The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-08-30

A decision to call two state conven-
tentions, one to nominate Mckinley
and Hobart electors and elect a state
committee, and another to nominate a
silver Republican candidate for Con-
ing of the Republican state committee
yesterday.
BY this action the committee fulfilled
what had been expected of it for several
days, SO far as the expectation that a
plan would be adopted having for its
object the harmonizing of the silver
and Mckinley elements on the state
ticket was concerned, but the expected
/ compromise between the contending
factions in the committee was not eff
fected in the result reached. 1t had
been supposed that the silver men would
be given a voice in formulating the
plan ultimately decided upon, or that
the silver element of the party would
at least be given some recognition of
the views of their representatives on
the committee, but such was not the
case. The Mckinley men had an over
powering majority and refused to listen
to the silver men who represented the
great mass of the Republican voters.
Instead they carried things with a
high hand and in the action finally
taken, said in effect to the silver men:
Although you represent a great many
times as many people as we do, we
know best what is for your good"
The action Of the committee was in
no sense a compromise between the two
elements, as it was voted through by
strict factional vote, the Mckinley
men voting for and the silver men dead
against every proposition.
The division of the Mckinley forces
on Brown and enti-Brown lines, which
many anticipated, did not materialize,
and in fact much that occurred was
contrary to what had been foreshadow-
ed. Up to the evening previous to the
meeting Senator Browns generals had
been urging that nothing be done be-
yond issuing the customary call for a
convention, suppOsing that the tWo-con-
vention idea found its origin in the
affinity between the Tribune as leading
the silver sentiment, and Chairman
Dolly and his chief aid, Ex-Governor
Thomas, all of whom were to be con-
sidered as antagonistic to Mr.. Brown.
Late that evening, however, a new light
shone across the path of the Brown
generals. They saw by it a way to
combine the full Mckinley vote and by
def management still contrive to hold
the winning hand in the end by sup
porting the two-convention plan and
not allowing it to appear that they had
anything in view beyond harmonizing
the party.
They accordingly abandoned the
straight convention plan and got into
the two-convention wagon, glad of the
opportunity, for it was unknown to
them that the silver men, with the
exception of a few of the leaders, ia
vored one convention, believing they
could elect a majority of the delegates
and head off the nomination of McKin-
ley electors. Hence the action of the
meeting as it transpired, She formulat-
ing of a plan for harmony but on very
different lines, than those originally
staked out; resulting virtually in a VIC
tory for Mr.. Brown, for by it he ex-
poets to dominate the selection of the
new state committee, the thing he most
ardently desires to do.
Judge Goodwin was expected to be
present to lead the silver men, but he
failed to put in an appearance. 1t was
supposed he had learned that the silver
men would be given no quarter, and de-
cided to hold himself aloof In his
absence Hon. Thomas Kearns and DR..
c. w. Clark held up the silver banner
and worked hard and faithfully for
the cause. Mr.. Kearns spoke often and
with great earneStneSS, and his little
following voted with great regularity,
but they were too woefully in the mi
nority to make any impression.
The attendance was much smaller
than was anticipated, as was also the
presence of members by proxy more
frequent. There were nineteen mem
bers represented, nine in person and ten
by proxy, and of the number, four only
were on the side of silver, while the
rest were straight out for Mckinley
One illustration of Chairman Dooly's
fairness of method of conducting a
campaign for harmony was the manner
in which the rule was abrogated early