The herald., 1896-06-15
Interest Now Centers on the
Financial Plank
HOT DEBATE is EXPECTED
But the Gold Standard Delegates viii
Accept No Compromise
The Platform PulIy Expected to Declare
Strongly for Gold
The Qasstion Of the vics.Presidsntial csndi-
date Causes nuch Speculation, and
Many Names Are Suggested, but
There 10 No Pavorite

Associated Press Special Wire.
ST. LOUIS. June 14.-When the Re-
publican convention is called to order
on Tuesday It will be found the prelim-
inaries have been looked after with ex-
ceptional thoroughness. There will be
no obstacles in the way Of beginning the
work for which the convention was
called and the present indications are
that the meeting will not be of long du-
ration.
The convention hall will be in COM
plete readiness. Tho states are expected
to have their recommendations Of COM
mittes plans In readiness by tomorrow
night. The national committee has en-
ttrely concluded the consideration Of an
unusually long list OF contests and 1t is
believed by those who have given at
tention that this work will have been
found to be so completely done that
comparatively little will be left for the
committee on credentials. Necessarily
there 'laA been no. formal consideration
of declaration OF principles on which the
party will mako its appeal to the coun-
tryi but It will beRound that this branch
OF the work has by no means been neg
lected. There has been q very general
exchange Of views upon this important
point and much done looking to the har-
monious capitalization Of views which,
It Is believed. win render possible for
the platform committee to reach q con-
clusion with comparatively little de-
lay. Selection has been made of the
temporary chairman and other officers
of the temporary organization and pro-
gram has radically been agreed upon
for the permanent organisation with
Senator Thurston Of Nebraska for pre-
siding oflosr Of the convention. When
we add to those accomplishments the
fact that the presidential nominee has
practically been named. 1t must be con-
csded that the convention has appar-
emily . comparatively easy and brief
task before 1t. Obstacles may be en-
countered. but as yet comparatively few
Of them are discernible.
CONTESTED SEATS.
The length Of time the convention
shall sit in all probability will be de-
termined largely by the plan Of proceed
ing which shall be determined by the
committee on credentials. If this COM
mittee should elect to reopen all the con-
tests for seats In the convention and to
make an original investigation Of the
various questions which the disputes
cover, the proceedings would be much
delayed. These contests involve the
right Of 1853 seats and cover q wide range
Of controversy. including the compare
tive validity of many rival party organi-
sations, state and district, involving
much Of heated personal rivalry, rare
prejudice and factional jealousy, to say
nothing Of the questions of proceeding
In rival conventions and even Of methods
employed at the polls. There are stacks
Of papers that might be examined in al
most every case. The preponderance
OF opinion is that the credentials COM
mittee will not deem 1t necessary to go
into many of the contests in detail; that
on the contrary the verdict Of the nation
al committee will be practically adopt
ed as final in a large majority of the con-
test cases. The committee spent four
days and large part Of as many nights
in sitting the facts in these cases and
hearing arguments by either the princi-
pals or their counsel. The meeting of
the national committee was called earl
Ter than usual in order that this work
might be done with more than the ordi-
nary thoroughness for the facilitation Of
the progress of the conventions work.
The convention also departed from the
usual practice in hearing each case as a
body and not in delegating the task to
subcommittee. 1t Is believed this
course will have strong influence in
commencing the verdict in all cases to
the committee to which the committee
will formally assign the task of inquir-
ing into the qualification Of its mem
bers.
On the other hand there will be strong
pressure on the part of the delegations
whose claims have been adversely
passed upon to have the controversy re-
investigated. The defeated delegates
generally regard the credentials COM
mittee in the tight of a court Of appeals,
and in many cases they will insist upon
a hearing. In exceptional cases this re-
quest will probably be granted and the
committee will unanimously take UP
cases like that of Delaware, where both
sides to the contest were denied seats
or like that Of Arizona, where the names
of both parties were placed upon the
roll and each delegate awarded only half
vote. In some instances 1t Is UNDER
stood that no pressure will be brought to
bear to secure q reopening of the cases
and New York is one of these. In that
abide by the dccision Of the national
committee. 1t is even suggested that
proposition may be made In the cUnven-
tion to make the temporary roll perma-
nent IN all but exceptional cases, which
would. OF course, If adopted. relieve the
committee on credentials of the greater
part OF It's labor and materially expe-
dite the work OF the convention.
THE RESOLUTIONS.
The contest in the committee on reso-
lutions Is expected to be sharp. but not
protracted. As 1t now appears. there
WIZ be little or no difficulty In agreeing