Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-21
ANTE-CONVENT|ON GOSSIP
The Silver Men Are Serene and
Confident.
GOLD MEN ARE UNCER TAIN
Senators Morgan and Pugh, Congressman
Bankbead and General Pettus Will Preb-
ably Be the Delegation at Large.

Montgomery April 2O.--(special)-It is
being talked in the Hobbies that it would
be an appropriate thing for the state con-
yention to put Senators Morgan
and Pugh, Congressman Bankhead and
Gen. L. W. Pettus at the head of the Ala
bama delegation to the state convention
by eleeting them delegates from the state
at large This is truly a great quartette,
possessed of nerve and facility. as well
brains and experience. The proposition
is being considered with great favor.
1t is believed tonight that the Clarke
delegation from Lee will not have the as
sulance to come before the executive
committee and ask for seats.
Congressman Stallngs is a conspicuous
figure ia the lobby. He knows every
body, and in connection with some faith
full work for a 16 to l platform he is en-
joying Immensely the victory he helped
to achieve.
Referring to Mr.. Stallings suggests the
fact that this, his district, went soldly
for Johnston and free silver not one of
the ten counties which compose it send
ing a Clarke delegat ton to the conVen-
ton.
The returns from the Second district
are decided evidence of the influence
in the district of Congressman Stallings.
1t Is understood tonight that Hon. James
Crook of Calhoun Will be selected by the
executive committee tomorrow as the
temporary chairman of the convention,
and Hon. John H. Bankhead will be
chosen as permanent presiding officer
Who the secretaries will be is not known.
EmiSSarieS and missionaries in the in
terest of Silver Dick Bland of Missouri
and Gov. Claude Mathews of Indiana for
president are here today talking and dis
tributing literature for their favorites.
From all that can be gathered, after
observant contact with the delegates to-
night from all parts of the state, when
the platform shall have been announced
and promulgated nobody will have cause
to complain of ambiguity or equlvocation
In its language. There will be no doubt
full terms in the declaration on the money
question. 1t will be for the free coinage,
independent and unlimited, of silver and
gold at the. ratio at 16 to 1. The popular
, understanding tonight that the grand
old warrior and tribune of the people,
Gen. Ed w. Pettus, will be chairman of
the committee on resolutions, is greeted
everywhere with hearty enthusiasm.
Among the silver men 1t is an assurance
that the convention will hear good old
fashioned democratic doctrine, made up
of principles that outlast candidates.
campaigns and administrations. Princi-
Piles that never change, no matter how
often ambitious men may make law unto
themselves to meet existing conditions.
The esteemed gentlemen calling them
selves sound money men are murmuring
much tonight over what they must I'M
derstand will be a straight free silver
platform. They are now for harmony,
and don't want the money issue thrust
dnto the convention except to relegate it
to the national conyention-a1l this in the
interest of harmony But all this is in
vain. The free silver men are largely in
the majority, and they are determined to
have their way. They will hear patient
ly all that is to be heard in reason. and
then they viii act as they came here
fresh from their people determined to act,
mot only to speak out their own convic-
tons, but to elect a delegation to the
Chicago convention about not one of
whom there shall be shadow of a doubt
as to his proud devotion to 16 to l free
silver. The jefferson county sound mon
ey contingent held meeting and dis
cussed the future, but without arriving
at any sort of conclusion. There will be
general caucus of the Clarke delegates
tomorrow morning at 10 O'Clock. The
gentlemen of this persuasion seem little
uncertain of things, while there is on the
part of the silver men and Johnston dele
gates general cheerful and mutual un
Outstanding and determination that all
n&i11 no