The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-07-06

Senator COckTell as q memDef Oh 6n6 COM
mittee on resolutions. The candidacy OF
Mr.. Bland and policy to 5e pufs1ea 10
make the work in his behalf as effective
as possible, were discussed from ten until!
almost one in the morning, number Oh
enthusiastic speeches being made.
Congressman Dearmond advocated bis
Endorsement by the delegation of tho
caucus of silver men, proposed for the
purpose of determining who shall oe the
silver candidate. This was antagonlzed
by Senator Vest, because he considered IL
bad policy at present.
Mr.. Vest said that Mr.. Bland was the
leading candidate, and wonld ID all
probability be the choice of the oonven-
tion. If the Missouri delegation were to
take the initiative in this matter, their
action might be construed as an effort
TO unduly has ten matters and take snap
Judgment. 1t might also be unacceptable
to delegations from other states who had
candidates.
che first steps with respect to this
caucus should be taken by the delegation
pledged to no particular candidate AS
soon as this was done. Missouri could
properly participate in it's proceedings.
Mr.. Vests advice was followed and no
action taken. All the members Of the
Illinois delegation have not yet reached
the city. Those who are here, the majori-
ty of the whole number, held conference
| this morning. The question of the in
dorsement of q candidate was informally
discussed and it was speedily ascertained
| that the large majority OF the whole
delegation was favorable to the nomina-
| tion of Mr.. Bland. The delegation will
not be complete until tomorrow morning.
Formal action of the delegates will not
be had until tomorrow. Then Mr.. Bland,
| through the operation of the unit rule
will be form ally endorsed.
is tod hat nf
Tennessee, will be permanent chairman
| of the convention. For several weeks the
Senator who has been in i'll health, has
recuperated and today he said he was in
good physical health and equal to any
| EN- ergenoy, to which he might be called
by the will of the party. He will make
but short speech in assuming his
position. The Teller men today began
| to define their policy. They are growing
more enthusiastic as the convention
draws nearer, and are making definite
claims as to the strength of their candi'
dates. They have prepared statement
showing the number of electoral votes
they claim will be obtained If Teller is
made the choice of the convention. This
statement is being used to influence the
Teller sentiment among the delegates.
Congressman Bailey of Texas, one of the
Bland leaders, has prepared statement
giving the mum ber Of electoral votes the
Democrats may hope to secure.
His figures fall far below those pre-
pared by the Teller faction. Tho two
statements have been compared and the
Teller people say the Bland men and the
supporters of the other candidates.
pledged to free silver, are very much i'm
pressed with Teller's alleged strength.
The Teller statement gives the Colo,
RADIO man 256 electoral votes. Mr..
1o,x11 f1OE NIL
have been very frank with the Democratic
silver leaders. They will not ooncede the
right Of the Democratic party to dictate
the entire programme to be followed in
the event of the Colorado Senator's
nomination and election are and trying to
reach an understanding on these points
before the convention assent bles.
One OF the most prominene Teller men
who has been in frequent oonsultatio
with the Democratic leaders, said today
that the Teller people would not consent
to any proposition as to the position that
they would occupy in the event of his
election, except such AS would give the
Democrats proportionate share IN the ad
mlnistration of the government based on
the number of electoral votes they
secured for their candidate.
Mr.. Teller's friends insist he Ia the
only man who can carry the country for
free silver. 1t is on this broad statement
that they base their demands on the
Democratic silver leaders. They are en-
deavor1ng to effect an agreement with
the Democratic leaders as to the platform
on which MIR. Teller can make the race.
They want. of course, to make the finan-
oial plank the main feature and subordi-
nate everything else to it. "The platform
will be satisfactory to every body" said
Representative Hartman of Montana
who bolted the st. Louis convention
w In xph is hnr
after the Teller interests.
Nobody can find fault with it. If Mr..
Teller is nominated, as he will be. it
will sweep the country The federal
office holders are beginning to come in,
but whether they will take any part in
the proceedings has not developed.
Assistant Secretary Treasurer Hamlin
arrived this morning and started out to
find VIM. g. Whitney and Don NJ. Dick
inson. A. S. Wilson, marshal of the
District of Columbia, one of the closest
Of the Presidents personal and political
friends, is also here. j. S. Van Senden,
private secretary OF Secretary Carlisle.
we'll known Democratic worker, in Ken
tuoky, is another administration man
who 1s looking after things. Secretary
Morton has not been in evidence since he
arrived in Chicago. He Is stopping at
the Chicago club.
Last nights mass meeting of the gold
men was remarkable demonstration
from the standpoint of attendance and of
the noted men who spoke or were present
as spectators. The absence of Senator
Hill is causing much comment. Mr.. Hill
was asked to attend and make a speech.
He declined point blank to do either.
Runners as to his reasons for declining to
serve are numerous. Mr.. Hill is not graf
flying the curiosity of those who desire
to know the truth.
The free silyerssleaders selected by their
respective delegations as members of
the committee on resolutions and others,
who will undoubtedly form part of that
COMMITTEES, have today been comforting
with respect to the text of the platform,
and the subjects that shall be mentioned
therein. Only upon the financial plank
has there been any definite agreement.
This plank is to dominate the whole
platform and all other matters are to be
second thereto. The exact text is not
finally determined. That it will be a
short. olear-out, concise declaration for
the free and unlimited coinage of silver
at a ratio of IL to 1. is a foregone con-