The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-07-24
THE GOLD DEMOCRATS.
They Favor Call for an Inde-
pendent Party Convention.
COMPTROLLER ECKELs ABSENT.

The Man Supposed to Represent the Ma
tional Administration Failed to Appear.
A Resolution Adopted to Issuc Call for
. Convention Early in September.
CHICAGO July 2l-rhe meeting of gold
standard Democrats called to consider the
advisRbility Of issuing call for u national
convention was held last night Mt tho
Auditorium annex. The meeting con-
vensd shortly after o'clock and was held
In secret, tho public and press being ex-
oludsd. The chief cause for the secrecy
was that Comptroller Eckels, who was
expected from Washington, WINS gen
orally understood to carry in his vest
pocket the wishes of tho present adminis-
mation regarding convention and
third ticket, and it was desired to give
him all possible opportunity to say what
Mr. Cleveland desired without it being too
extensively advertised.
1t was generally admitted that tho
wishes Of the administration would go far
toward determining whether or not there
should be another ticket in the field, but
many OF the visiting Democrats had no
hesitation In saying that II ticket would be
PuV up III hpile VI eNoEy lHllg
kilograms were received and read at the
conference from prominent Democrats all
over the country, strongly indorsing tho
movement for another ticket
Comptroller Eckcls did not appear, and
the meeting, after waiting some time for
him, went into session. General u. ).
Bragg. of Wisconsin, was elected chair
man and G. A. Ewing, Of Illinois, secre-
tary
The conference definitely decided that
o convention should be called, the only
question being whether the meeting
should Issue the call, and on this lively
debate ensued.
q. NJ. Davis, of kentucky, presented the
principal reasons calling for II convention
to be held on Sept. t. in Detroit. II. S.
Robbins, Of Illinois, did not favor the issue
Of call by this meeting, and Il, X Knott,
Of Kentucky, spoke strongly in favor Of
calling the convention at once.
Senator Villas, Of Wisconsin, violently
opposed the issuing of call by the con-
ference. His speech was frequently chuered,
although tho general sentiment of tho
meeting seemed to incline the other way.
He said:
"lf weare to have an organization which
shall represent the Democratic party we
must recruit it from every state in tho
Union. We must not issue u call from u
body too narrow to be potential. Let u
mass meeting be held in each state, and
let them nominate delegates to national
convention. We want oil tho states rep
resented when the call goes forth for tho
convention. Then we are sure Of our
ground and of our strength"
After long debate q resolution was
adopted to the effect that 1t was the sense
Of the meeting that u Democratic conven.
ton should be held IL Democratic plat
form enunciated and candidates for preSi-
dent and vice president chosen, and that
said convention should be held not later
than Sept. 2.
A committee Of one from each state rep
resented was appointed by tho chairman
to draft call for the convention, with
orders to report to tho general meeting
today.
General Bragg said after the adjourn
ment of tho conference, at O'Clock this
morning. "1here is no longer any doubt
that the gold standard Democrats mean
business"