Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-06-18

Mckinley Managers Seem to Be Pla-
eating the More Enthusiastic Advo-
Gates of the White Metal, Though
There Is No Hope of Satisfying the
Out and Out Silver Men.

SIQer6Q Jne more prOOaDle II appears
that the national platform will con-
form very closely to that of the Indi-
ana convention, with all reference to
ratio stricken out. The Indiana plat
form declared against free and unlim-
tied coinage of silver at a ratio of 16
to 1. 1t is promised to cut off reference
to ratio and end with a strai ght declar-
alton against free coinage. The pur-
pose is to avoid the claim that the plat
form does not declare against a ratio
other than Is l. The insistence is
strong that there will be no chance to
declare the platform a catch. 1t is
quite apparent hat there is d determi-
latiOn to make the platform for a sin
gle gold standard, but there is a desire
to avoid a declaration so emphatic
as would be offensive to some
sections of the country,
particularly several states in the Mis-
sissippi valley. All expectancy of
forming a financial plank which would
be satisfactory to Teller and his fol-
overs from the silver states has been
5ng abandoned even by silver men.
While declaring for the American sys-
tenn OF protection, it is quite probable
that the Ohio platform will be closely
followed in this particular. It is said
that the financial difficulties necessitat-
ing the issue of bonds will be declared
due to a failure Of the democratic party
to provide sufficient revenue to meet
the current expenses of the govern
ment. 1t is also expected that the con-
ditions of the country and the depres-
sion and financial disturbances will be
attributed TO democratic control. 1t is
understood that the program is to
have the leaders of the various delega-
tons confer and agree upon platform
so that a committee on resolutions may
be selected which will report a plat
form that will not precipitate a fight
on the floor of the convention between
those who favor an anti-silver declara-
ton. The fight from the silver men
cannot apparently be avoided. Other
portions of the platform will largely
follow past declarations Of the party
The main interest centers upon the
currency plank and next in order of
importance IS the tariff
It has been practically decided by a
majority of the national committee that
Charles w. Fairbanks shall be tenn
porary chaidman. There is a strong
probability that Senator Thurston will
be permanent chairman.
Henry G. Payne, of Wisconsin, has
prepared a draft of a financial plank
for the republican convention which
has been passed around among
large number of delegates and mem
bers of the committee and met with
quite general approval. Mr.. Payne is
a pronounced anti-silver man and says
that he could vote without the least
hesitation for the plank which he has
prepared. 1t follows:
We are unalterably opposed to every
measure calculated to debase our cur
rency or impair the credit of the
country. We are therefore opposed to
free and unlimited coinage Of silver at
the ratio Of 16 to 1 or any other basis
except upon international agreement
which shall embrace the leading COM
merclal nations OF Europe.
I'VE favor the use of as much silver
as is necessary for coin purposes and
which is consistent with maintaining
the parity OF gold and silver as circu-
lating mediums. The republican party
caused the enactment Of the law pro-
viding for the resumption OF specie
payments in 1879. 1t will favor all
measures designed to maintain the
money of the United States, whether
coin or paper at the present standard,
which is the same as that OF the most
enlightened nations of the earth"
The meeting which It was announced
the republican advocates of silver
would hold last hight was postponed
on account Of the non-arrivaI Of pTomi-
nent silver advocates who were expect
ed yesterday. Col Thumb, one of the
delegates from Utah, gave out the fol-
lowing as a declaration which he
thinks western men will be willing to
accept Oh silver: "The republican
party favors the free, unlimited coin
age Of gold and silver at a ratio Of Is
ounces Of silver being equivalent in all
functions of money, to one ounce Of
gold when coined into dollars Of United
States"
The natinaI committee spent all day
hearing arguments in contests. Nc
Kinley delegates from California,
second district in Florida, ninth in
Georgia, and those from Mississippi
were given seats. The last
named state had two Mckinley delega-
lions, one headed by Hill and the
other by Lynch The Hill delegates
were seated. Morton men from F'Iori-
da were seated.
Te.egrams have been received that
Cornelius n. Bliss, of New York, with
a large delegation of Mckinley men
from that state, is on his way to St.
Louis Immediately there started a
great deal Of gossip, among the rumors
being one to the effect that Bliss
would be pushed for vice president;
that he would be prevailed upon to
take second place in order to strength
en- the ticket in New York.
Mrs. Whitney, chairman of the
Equal Suffrage club, of st. LcIis, and
a delegation of women suffragists,
called on ergeant-at-Arms Byrnes
and requested an hours time in the
convention to make an argument in be-
half Of woman's suffrage plank in
the platform. They also asked for