The herald., 1896-07-07
1HE STRUGGLE
: OVER OVER SILVER
Is to Begin With Great
PrOmptness
The NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEETS
Hill Selected for Temporary
Chairman
FREE SILVER ADVOCATES
Will Oppose His Election, favoring
Daniel of Virginia
Possible aaSa Impossible Presidential Booms
Are Launched
One Pac. Looms Up Like q Searchlight In q
Fog; the Convention VIII Favor
the Free Coinage Of
Silver
Possible arSp Impossible Presidential Booms
Are Launched
One Pac, Looms Up Like SesrchIight In q
Fog; the Convention VIII Favor
the Free Coinage Of
Silver
Associated Press Special Wire.

CHICAGO, July 6.-The national COM
mittee today selected temporary chair
man and passed upon the contested
cases which were brought before it. I'm
like the action of the Republican con-
yention in ST. Louis 1t refused to admit
the press to the sessions of the commit
tee and its proceedings were entirely
behind closed doors. The committee de-
cided to take up the contested cases
first. There was little interest manifest
ed in them with the exception of the
Michigan and Nebraska cases. These.
1t was expected, would determine the
relative strength of gold and silver men
on the committee. The Nebraska case
was settled in favor of the gold men by
q vote of 26 to 20. which was about test
vote as was shown later by the vote for
the temporary chairman. A member of
the committee who was In favor Of the
gold delegation and voted with the ma
jority said the case was very peculiar,
and that it was very hard to tell which
side had the regularity, although it was
his opinion that the gold men had long
series of precedents and should be seat
ed. The contest, however, was decided
on a straight vote as to preference of
or silver delegation The probabilities
are that the convention will seat the
silver delegation.
SILVERITES SURPRISED
The action of the committee in seating
the gold delegation from Michigan was
a surprise to the silver men. But one
vote was cast against placing the gold
delegation on the temporary roll, and
one of the silver leaders of Michigan, a
most pronounced silver man and one
who has been emphatic in his denuncia-
ton Of the present administration Mr..
Thomas of Colorado made the motion
to seat the gold delegation and forty
seven members of the national commit
tee voted to do so. In view of the threats
that have been made by the silver men
that the four delegates at large from
Michigan would be unseated in order to
cast the vote of that state for silver and
secure two-thirds majority in the con-
vention, it remains to be seen what ac-
tion they will take, now that the silver
men on the national committee, with one
exception, voted to seat the gold dele
gates. The other contests were of minor
Importance and the decision in each case
was in no sense test.
GUARDIANSHIP QUESTION
OF course the important feature of the
meeting of the committee was the selec-
ton of temporary chairman. AS has
been predicted Senator Hill received a
majority of the votes of the committed
and tomorrow when Chairman Harrity
calls the convention to order he will
present Mr.. Hill for temporary chair
man.
The vote in the committee, 81 to 2S
showed the silver men were not salts
fled and the announcement was immed-
lately made that minority report would
be presen.-d, and Mr.. Daniel who was
defeated in committee, would be the
choice Of the silver men for temporary
chairman 1t means that there will be a
fight in the convention as soon as the
chaplain finishes his prayer
There was an interesting scene in the
committee after Mr. Hills selection.
arter Mr. Thomas announced the deter
mlnation of the silver men to elect an
other man, and inquired of Chairman
Harrity If a silver man would be recog-
hlzed to place another man in nomina-
tloh' question which Mr. Harrity re-
sented as reflection upon his fairness.
When Mr.. Clayton of Alabama made
his speech asking for the selection of
Senator Daniel for temporary chairman
he indicated very plainly the purpose of
the silver men by appealing to the gold
men OF the committee not to name q man
Tor temporary chairman who was unsat-
isfactory to the majority of the conven-
tion and precipitate a fight as soon &c
the convention is called to order
The committee completed ito wor,r h,
selecting the minor officers. to wbo,,,
there will be no objections.
CONTESTS DECIDED
When the national committee met to-
day the first contest called was that -,
the Seventh Indiana district. where n
Rinset, gold man, and Cooper a silver
man, were in contest The committee
decided in favor of Cooper.
Nebraska was next. Two delegations
We're selected from this state The gold
delegation was known as the Castor
delegation and was represented by ID
Mahoney. The silver men were known
as the Bryan delegation and were rep
resented by c. j. Smith. The committee
decided In favor of the gold delegation
on call Of the roll by vote of 26 yeas