The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-01
SILVER AGITATION
OUT AT CHICAGO
Various Democratic Leaders Are Still at
Sea for Plans Of Action.
NOT A RAY OF HOPE FOR GOLD BUGS
A Reported Alliance of Illinois and
Bland Forces Causes CONSERVATION
in the BOics Camps Interchange of
Opinions at Meeting Of BimetalIic
Committee,


Chicago. June S0.-A week in advance
of the day set for the opening of the
Democratic national convention, the
leaders of the silver element have dom
ned their armor and girded themselves
for the coming affray. Today the Sher-
man house, where the white metal head
quarters have been located, resounded
with the shouts and yells of its advo-
Gates, resDlendent in 16 to / badges,
buttons and other insignia, while its
register bore more distinguished names
than have baen inscribed in the book
Of the hostelry for a quarter of q CEN
tury. So far none of the prominent ad-
vocates of the gold standard have put
in an appearance. and consequently the
silver people have undisputed possess
ion of the field
From tomorrow. however, the former
vii begin to be in evidence. and from
then on every day will witness some
new phase of a battle between the ma
tority and the earnest. aggressive and
unconquerable minority.
The conspicuous features of the OPEN
ing of the war today We're the confer
ence between the bi-metalllc Demo-
cratic national committee and the out
side silver men: the meeting between
Governors Stone. Of Missouri. and Alt
geld, of Illinois, and the declaration
of the Illinois delegation In favor Of the
abrogation of the two thirds rule. As
To ha .
attended than had been anticipated, In
view of the fact that 1t was simply a
preliminary meeting. These were
amongst those who responded to the
rol call: United States Senator's Har-
ris. Of Tennessee: Bate, of Tennessee;
Jones. of Arkansas; Turpie, of Indiana;
Cockrell, of Missouri; Daniel, of Vir-
glnia; Senator-elect Money, of Mississ-
ippi; Governors Stone, of Missouri; Alt
geld, of Illinois; Secretary of State Hen
richsen. of Illinois: John o. Tomlison.
of Alabama: Congressman George
w. Fithian, of Illinois: b. F. Shlvely, of
Indiana S. b. Evans. of Iowa: George
p. Hummer of Michigan: Judge Shack
leford, of Missouri; x-Congressman
w. J. Bryan and w. H. Thompson. of
Nebraska; John Welch and Judge w.
Mullane. of OREGON. W. Towers, nj
Salt Lake City; Wiley L. Jones, of
Arizona.
CONSPICUOUS ABSENTEES.
Among those expected, but who had
not arrived in the city, were eX-Con-
gresham Casey Young. of Tennessee; /;
eN-Speaker Charles +. Crisp, of Geor-
gia. and Allen w. Thurman, of Ohio.
These however, were the only con-
spicuous absentees from total of six
ty state committeeman and members
of the central executive committee.
The preliminary meeting last less then
an hour. The situation was informal
ly discussed and 1t was agreed that
the silver forces need only to work har-
moniously in order to insure the adop-
tion of an out an out l6 to | platform.
What gave the conferees most concern
was the matter of the temporary Or
ganiZatiO of the conventi,SS The
fact was dwelt upon that the sentiment
of the national committee was opposed
to that of IA majority of the elected dele
sisted that it did not necessarily follow
that the committee would go 50 far as
to attempt to gain any advantage or at
tempt to consummate any strategic
stroke in the exercise of the authority
vested in it. in order to he on the safe
side, however. ii was finally determined
TO appoint a committee of five to wait
upon the executive committee of The
national committee, and as the reso-
luton automatically put it, "to confer
with that body in reference to all queS-
tions and matters affecting the tempor-
cry organization and proceedings"
This committee. rs designated by Sena-
tor Harris. who presided over the con-
ference. is composed of Senators Jones.
Turpie, Daniels and Governors Stone
and Altgeld This committee repaired
to the headquarters of the national
committee at the Palmer house after
dinner. but Were informed by Secretary
Sheerin that Chairman IIarrity would
not arrive until tomorrow morning and
that q meeting of the executive COM
rnittee had been called for noon. The
delegates, therefore. intimated their
desire to be given. an audience at 2
o'clock.
STONE CONFERENCE.
The conference between Governors
Stone, the leader of the Bland forces
and Altgeld was held behind double
closed doors in the latter's quarters at
the Sherman house; Colonel Charles H.
Jones, Of st. Louis, being the only out
slider present or within a hundred yards
of earshot. The conference was evident
ly Dre-arranged as Governor Stone
went direct to the Sherman house after
registering at the Auditorium. Nearly
an hour was consumed in the confer
ence, and at it's conclusion not one of
those presnt would say a word or
breathe suggestion concerning its i'm
port. Governor Stone. however. ap-
peared to be in particularly exhuberant
spirits and insisted that Bland could
not keep out of the nomination. Six
teen to one. he said. meant Bland; Bland
meant 16 to 1, both meant free silver,
and that was the issue of the day. The
news Of the conference spread quickly
around town and II was at once taken
for granted that the Bland leaders had
made some kind of an alliance with
Governor Altgeld at whose word the 4s
votes of Illinois will be cast as he wills,
and as a unite on all questions. Gov
erhor Altgeld was asked point blank
whether such an alliance had been af-
fected, but he merely smiled and an
swered that the time TO talk had not ar
rs.,