The San Francisco call., 1896-06-17
DEMOCRATIC COMMENTS.
How the Convention Work IsViewed
by Leaders.


this convention.
This" he said to-day, sis the most re-
markable convention that ever convened
in California in this respect-it is spon-
taneous outburst for a thing that was
doubtful short time ago.
"The leaders who have the convention in
hand are nearly all pronounced gold men,
yet the convention will undoubtedly be
overwhelmingly for silver and adopt a
radical silver platform. There is an un-
expected confidence among the Democrats
and a strong hope OF winning on the silver
issue.
'The silver issue is about the only
feature that 1 am taking much interest in,
and am going away as soon as the plat
form is adopted. My paper, the Stockton
Mail, has been fighting for silver for four
years, and it is a singular thing that when
6 Democratic convention meets and is
about to adopt free silver platform, there
is but one Democratic paper in the State
really advocating free silver. This shows
that the silver sentiment has not been
created by the press, but in spite of it, and
1t shows how effective has been the pro-
paganda by the silver men.
''The gold men are generally accepting
the silver issue with a good deal of conf
dence that the party can win on it. They
think that it is a good party policy, al
though they think it is bad for the country.
John P Irish is the oEly one of the gold
men l have met here who does not say
that it is good policy for the party to in
dorse silver and that it can probably carry
the next election on that issue.
stevenson IS my favorite for the Presi-
dency if his stand on the silver question
is satisfactory. Boies would probably be
my next choice.
II think it is shameful the way the Fed
eral brigade has been turned loose on this
convention; think it is an outrage that
the recent civil service order of the Presi-
dent has been withheld in the personal in
terest of the President in securing an in
dorsement here"
Attorney R. A. Long of Willows has
been keeping at least half an eye on the
Congressional nomination in the Third
District.
This is a representative convention"
he observed to-day, "and it knows what it
wants to do and will do it. 1t represents
all classes and has comparatively few
proxies in it. 1t is independent, and the
bosses will fare mighty poorly in it. Boies
of Iowa or Campbell of Ohio are my
present favorites for the Presidency"
Captain Messic of San Francisco is one
OF the notable characters OF the conven-
ton. He is a strong friend of John Dag
gett and does not believe that w. w.
Foote'S coalition with Gould presages any
misfortune for the Mint superintendent.
T. T. Lane of Angels Camp is urged as
candidate for delegate. His friends say
that all Mr.. Lane has to do is to acknowl-
edge his willingness to serve and he is as
good as elected. Mr.. Lane has consented
to accept if the honor is offered him.
One Of the old Democratic warhorses
here is Judge J. c. Ball of Woodland, who
has been attending Democratic conven-
tions for generation ard q half in this
State. His interest did not seem to run
very actively to the connubiating and
wire-pullng that is going on.
Il have been looking around, !" he OBJ
served to-day, trying to find some of the
old faces have been meeting at conven-
tions for thirty-ive years, and l found but
few of them here. There is old Joe Ham
iIton and Applegate of Placer of the old
time delegates, and l ran across Judge
Mesick of Santa Clara. | have met John
McMurray of Siskiyou and Ostrom of
Yuba, and 1 expect to run across some
more of the old boys, but they are few,
they are few"
August Keller, an able representative
from Yuba, is one Of the prominent char
acters of the convention.
Joseph Blake of Solano, who has the
distinction Of having Andy Clunie for lis
colleague, has proved to be a man of
weight and influence in the convention.
+. B. Pond is quietly busy. He will not
so to Chicago as a delegate at large on a
silver platform and so is out of that race.
My main criticism of this convention
he said, ''is that it is being governed by
policy rather than by some other things"
Among other comments were the fol-
lowing:
A. NJ. Seymour of Sacramento-The con-
vention will no doubt declare for free coin
age Of silver and those who are in favor of
gold will simply have to stand it. think
that if we could get the real sentiment Of
the delegates we would find a surprisingly
large number in favor of gold, and think
that many who are shouting for silver
really have not given the subject honest
thought.
H. NJ. La Rue of Sacramento-I am
firmly opposed to woman suffrage, and be-
lieve the convention will ignore or take
stand against it.
Frank V. Brooks, of the regulur Forty
secon District: 81 believe the action of
Chairman Gould in refusing to grant the
contesting delegation hearing will re-
suit in split III the Democratic party. 1t
Is contrary to no less than four prece-
dents which made it a law of Democratic
conventions that contesting delegates
should be barred until the party organi-
zation was effected. GouId's usurpation
of arbitrary power is great injustice
that the country delegations must resent.
In the matter of the currency think that
every member of the delegation is for
silver. THE CALL did creditable stroke
of journalism by beating its competitors
into the capital by fully an hour this
morning"
Colonel o. Byrne of the Regulars: ooh.
Pm for silver Of course. I'm also for fair
play in the Democratic Dartv and Tac,