committee on credentials and to
ask the unseating of the entire gold
wing of the state delegates, among
whom is Elliott G. Stevenson. law part
ner of eX-Secretary Don NJ. Dickinson,
on the ground that the state conven-
tion was packed and a free expression
of opinion suppressed.
Secretary Sheerin reported to the
subcommittee today his allotment of
tickets for the press, but the result will
not be made known until tomorrow or
later. Scrgcant-at-Arms Martin, when
waited upon by the committee ap-
pointed at yesterdays caucus of the
| Illinois delegation to demand addi-
tional appointments and tickets, main
tained the stand that he had previously
taken and said with emphasis that not
a Chicago man would placed in charge
| of door. He succeeded in convincing
the committee that his position was a
right one. and it will SO report when the
caucus reassembles on Sunday morn
ing
| Vice President Stevenson's presence
under the roof Of the Palmer house for
a few hours Ell route to his home in
| Bloomington. failed to create even a
f1utter Of interest. His callers were
numerous. rut their missions were