The San Francisco call., 1896-07-08
morrow's battle promises to be equally ex-
citing and interesting.
JAMES G. MAGu1RE.
BUILDING THE PLATFORM.
The Troublesome Free-Coinage
Plank Referred to Sub-Com-
nalttae.

nittee.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, July 7.-Although
there was some objection to the hour fixed
for the assembling of the committee on
resolutions 60 clock, at the Palmer House)
it was some time after that hour before
the committee was called to order. The
crowd gathered about the committee-room
and made life burden to Assistant Ser
geant-at-Arms Noise OF Kansas by their
persistent demands to see members of the
National Committee, whom they ina gined
to be occupying the apartment, as they
had done yesterday. He was successful,
however, in maintaining the privacy of
the body.
When the committee on resolutions met
Senator Stephen NJ. White of California
was chosen chairman by acclamation.
He was called to the door an instant after
and met a committee representing the
committee on permanent organization,
who notified him of his selection as per-
manent chairman of the convention. He
went back into the committee-room and
announced the necessity of their making
change in the craftsmanship. Thereupon
Senator J. K. Jones of Arkansas, chair
man of the silver-steering committee and
the man most generally spoken of as the
chairman of the next National Committee,
was chosen to succeed Mr.. White.
The committee began work through a
motion by Mr.. Thomas of Colorado that
a subcommittee of nine be appointed
with Senator Jones of Arkansas as its
chairman. to construct platform and re-
port to the full committee tomorrow
morning at 8 o'clock.
Mr.. McDermott of New Jersey offered
an amendment which provided that this
subcommittee be authorized to prepare
the entire platform, with the exception of
the financial plank, and that that be dis
posed of by the full committee. Mr.. Nc
Dermott is a sound-money man, and in a
short but aggressive speech declared that
he did not want the financial plank con-
structed by any subcommittee for the
reason that existing conditions demanded
as much publicity as possible in the dis.
cussion of financial questions. He was
vigorous in his protest against what he
knew would be the action of the commit
tee, and intimated that the Democrats of
New Jersey and the East could not and
would not support q free-coinage plank.
Mr.. McDermott's speech was construed
by the silver men of the committee as a
threat that be would bolt the ticket, and
Senator White of California replied to that
threat in his accustomed energetic fashion.
| Among other things Mr.. White said that
he for one would never dare to go into a
National Convention whose final edict he
intended to repudiate.
HAS he," said Ser ator White, referring
to Mr.. McDermott, "never learned that
! the constitution of this country made sill
yer equal with gold and the money of the
land? Is he astonished now that that con-
stitution shall be upheld? If he believes
it is necessary to the perpetuation of DEM
ocracy that he must lie down to the tyran-
nical power of gold, let him go"
In some portions of his argument Sem
ator White was especially severe in his
condemnation of what was construed to
be Mr.. McDermott's threat and his high
pitched voice was at times plainly heard
echoing through the halls above the noise
AMI confusion of the crowd.
Further remarks were made by Mr.. Har-
rison of Connecticut in favor of the
amendment, and by Mr.. Jones of New
Mexico on the other side. The debate
gave promise of continuing indefinitely
and of causing some feeling. Mr.. Regan
of Texas effectually put stop to this dis
cussion by moving the previous question
on the motion to appoint a sub-com mittee.
"Does the previous question extend to
the committees first question p quietly
asked Senator Villas Of the chairman, with
| ill-disposed astonishment.
EYES," said Senator Jones, and as he
made this reply a smile stole over the
face of every member of the committee
familiar with parliamentary procedure.
The ruling of the chair was final and by
vote of So ayes to IA noes the previous
question was put. The motion TO appoint
the subcommittee as originally intended
was then carried by viva voce vote.
The subcommittee consists of the fol-
lowing gentlemen: Senator Jones of Ar
kansas, chairman: Senators Cockrell of
Missouri, George OF Mississippi, Gray of
Delaware, Hill of New York and Tillman
of South Carolina. Russell of Massachu-
| sets, Worthington of Illinois and Owens
of Indian Territory.
Senator Villas of Wisconsin was first
named, but withdrew and suggested the
substitution of Mr. RUSSELL This COM
mittee was instructed TO report to the full
committee tomorrow morning at o. clock,
and after some further discussion at IL
o'clock the full committee adjourned and
the subcommittee went into executive
session.
| The desire of the committee to shut off
! protracted debate was made manifest when
motion was made to allow any member
desiring to submit pla torn plank five
minutes in which to discuss the plank. 1t
was promptly voted down, members be-
ing requested informally to leave their
proposed planks with the chairman This
resulted in unloading upon the table a
very large variety of planks, chief among
them being contributions on the finan-
cial, tariff and Cuban questions. A
delegation representing the National
Suffrage Association requested per-
mission to be heard, but the
subcommittee declined to hear any one
on any subject and gave strict orders to
its sergeant-at-arms that its proceedings
must not be interrupted. Just before the
committee went into executive session
Senator Hill made the statement that