Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-07-10
SILVER CONVENTION.
The Silverites Have the Two
Thirds Majority


Free silver and AnarchIstIc Platform.
The skirmishers of the Democratic ma
tional convention began to arrive in Chi
cago early last week, and Saturday all the
leading hotels presented the customary
scenes of noisy pre-convention enthusiasm.
The silver men were perfectly confident
that they could control the convention and
were loud in their displays and claims.
The national committee decided Monday
by vote of q to 23 to present the name
of Senator David b. Hill of New York as
temporary chairman of the convention.
Notice was given on the part of the silver
men that minority report would be made
and that the name of Senator Daniel of
Virginia would be presented as a substi-
tute.
A large part of the interest centred in
the work for the different candidates.
Bland, Of Missouri, the old free silver war
horse, who went down in the Democratic
wreck at the last election after many years
of service as congressman, was easily
the leading candidate. Horace Boies, who
served two terms as governor of Iowa and
was then defeated, was another favorite
BANDS boom was in charge of Gov. Stone
of Missouri, and notwithstanding that
Bland is a lawyer-farmer of limited means
an elegant suite in the Auditorium was
the headquarters of his supporters. Boies's
boom was one of the personally conducted
order and he greeted all the candidates pos
sible. Boes was handicapped by the fact
that seven of the delegates of his own state
were opposed to him. John Mclean, the
millionaire owner of the Cincinnati En-
quirer, had his ear to the ground waiting
for the call and ready to open his barrel if
he heard it. Senator Teller of Colorado,
who bolted the recent Republican conven-
ton, was also under consideration as
candidate. Vice President Stevenson sent
telegram TO friend showing that he was
for free silver as long ago as 1878. 1t
seems that he had been advised TO maintain
policy of silence during this campaign but
that he lost his following by waiting too
long before making his declaration. Pat
tison had the solid support of his own state,
Pennsylvania. The man who was not
mentioned by the silverites, except in terms
of hatred and contempt, was President
Cleveland.
The convention was called TO order in
the big Coliseum at 1850 p. NJ, Tuesday
by VIM. F. Harrity of Philadelphia, chair
man of the Democratic national commit
tee. The conflict between the two bands
of Democrats began as soon as the Rev.
Ernest NJ. Stires had read the prayer,
slightly tinged with political thought. Mr..
Harrity, in a matter of fact way, announced
that the Democratic national committee
had selected David b. Hill as temporary
chairman. A roar of applause went up
from the gold Democrats at this announce
ment. Henry D. Clayton of Alabama, in
behalf of the minority of the national
committee, promptly challenged this state
ment by moving that the name of John w.
Daniel &c substituted for that Of David B.
HILL He said, in support OF his motion,
that he believed a majority of the members
of the convention preferred Mr.. Daniel
A debate of over two hours followed.
The gold Democrats, in behalf of Mr.. Hill,
argued that according TO all precedent the
national committee had the right to name
the temporary chairman. The freedom
age Democrats, in response, said that they
thought Mr.. Hill was free-coinage man
at heart, judging from his speech at Elmi-
ra in 1892, but they did not wish him TO
make speech which they might have to
father, and which might be embarrassing
to them during the campaign. They
therefore should make Senator Daniel the
temporary chairman, knowing that he
would make free-coinage speech.
The debate was an interesting one. The
delegates listened to what was said in most
cases in silence, although the allusion of
Thomas NJ. Waller of Connecticut to the
Democrats as worms who might turn on
their prosecuting free-coinage brethren,
elected roar of rage from these latter
wild-tempered gentlemen.
The convention finally came TO a vote
on Mr.. Clayton's motion to substitute the
name of John W. Daniel for that of David
b. Hill for temporary chairman. The vote
was watched intently by all, for it was re-
garded as test of the strength of the gold
Democrats and of the free coinage Demo-
Gratis.
The vote was eminently sectional one.
1t was the West and South against the
East. Mr.. Daniel received $50 votes and
Mr.. Hill $40 votes. This is a triumph for
the free-coinage Democrats, but they had
not the G03 votes necessary for a two
thirds majority over the gold Democrats
in favor of free-coinage candidate for
president. Mr.. Daniel was installed in the
chair as temporary chairman, and made
the speech expected of him as free-coin-
age candidate for temporary chairman.
Senator Daniel claimed that the gold stan
dard would mean the increase of the pub
lie debt by five hundred millions of in
terest-bearing gold bonds, with the pros
pect of three hundred and forty-four mil
lions to follow. The disastrous conse-
quences of such a policy are appalling to
contemplate, and the only alternative sug-
gested is the free-coinage of silver as well
as gold and the complete restoration of our
American system of bimetallism.