Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1896-07-21
They, Captured the Chicago
Platform, but They Object
to mat Man Sewall.
THE STRUGGLE FOR BRYAN
Everybody is Yet at Sea as to
What Action The Convention
Will Take Morrow.
A NUMBER OF PLATFORMS

n0mlnQtlen was cODceueu; tue uetuO
Gratis were at sea regarding candi
date, and the populists we're about ir
the same condition. But the signs oi
the times were wrongly interpreted,
and as a result The present summer
witnesses one of the most extraordi-
nary political conditions in the history
Of the country.
The forecast of the republican nomi
nee has proven correct; the democratic
national convention, instead of being al
sea regarding an available candidate,
was confronted with plethora OF
them, and the next two or three days
in this city are likely to witness the
most extraordinary complications of an
extraordinary political year that the
most vivid imagination could copjure.
Two national conventions open to-
morrow that of the silverites, who
throw all other issues to the winds, in
order that the white metal may lead
and the other the populists, who are
equally enthusiastic in favor of the 16
to doctrine, but who nevertheless
hold that it should not be given over
whelming precedence, 10 the exclusion
of the naturalization OF railroads and
telegraphs, Individual ownership OF
land, government control of banks,
equal suffrage, the referendum, and the
many other radical reforms that go to-
ward making up the platform OF the
peoples party of the United States.
AS to the matter of candidates, the
difference of opinion is about as great.
Some of the silverites pure and simple
believe that the most diplomatic course
Is to endorse the nominees of the
democratic national convention
Others, again, contend that by the
nomination OF Senator Teller and a
Southern silver man, the cause of the
white metal would be strengthened,
and majority Of the votes in the
electoral college assured. So also the
populists. Some are instructed or
favorable to Bryan, others instructed
or favorable to Teller, while the ma
j,rity are on the fence. The leading
powers Of the Knights of Labor come
out openly in favor of the distinguished
statesman from Colorado, while on the
other hand, some Of the best minds in
the populst convention hold that only
the endorsement of Bryan and Sewall
would be good politics. The fact that
the American Bi-Metaliic union, under
whose auspices the silver convention
to- morrow ia to be held, has come out
in proclamation characterizing the
Chicago ticket as splendid one, and
urging its endorsement and ratifica-
ton, still further complicates the
situation. 1t Is mixed up condition,
all around, and even the most astute
OF the populist and silver leaders are
in situation whers they wonder JUS,
"where they are at
The morning before thu opening OF
the two conventions finds but little
change in the situation, 50 far as the
straig ght-out, middle-of-the-road popu.
list are concerned. They have been
Modified by the intima.ion thrown out |
by the chairman OF the national demo
cratic committee, that ii they endorse
the ticket he is prepared to give them
a representative on the executive COM
mittee of the democrotic party. The
utmost concession the extremists sug-
gest is the nomination or endorsement
of Bryan upon distinct populistic
platform of their own devising, and the
substitution of a populist in the place
of Sewall. The real test of strength
between the Bryan and the anti Bryan
forces will come at to-day's meeting OF
the national committee.
A COMPROMISE PROPOSITION.
f. J. Jeffcies, one of the Michigan
deleg gates to the convention, has pre-
pared O compromise proposition,
which he believes will be acceptable to
both factions OF the party. 1t pro.
poses that ia the states west of the
Mississippi river, where the populists
greatly outnumber the democrats, only
Uopullst electors shall be voted for.
Ia Michigan, Indiane, Illinois, Iowa,
Wisconsin and other doubtful! states of
the middle west, dem ocratlc electors
alone shall receive the combined vote
of the two parties, i1 proportion as
democrats are stron- er there than
populists. 10 the south, both parties
may contend for the supremacy, with
out any attempt at combination. If
when The states are counted, the COM
bined ticket shows majority, then the
party casting the larger vote in the
combination shall take the presidency
and the other. the presidency.
This plan provides that the popnlsts
shall nominate their own ticket, which
will not include the names Of either
Bryan or Sewall.
IN SECRET SESSION.
The national committee OF the
national silver party met this morning
at the Lindell hotel, but after a brief
session, recess was taken until / |
O'Clock, this afternoon, when o secret
session was held at DIR. Motifs room ut
the same hotel; George P. Keeney, Of
California, presided.
THE ONLY TWO CONTESTS.
There are but two contests OF i'm.
portance. those from Colorado and
Illinois. 'rhe former has involved the
entire state delegation; the latter has
tWenty-seyen delegates from Cook