Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-07-06
THE CHICAGO CONVENTION.


The national democratic committee
to nominate candidates for President
and Vice President will meet in Chica-
go tomorrow. The silver men are in
control, but it is believed that conser-
vative measures will prevail.
Both Bland and Boies, the leading
presidential candidates, declare that
they are more devoted to the principle
of free silver than they are concerned
with their own private ambitions, and
that if the leaders of the silver move
ment deem it best for the success OF
free silver, they are willing to with
draw their pretensions to the nomlna-
ton.
Stevenson's name has been used, and
those people who week ago de-
nounced the Vice President for main
tanning silence on the silver question
during all these months now praise
that same silence as being the discre-
ton and reserve which Mr.. Stevenson
owed to his Office as presiding officer
over a dignified body like the United
States Senate.
The feature of yesterday was the
seeming utter collapse of the Teller
boom. Silver democrats say the nomi-
nee must be democrat.
A caucus of the delegates of the
trans-Mississippi States who are favor
able to the nomination of Bland was
held yesterday and showed an aggre-
gate of two hundred and eighteen
votes. Beyond doubt, Mr.. Bland
controls nearly one-half of the votes OF
the convention, but he does not hold
the two-thirds majority needed 10 NOM
mate, and therein will lie his constant
| weakness, and, in all probability, his
final defeat.
The silver members OF the national
| committee were in session all yesterday
afternoon discussing the merits of the
various gentlemen who have been pro-
posed for temporary chairman.
1t has been determined by the silver
men that Senator Hill shall not be per-
mitted to preside over the convention,
The silver men have appealed to him
not to stand, as they will be compelled
to defeat him or any one else not an
out-and.out free coiner. The gold
men, however, are forcing him upon
the committee. Senator Hill is under
the impression that he will be elected
| if selected by the national committee.
The silver men have decided upon a
steering committee. They favor Con-
gresham Bryan for temporary chair
man. and Senator Harris for permanent
chairman.
At the sound money meeting Satur-
day night many republicans were pre-
sent and occupied conspicuous posi-
tons. 1t was said that more than half
of the audience was composed of repub-
licans, and on the stage, where they
| were in full view of every one, sat sew.
eral republicans of national reputation.
| The silver men are making the most of
! this. Speeches were made by ex.Gov.
Roswell P. Flower, of New York; Hon.
Franklin MacVeagh, of Chicago e1-
Gov. William E. Russell, of Massachu-
sets; United States Senator Gray, of
| Delaware, and District Attorney John
R. Fellows, of New York. MIR. Rus
sells speech was the most conciliatory.
Senator Hill absented himself. There
were loud calls for him aud much dis.
appointment. Altogether the audience
seemed to be composed of a majority OF
| administration democrats, for every al
fusion to President Cleveland was
cheered with enthusiasm.
The gold democrats who are support
ing William O. Whitney in the business
which has brought him to Chicago held
another meeting last night and discuss
ed matters of Importance bearing on
the statement they might expect in the
| convention from the dominant silver
men. The feature of the conference,
which, like the previous one, was con.
Quoted behind closed doors, was
speech delivered by MIR. Whitney at the
opening. He paid his compliments to
Governor Altgeld, who, he claimed,
| was the dominating spirit among the
silverites, and ended his remarks With
this declaration, made in q ringing
voice II take it for granted that no
man in this room will ever consent to
the subordination of the welfare of the
country and the integrity of his party
for any consideration
Mr.. John R. Mclean favors eliminat-
ing the tariff from the campaign. In
an interview he said: "If l could
write the democratic platform it would
be Free silver-get there. What the
people want is more money and less
misery. They care nothing about the
tariff question. They want action on
this money question, and they are look
ing to this convention as droug ht-
stricken farmer looks for rain" He
says silver would carry even Maine
and Ohio.
The opening prayer of the convention
will be made by the Rev. Ernest M.
Stires, of Grace Church. He was born
at Norfolk, and passed from the gram
mar school there to the Episcopal High
School, near this city. Thence he went
to the University of Virginia, where he
was graduated with high honors. His
further course was at the Theological
Seminary, near this city, where he was
ordained in 1891.
The Virginia delegation is quartered
at the Sherman House.
Senator Daniel says that he with
drew his name for Vice-President for
two reasons. One is that he does not
think Virginia is in position to claim
that honor, and the other that he pre-.
fers to be free to do as he pleases and
helm some of his friends, The platform