The Portland daily press., 1896-07-07
Gold Men Had Control Of the
National Committee
AND SEATED THEIR OWN DELE
GATES AS A RULE.

Arthur Sewan Pretends to be a Three
Days Convert to Silver Which Will be
News to His Maine Associates-Tem-
porary Craftsmanship Likely to Pre-
cipitate Fight First Thing To-day.
Chicago, July 6.-The Democratic ma
tional committee beginning its meeting
at noon today, transacted its business at
single session, disposing Of all contests
for seats and voting ~ to 23 to report
the name of Senator David B. Hill of
New York for temporary chairman of
the national convention. This twas the
test note in the committee showing the
relative gold and silver strength of the
organization. The silver showing was
made by the presence Of several proxies
for members of the committee who
would have voted for Hill had they
been present. There were one or two
members Of the committee who, within
the past few days, had announced the
transfer of their allegiance from gold to
silver, notably L. L. Morris of the Dis
sriot of Columbia, aud Arthur Sewall of
Maine.
The first business in order was calling
of the roll by the secretary, which
showed 81 present, including Arthur
Sewall Of Maine. Secretary Sheeran
sgata4 that the contestants from Texas,
known as the gold men. had Withdrawn
from the contest for seats. The with
drawal was accepted, accompanied by
statement of the reasons which impeiled
them to enter upon the contest, and
now voluntarily abandon it. This state
U'ent WAS read by the secretary, and
made O part of the records of the com
mittee.
Senator Jones of Arkansas represent
ing the steering committee of the bime-
tallio league, was allowed to address the
committee. He stated the silver men had
no candidate to present for temporary
chairman. The selection of anyone in
accord with the ideas of the silver men
would be acceptable to him, he urged in
the interest of harmony that the wish
es OF the majority of the convention be
not antagonized in the choice. He was
heard with respectful attention, but no
answer was given him, and he withdrew.
The committee decided to consider the
contested cases first That from Ne
vada was settled in favor Of Gen. Keat-
ing and his associates, silver men, with
out vote. In the cases over which con-
test Was made, i've minutes were given
to each side for argument. The first
case of that kind called was John P.
Frenel, gold, against Charles M. Cooper,
silver, from the seventh districs of In
diana. Cooper was placed on the roll by
g. vota of To
A contest brought by the silver men
for seats in three districts In Michigan,
was argued, and on motion OF Chas. s.
Thomas Of Colorado, the gold men were
placed on the roll, Mr.. Oampaus being
the only vote cast for the contestants.
d. j. Mahoney spoke for tho contest
Ing gold delegates from Nebraska, head
I'd by Tobias Castnor, and warned the
Democratic party of the danger there
was before it of defeat at the polls should
1t nominate populist rather than a
Democrat BY the first test vote of the
afternoon, ~ to %, it was decided to
porary roll. Then came the Ohio con.
test, that of the 18th district, wherein
John a. Clark and A. NJ Ref, gold
men, sought the places of Conrad Sohwe-
tier and W. S. Pitts, silver mon. The
gold men were recognized by their dis
trlct convention and the silver men by
the state convention. The committee
voted "a to y, to sustain the decision of
the state convention and the silver men
place on the roll.
An unexpected contest came up from
South Dakota whore a delegation of sill
er men headed by Dr.. Ross sought to
secure seats certified by the state con-
yention in favor of delegation headed
by A. S. Slower. The committee decided
without the fornality of ballot, and
practically by unanimous vote to seat
the Slower or gold delegation. This
ended the contests for the seats in the
convention as far as the national COM
mlttee Is concerned. The committee
next decided to recommend the tempor-
ary chairman of the convention. Mr..
Clayton of Alabama nominated for TINT
position Senator John W. Daniel of Vir-
gin1a. Clayton urged the committee to
recognize the overwhelming majority
IN favor of free silver, known to exist
among the delegates to the convention.
Ex-Lieut Gov. Sheehan ot New York,
presented the name of D. b. Hill of that
presiding officer and his merits as
democrat. The committee then proceed
ed to ballot and Hill was chosen, 27 to %.
he received the votes from the follow
1ng states and territories: Connecticut,
delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Mary
land, Massachusetts,, Minnesota, Missis-
s1ppi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hamp
shire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Ore
gon, PennsyIvania, Rhode island, Ten
n,lessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington,
west Virginia, Wisconsin, Alaska. The
committee from the following states and
territories voted for Daniels: Alabama,