New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-22
SILVER MEN ASSEMBLING.
THEIR CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON
OPENS TODAY.
THEY HOPE TO LAUNCH NEW PARTY WITH
FREE COINAGE AS THE ONLY IssUE-ABOUT
100 or THE LEADERS FROM ALL OVER
THE COUNTRY EXPECTED TO
BE PRESENT.



fBy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRLBUNE1
Washington Jan. 2l.-The free silver men are
gathering in force for their conference in this
city tomorrow The conference will be called
to order at II o'clock by General A. j. warner,
Of Chic. who will probably be elected the pre-
siding officer of the gathering The meeting
will be private ard none will be present eX-
cept those who have been invited. 1t Is eX-
pected that there will be at least 100 prominent
free silver men in attendance and probably half
Of that number now in the city.
The conference was brought about by meet
ing In Chicago about three weeks ago OF the
presidents of the three leading silver organza-
tions of the country-the American B!metalNc
League the National Bmetallic Union and the
National Silver Committee 1t was agreed at
that meeting to consolidate all the silver or
ganzat!ons under the name of the American BIZ
metallic Union. with headquarters in Washing
ton. Chicago San Francisco and point yet to
be decided on In the South General y. j.
Warner was elected president Of the consoli-
dated organization 1t was also agreed to call
a conference of the silver leaders. to be he'd
here on January %, for the purpose OF ratifying
the consolidation and for mapping out a pro-
gramme will be followed by .he silver men In the
coming National campaign. Since that time the
opinions Of the Independent silver men nave
crystallized into me belief hat their only nope
IL in launching a new party with silver as th'
only issue. So the conference Tomorrow VIII
really have, for its main object the establish
ment Of a brand new political organization.
The preliminary caucuses OF silver initiation
lists have been In progress all day to-day. Some
political characters have naturally been brought
together General ]. b. Weaver. Of Iowa. Is one
Of these characters: Senator Marion Butler. or
North Carolina. is another. Then there are
General Warner and Judge Stark. Of Chic Cen
eral Weaver and Senator Butler declare tnat
they have nothing to do with the conference.
but are simply here to confer with the silver
men as to all the silver organizations and par
ties holding their National conventions at the
same time and place When the Populist Ma
tional Committee met In St Louis last week
1. was aware OF the probability of a new party
being sprung here this week. and decided to
leave ope- the date for holding the Populist
National INVENTION until IL conferred with the
new party leaders in Washington
The following special committee was appoint
ed t. nee; the silver men tomorrow General
J. Il. Weaver. Iowa; j. G. Field. Virginia; Son
ator Marion Butler. North Carolina; T. NJ Pat
terson Colorado j. c. Bell. Colorado; c. ".
Wardall. California; j II. Turner. Georgia. T..
g Brown. Massachusetts.
Should TIE new party and the Popuists agree
to hold thor National conventions at the same
soGation Of both into one party. General
Weaver sau to-day that the Populist National
Convention would meet in St Louis at some
date between July and %. after the old parties
have held their conventions The date VIII
be fixed by the Executive Committee.
The following some Of the free-tilver men
who are In the city to attend the conference:
z G. Chambers. of Utah; ex-Congressrnan II.
D. Bartne. of Nevada. Editor of The Bimetal-
list. T.. II. Ligh.. Of Colorado. j. r. TOOe. Of
Montana: General A J. Warner. OF Ohio: George
Mcintosh. Of Utah Judge Stark. Of Ohio: J. L.
Johnson ana General Robert Beverly. OF Vir-
ginia. Dr. J. j Mott. OF North Carolina: Whar-
ton Barker and John II. Lorlmer. Of Pennsyl
vania: Joseph Battelle. Of Vermont; George r.
Keeney. Of California. secretary " the Bimetal-
lie Union. T.. Warner. of Washington: George
:. Nixon. of Nevada ex-Congressman T. J.
Clunl" and George W. Baker. OF California;
Joseph G. Sbey. of Pennsy lvania: G.. T. Merrill,
Of Montana; DR.. Taylor. of Chicago: Judge NIL
Ter. OF Virginia; Judge Cole. OF Iowa; A. c.
Shinn. OF Kansas
Beside the foregoing a large sprinkling of eil-
yer Representatives and Senator'S will be on
hand