The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-08
CREDENTIALS COMMITTEES.
It Is Still Struggling With the Mich
igan Case.

Chicago, July 8.-The committee on
credentials met at 9 o'clock, the special
order being the motion to reconsider
the vote by which the sitting delegates
from South Dakota were retained. OBJ
lection was made to making any report
on the South Dakota case until the
Michigan case was finally disposed Of
After some discussion the committed
agreed to report on all but the Michi-
gan case.
The committee reported that the ros-
ter made by the national committee is
correct except as to the names of the
delegates and alternates from Mic1i-
gan and Nebraska, and as to Nebraska
unanimously reported in favor of the
contesting delegates and alternates
headed by w. J. Bryan. The COMMITTEES
recommended that the convention ac-
cord to the District of Columbia and
each territory six votes.
It seems that the furOre that the de-
cision to seat the Michigan silver con-
testing delegation caused set the com
mittee to thinking and there was a hur-
riedly called meeting this morning Jusl
when the convention was about to meet.
The silver men presented first q propo-
sition for a half vote each for gold
and silver in each contest. This was
refused by Smith NJ. Weed of New
York, who had taken charge Of the
minority end of the committee. There
tion the silver men made this PROPOSE
tion, that the four delegates -at-laree
of the gold people be sea TED and the
two gold delegates in the ninth district
and that the two silver men in the
Fourth district be seated. This would
make the delegation stand IA for gold
and ID for silver and would destroy the
unit and give an equal division Of the
vote.
The Nebraska case was decided IN
favor of the silver men. headed by esz-
Congressman Bryan. and there was no
disposition to reopen that.
When the committee on credentials
recOnVened at the convention hall at
1:45 y. m, and after sending in the
partial report, it considered a motion
to reconsider the action on the Mich
gan contest. Chairman Atwood said
that he had not read the testimony.
and as they were to be opbOsed on the
floor by the leading talent of>the eoun-
try, Whitney, Villas. Hill and others. he
wanted to be prepared to defend the
| action Of the committee.
The chairman then ordered a roll
call on the motion to reconsider which
resulted 3s ayes and noes. This was
a victory for Delegate e-at-large War
| field Of Maryland who made the fight
| for the reconsideration. Ohio moved
| the appointment of a committee Of five
| of which Chairman Atwood was to be
| chairman. to report on the facts and
political law of the case, to report at 3
| o'clock. The subcommittee was then
| enlarged to seven, and the chairman
| named as the Subcommittee a j.
| McLaurin of Mississippi. Warfeld Of
| Maryland, Smith Weed of New York.
/ J. W. Blake of Texas, UIrich Sloan OF
| Ohio, O'DonnelI of Colorado and Chair
/ man Atwood of Kansas.
/ A member of the credentials commit
tee gave still another version Of the
| Michigan case to the effect that the
| gold delegation people Of the state pro-
| posed a compromise to the silver men
| to seat two district delegates anG three
| delegates OF large a total of five out or
| the eight contestants. This, if accept
| ed will give the silverites IL out OF the
! % Michigan votes, or the entire dele
| cation under the unit rule The goio
/ men. 1t is said. have agreed to make
no contest on the floor if their cOmprof|
! mise suggested is agreed to.