Omaha daily bee., 1896-07-05

'A'A 10 ohh heAa ivy lfAa1'' Nf1H@ &c
ures up several notches, claiming 1SS dele
gates already pledged. There was a story
afoat tonight to the effect that Governor
Altgeld, who returned to the city today and
who Is ambitious to be the Warwick Of the
convention, had thrown the weight OF his
influence to the Missouri farmer. II this
proves true It will give Bland a strong and
skillful. IL perhaps a rash, general to COM
mand his forces. Altgeld has been an un-
certain element in the contests so Tar.
wAKENED BY POWDER.
The day was uskered in with the usual
demonstration Of patriotism. At 6 o'clock
the great guns at Fort Sheridan doomed an
early salute and this was taken UP and
continued down town in one unending can
nonading Of small arms and crackers, until
the air was thick with the fumes OF powder.
The weather was hot and muggy, but a
lazy breeze off the lake stirred the air
sufficiently to make life more enjoyable
among the workers than 1t has been during
the intense heat of preceding days. The
sun shone through misty light clouds which
at times promised showers, and the local
weather prediction for the day held the
prospect of showers followed by slightly
cooler weather.
The political centers were astir early in
the day, for there had been little rest fer
the weary workers after the patriotic
artillery of the day began. The storm
centers for the general crowd were as usual
in the Hobbies of the Palmer house, Audi
forum and the Sherman house, while In the
upper chambers of these and other hotels
the leaders proceeded with their CON
ferences oblivious to the desfening peals
from without. Early in the day the main
Hobbies were choked with boisterous but
good natured throngs, who cheered
alternately for Bland, Boies, Matthews and
the other favorites.
The caucuses Of the gold and the silver
elements last night were the main themes
OF discussion and speculation. The warning
notes In some of the speeches at the gold
meeting were expected to be followed by
a more definite announcement of policy
later In the day. The gold forces met at the
Palmer house during the morning and
proceeded TO map out the lines of battle.
while ex-Sccretary's Whitney's rooms at
the Auditorium were the center OF con
tinued conferences. The main interest OF
the day centered in the development of the
line of action of the gold men. While it was
conceded that the silver forces had a
majority and possibly under circumstances
a two-thirds vote, yet the moral effect OF
this was in part dissipated by having the
total divided among Bland, Boies, Matthews,
Teller and others, while the gold ranks
were in a compact body.
The quarters of Chairman Harrity.
Sergeant-at-Arms Martin and Secretary
Sheerin were besieged by groups anxious
to arrange the innumerable details which
fall to the lot OF these executive chiefs.
Mr.. Harrity, in a light gray serge suit, was
suave and unrufied in the midst of a
hundred opportunities. Secretary Sheerin
had not only the burdens of his position,
but was actively combating a movement
in the Indiana delegation to vote him out
OF his position on the national committee,
owing to serious differences with the free
silver majority in the delegation.
Al the Sherman house, where the silver
forces rule, there was the somewhat tense
feeling marking the determined attitude of
the silver forces within recent days. Senator
Jones of Arkansas, the recognized field
marshal of the silver ranks, conferred
with the leaders from various sections and
mapped out the deciSive policy which is
fast maturing. He expresses the confidence
of positive conviction In the success OF his
forces, and this had been confirmed by the
reports to the silver caucus last night. The
committee named at the caucus-one from
each silver delegation-was busy making It's
canvass on which an exact count of the
silver strength will be made.
The eastern gold standard men got to
work early this morning, but all the while
were decidedly communicative Senator
Hills attitude of not talking upon the issue
is the basis of much speculation. 1t had
been supposed that both he and Mr.. Whitney
would be the great prophets of the gold
movement and would do the talking, but sc
far, while Mr.. Whitney Is looked upon as
the leader. the statements as to cause and
effect of the silver move upon the party had
been made by Ex-Governor Flower and John
r. Fellows. Whether Senator Hills q%uietude
betokens a desire to take the temporary
craftsmanship of the convention untram-
meled by any incendiary or absolutely par
tial statement, or whether it is merely the
q%uietude that betokens active work for the
next few days, cannot be stated.
TALK OF A CANDIDATE.
Ex-Lieutenant Governor Sheehan, New
York's national committeeman, said: ''Tc
talk of boiling before the convention decides
anything is foolish. We will act after the
platform Is adopted"
On the other hand 1t has been determined
by some of the anti-silver men to have
candidates placed in nomination for whom
they can vote. The gold standard mer
think they have about $50 votes in the con,
yention and they wish to have them held
away from any silver candidate until some
definite arrangement can be made for max
ing the force effective. Governor PattisOr
Will be placed in nomination by PennSyl
vania and, there is some talk that William
%. Russell will receive the endorsement Of
the Massachusetts delegation. 1t has also
been suggested that some candidate SHOULD
be named who will receive all the anti-sil
yer votes after complimentary votes have
been cast. There has been some suggestion
that William C. Whitney should be the
man whom the gold democrats should unite
on, but 1t Is doubtful II he would care to BIZ
voted for in a convention which adopted q
silver platform. There is also some tall
of placing William II. Morrison in nomlna.
tion for the purpose OF holding the anti
silver vote together, but up to the present
time the action of the gold men has no
crystallized on any line of policy during
the convention.
The most interesting feature of the day al
the Palmer house was the manner in which
the eastern men who arrived yesterda,
plunged into their canvass which the,
style the sound money campaign. Mos
OF the leaders betook themselves early t
the Palmer house, considering that the mos
promising field for their operations. VIII
liam G. Whitney. John II. Fellows, Hugh
Grant, Comptroller Eckels, Hon. Washing
ton Hesing of Chicago, Ex-Governor Rus
sell OF Massachusetts,, ex-CongressmaI
Everett OF Massachusetts, and Don NJ. Dick
inson of Michigan are conspicuous figure,
In the lobbies. Those gentlemen, fgura
lively, took off their coats and plunged
into their business. They buttonholet
strangers who wore the badges of dele
gates and piled them with Tn
tenor of their talk was that delegates mus
not let their party be captured by popu
lists and that free silver and gold at II
TO l would bring the country to a silve,
basis and involve commercial prosperity
Young Governor Russell of Massachusetts,
In a light suit OF gray with a straw ha
thrust upon the back of his head, was par
ticularly energetic and attracted much at
tention. Whenever half n dozen silve
men gathered about him he made a brie
extemporaneous speech, expounding tn
eastern view.
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