The record-union., 1896-07-02
THE BfMETALLIC COMMITTEE
Think the Silver Forces Will be AL
lowed to Organize the Convention.

tendance of thirty-five representative
silver delegates at an adjourned meet
ing in the Sherman House tonight of
the National Bimetallic Committee.
Senator Jones, on behalf of the commit
tee delegates to wait upon the subcom-
mittee of the National Committee, said
they had been courteously received, and
had been informed that as the body
part of the Executive Committee, none
of the questions presented as to the
temporary organization and contesting
delegations could be passed on. The
committee were requested to wait upon
the full committee.
After numerous speeches. moderate in
tone but bristling with a quiet determi-
nation to have their own way in spite OF
the National Committee of opposite
nIo1-at@ry faith and purposes, the meet
ing decided TO continue the existence of
the conference committee, with Senator
Jones as Chairman.
Several of the leaders spoke in favor
of charging the scope and usefulness
Of the whole committee by making 1t a
permanent convention organization,
" It'll the title of caucus, to which the
silver delegates will be eligible to come
This proposition met with unanimous
favor, and Senator Harris of Tennes-
see was chosen Chairman of the caucus.
The meeting adjourned to Friday night,
or earlier, at the call of the Chairman.
The general opinion of those present
was that the silver forces had lost no
advantage by going before the Nation
al Committee, and that the mild man
rer in which they were received indi
Gated that the silver men would be al
lowed to organize the convention per-
raa nently and temporarily, elect their
candidates and make their own plat
form without serious obstacle from the
gold men. The fact was noted as sig
nificant that the delegation of silver
men We're assured by the National Com
mitteemen that the power of the COM
nittee in full meeting was limited to
recommending to the convention for
is acceptance the temporary officers
and the temporary roll of sitting dele
gates.
Among the newly-arrived silver dele
gates who attended the meeting was
ex-senator Patrick Walsh of Augusta
and Evan P. Howell of Atlanta, both
Of whom are delegat es-at-large from
their State. The Boies and Bland rep
resentatives from Iowa and Missouri
who are delegates also attended.
Governor Altgeld, who has been a
tireless and conspicuous worker In the
silver cause since the delegates began
TO arrive felt physically unequal to the
task of keeping up the work with next
weeks programme in prospect, and left
for his official home in Springfield to-
night. He will return Sunday to re-
new the battle.
Immediately after the meeting Sena-
tor Cockrell of Missouri was brought
to his room and introduced by Senator
Jones. The Governor appeared glad to
meet the Missouri Senator, and they
went into conference behind double
locked doors. The Bland campaign
managers, who We're waiting in the ro-
tunda for something, talked as though
IL was a certainty that forty-eight Iii
nois votes would be cast for Mr.. Bland
On the first ballot They accepted the
conference with Senator Cockrell as
favorable sign. There has been no
sign of Boies' representative being clos
esed with Governor Altgeld.
Among the gold members of the Ma
tional Committee who are being talked
about in a way which indicates retire
ment in favor of the ruling sentiment
are Gable of Illinois, Sherin of Indi-
ana, Prather of Missouri and Richard
son of Iowa.
Senator b. r. Tillman of South Caro-
lima, who is a delegate at-large, ar
rived this afternoon with d. II. Tomp-
lins Of the same State, and registered
at the Sherman House. The fighting
statesman announced his intention of
entering into the thick of the fight
to smother the gold men in the conven-
ton at every stage. but did not commit
himself as to the Presidential candidate
Of his choice