The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-08

chairman, to construct a platform and
report to the fun committee tomorrow
at 3 o'clock.
Mr.. McDermott OF New Jersey offered
an amendment which provided that this
subcommittee be authorized to prepare
the entire platform, with the exception
of the financial plank, and that that be
disposed of by the full committee.
Mr. McDermott Is sound money map
and in a short but aggressive speech, de-
clared that he did not want the financial
plank constructed by any subcommittee
for the reason that existing conditions
demanded as much publicity as possible
in the decision of financial questions. He
was vigorous IN his protest against what
he knew would be the action of the COM
mittee and indicated that the democrats
OF New Jersey and the east could or
would not support a free silver coinage
platform. Mr.. McDermotts speech was
construed by the silver men OF the COM
mittee as a threat that he would bolt
Senator White Of California replied to
that threat in his accustomed energetic
fashion. Among other things, Mr.. White
said that he, for one, would never dare
to 20 into a national convention whose
final edict he intended to repudiate. He
has" said Mr.. White, referring 70 Mr
McDermott "never learned that the con-
stitution of his country made silver
equal with gold and the money of the
land. Is he astonished now that that
constitution shall be upheld? II he be-
lieves 1t Is necessary to the perpetuation
of the democracy that he must lie down
to the tyrannical power of gold, let him
GO" In some portions of his argument
Senator White was especially severe IN
his condemnation of what was construed
10 be Mr.. McDermotts threat, and his
high pitched voice was at times plainly
heard echoing through the halls above the
noise and confusion of the crowd.
Further remarks were made by Mr. Har-
tH..urN L. 90 he
amendment, and by Mr. Jones of New
Mexico on the other side.
The debate gave promise Of continuing
indefinitely and of causing some feeling.
Mr. Reagan of Texas, effectually put a
stop to this discussion by moving the pre-
vious question on the motion 10 appoint
subcommittee.
Does the previous question extend to
the committees of the conventionY' quiet-
ly asked Senator Villas Of the chairman Of
the committee, with ill-disguised astonish-
ment.
"Yes," said Senator Jones, and as he
made his reply, a smile stole over the race
of every member of the committee familiar
with parliamentary procedure.
The ruling of the chair was final and by
a vote of 36 ayes to noes, the previous
question was put. The motion to appoint
the subcommittee as originally intended,
was then carried by viva voce vote.
The subcommittee consists of the fol
lowing gentlemen. Senator Jones or Ar
Kansas chairman; Senators Cockrell OF
Missouri, George of Mississippi, Gray of
Delaware. Iill Of New York and Tillman
of South Carolina, Mr.. Russell Of Massa-
chusetts, Mr. Worthington of Illinois, and
Mr. Owens Of Indian Territory.
Senator Villas Of Wisconsin was first
named, but withdrew and suggested the
substitution of Mr.. Russell.
This committee was instructed to report
to the full committee tomorrow morning
at 8 O'clock and after some further dis
ON a on OF 4 a.
journed and the subcommittee went into
secret session.
The desire of the committee to shut off
protracted debate was made manifest
when a motion was made to allow any
member desiring to submit a platform
plank five minutes in which to discuss the
plank. 1t was promptly voted down,
members being requested Informally to
leave their proposed planks with the
chairman. This resulted in unloading up
on the table a very large variety Of planks,
chief among them being contributions on
the financial, tariff and Cuban questions.
A delegation, representing the national
woman suffrage association, requested
permission to be heard, but the subcom-
mittee declined to hear any one on any
subject and gave strict orders to its SER
geaht-at-arms that its proceedings must
not be Interrupted.
Just before the committee went into se-
cret session Senator Hill made the state
rnent that there would in all probability
be a great deal of discussion and a very
careful consideration of the proposed
financial plank. He expects the subcom-
mittee to be in session several hours and
hopes through argument that will be ad-
vanced that a conservative policy will be
pursued and a modification of the oriei-
nal intention Of the silver leaders agreed
TO.
on the other hand, Senators Jones. and
Tillman make the positive assertion that
the financial plank shall declare for the
free and unlimited coinage OF silver at
the specific ratio of 16 to / in language
that csnnot be misunderstood and as
tersely expressed as Il is possible for the
committee to formulate it.