The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-07-09

Situation at the Opening of the Night
Session Of the Convention.

Special 10 the Indianapolis Journal
CHICAGO. July s.-with the tumbling.
tossing cloud of uncertainty clearing away
somewhat, a condidon of chaos is re-
vealed in the Democratic party fully
confusing as the thick veil of mist and
mystery that has hung over IL for the
past week. Let ne endeavor to point out
the main features of this chatoic condition
and explain something of the sentiments
and purposes OF the warning elements, just
before they enter on the battle in what
promises to be the most memorable session
of a memorable convention-the session be-
ginning at O'Clock this evening. Here are
two main divisions of the party-the silver
Populistic majority and the sound-money
or gold minority. Taking up. first the
minority. it comprises about one-third the
convention; by right. little more than
one-third. And it has representatives here
who are not delegates, from all the pros
porous States in the Union. Within its
ranks are two shades of opinion, the gold
standard extremist and the more moderate
sound-noney men. All have agreed, how
ever, that they can exert no influence in
this convention, that the principle they
stand for is more vital than the interests
of their party in single campaign, and
that the easiest way to save the country is
to make the election of the nominee of
this convention impossible. To that end
they have formed a national organization
for the purpose of observing the effect of
this convention on the party in the various
States and then taking up the question Of
calling d new convention and putting
sound-money Democratic ticket in the
field. Thus far they are all agreed but
upon the line of action to be followed by
them in this convention they differ. The
extremists, in the dozens of conferences
held within the last few hours. have IA
vored walking out. Others somewhat
more moderate, have favored pursuing the
course followed by Montana at st. Louis.
of sitting in convention under protest, not
participating in the nomination and re-
serving the right to refer the question OF
supporting the ticket back to their home
people AT this hour this is the course
most likely to be pursued by the delegates
from New York, New Jersey. the New
England States and Wisconsin. or rather a
very large majority of the delegates from
these States. The more moderate sound
money men, including Pennsylvania, Mary
land and Minnesota, will remain in the con-
vention unless, in the excitement of the
row. they change their present purpose
remark that they cannot control the action
of their home people on the second conven-
ton subject.
The silver Populistic combination has a
large majority in the convention and pro-
poses to run it regardless of the other
wing. stealing as many States as possible
and abrogating any rules that may seem
necessary 1t has controlled the convention
with an iron hand up to date. but paused
for the day when threatened with a bolt II
Michigan was turned down, and adjourned
the convention while its committee on Gre
dentials reopened the Michigan case after
once deciding to steal enough seats TO
transfer the vote of the State under the
| unit rule to the silver faction; but again
| it decided to turn down the gold delega-
| ton. Now the silver combination is con-
| fronted with the probability of the refusal
| of large number of delegates to vote on
| the question of nominee, and though IL
| will hang together until the platform is
| adopted there it finds the parting of the
| ways. Ii is also blessed with division
/ into radical and conservative" God
| save the marlx) elements. The radical
| mountaineers, led by the senatorial buc-
| cancers. declare that if boiling is TO be-
| come popular, they may organize little
| bolt of their own, and nominate Teller in
| one corner of the hall. Most of Bland 5
| adherents are fully as radical on the silver
| question and declare that man can get
| the support of their constituents who plays
| for any sound-money support in the con-
vention. The conservative silverites, in
| cluding Indiana. most of the Southern
| delegates and some from the Northwest.
think the nomination of Bland would be
| fatal. The great question now looms up as
lsto whether. with the goldites refusing to
vote, nomination shall be determined by
| two-thirds of all the votes contemplated in
| the call or two-thirds Of the votes cast.
| Here is the rock upon which the insane
silver majority. after practically forcing
the sane minority out of the convention.
| may in turn go to pieces. r. NJ s.