The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-07-02

PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN
TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN OF THE
CONVENTION WILL BE SELECTED,
And Other Preparations Made for As
serting the VIII of the Majority. if
the Committee Does Not ReIent.

CHICAGO, July 1.-The Democratic pot
is beginning TO boil and the silverites are
preparing the ingredients for the stew.
Many delegates to the national convention,
which convenes next Tuesday at the Co
liseum, are already here, and numerous
conferences are being held Hon. w. F.
Harrity chairman of the national commit
tee, arrived to-day and made mis- appear
ance at the Palmer House few minutes
before II, the hour set for the meeting of
the executive committed of the national
committee. He found the silver COM
mittee, appointed yesterday to confer
with him, awaiting him, and gave it's
members an early audience. When asked
as to the status of the temporary
craftsmanship, before he had met the sill
verites, Mr.. Harrity said he had no infor-
nation to give out on that question. Il
can only say" continued the chairman.
that SO far as i am concerned, / have
no man for the place. Whether the matter
will be harmonized with the silver men, or
what the outcome will be, it is as yet too
early to attempt to say. / have had no
opportunity 10 confer with the leaders, and
will be able TO say more later"
Senator Blackburn, of Kentucky, Is also
ference during the greater part of the day
with silver delegates from all parts of the
country. The Senator declines to discuss
the situation beyond expressing his salts
faction at the prospects of an unquestion-
able silver majority in the convention.
Col. Phil Thompson, who accompanies
Senator Blackburn, says the Senator will
unquestionaby be placed in nomination,
but that ii is not yet determined by whom
the nominating speech will be made.
4 conference between Governor Altgeld
Governor Stone and several other leading
Democrats, was held at the Sherman House
to-day. The meeting was for the purpose
of outlining a plan OF action to be carried
out by the national committee in regard
TO the temporary organization of the con-
vention. The two Governors breakfasted
together and at once left the dining room
and met with other prominent free-silver
Democrats and remained in session the
greater part of the forenoon. The door of
the room was closely guarded, and the
guard said he had been instructed not to
admit anyone, and not even TO take a card
should any be presented. There has been
some talk that Governor Altgeld may be
chosen for permanent chairman, but the
Governors friends declare that he is not
a candidate for the honor and will not ac-
cept it.
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
The executive committee of the national
committee convened at the Palmer House
promptly at II O'Clock with Chairman Har-
rity and Messrs Wall, Sheerin, Sherley,
Prather and Wallace present, Mr.. Cable
being the only absentee. The committee
went Immediately into executive session
with a Gordon of guards at the various
doors The silver committee, consisting of
Senators Jones, Daniel. Turpie and Cover
nors AltgeId and Stone. was promptly adj
mitted. The two committees We're together
for an hour and a half when the silver
men withdrew, leaving the national COM
mtteemen TO continue the conference.
The proceedings were Informal in charac-
ter, and while there was no acrimony dis
played on either side. the conference was
very earnest in character. There were no
formal speeches, but the conference par
took of the character of a general convoca-
ton. "Quiet as if We were sitting around
q log fire in the country said one of the
participants. after it had closed.
The silver men first asked that II should
be definitely understood that they did not
come as REPRESENTATIVES of the silver COM
mittee, but as delegates representing the
majority views of the convention. They ex-
pressed desire 10 have an understand
ing upon the various questions of tempor-
ary organization. chairman, seats for dele
gates and alternates, procedure in regard
to contesting delegations and the arrange
ment of the temporary roll call.
Referring TO the temporary roll call the
members of the executive committee IN
timated that they would expect to consid-
er the contests the national committee
had done all previous occasions and
make mp the temporary roll can Atten, Ten,
so far been no notice of contest except in
the one instance of Nebraska. The silver
men did not indicate whether this would
sfap
half of the national committee that the
tickets would be distributed by the COM
mittee according to the established custom
The principal part of the conference was
devoted TO the selection of a temporary
chairman and on this point no understand
hat he had had no opportunity for con-
ference with other members OF the national
committee and he did not feel prepared Isnn ~ to
said he would be pleased TO confer with
the silver men again and asked them TO
sore bv which time he hoped to be able
70 sneak authoritatively. He said he had
no candidate. but declined to say wheth-
err the committee would be disposed to act
,,non its own responsibility or accept the
advice of the silver men,
GENTLE THREAT.
,-be silver men were not precisely pleased
With this statement. but there was moth
ing for them to do but accept the situa-
ton as it presented itself. This they did.
hut not without making t.Isir position very
clear. All the visitors talked and all agreed
In making II plain that Trey would expect
10 be consulted. and ais, IN case OF failure
m consult them in t,.e selection OF a
presiding officer who.e laws were not I'm
harmony with those OF tn. majority, they
would be heard from In the convention.
| This was spoken in courteous language, but
A. was nut so plainly thif the members
~ the executive committee did not fail
| RI comprehend its full import
,rtc sflxer men also state(. that they
x-e,,ld no satisfied with arid would accent
snv man designated by the national COM
miftee, provided he was q man Of recos
u,as n r~ar whnse views we're understood