Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-07-06
NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEETING.

Begins Its Formal Work at Noon Today
The Temporary Chairman.
National Chairman Harrity has called
meeting of the Democratic national COM
mittee for noon today for the transaction
of such business as may be necessary in
connection with the temporary organiza-
ton of the convention, preparation of the
temporary roll of delegates, and selection
of "a temporary chairman. Previous to the
meeting the national committee will get
together at 10 o'clock. This meeting, Har-
rity says, will be held only for the purpose
| of distributing tickets of admission to the
| members Of the national committee and
| delegates. The temporary craftsmanship
| matter is the most interesting question
| the committee has to tackle and the only
| man the committee has in mind at this
| writing is David Bennett Hill, of New
| York.
| Hill is the choice of the national COM
mittce and is also the one man from the
east of national prominence who is will
| ing to test his popularity before the con-
vention. 1t has been claimed by the gold
| men that the silver friends of Hill in both
house and senate, many of whom are dele
| gates to the convention, would have
| sufficient strength, and would use their
| Influence to secure his election us temper
| AIRY chairman, if he should be named. But
| it is now we'll understood that silver men
| will not vote for anybody but silver man
| for chairman. Silver men whoare friends
| OF Hill called upon him and urged him
not to allow his name to be used. and not
to place himself in position where he
might be Inundated by being defeated.
They assured him that they have a high
| rprl,rl for him and that xynuil a II g
agreeable to have to vote against him.
Hill expresses the belief that if the con.
vention adopts Il silver platform there
Will s;ircly be IA bolt, and he thinks that
if conservatism is shown the bolt will be
much reduced. Hill policy is conservat-
ism. The gold men held big mass meet
ing the in Auditorium Saturday night, but
Hill wasn't there, though there Were 500
people who expected TO hear him speak
and many of whom kept the house noisy
at times with cries OF "Hnl. Hin." Still
he cams not. The speaking was done by
Ex-Governor Russell, cx Governor Flower
and other prominent Democrats, and tbs
: key of it all was inability of the speaker.
and those they represented to vote for i
| free silver man.
| Hill is doing the sphinx act to a larg,
, extent. While he is constantly advising
: men he has given no pledges that b,
would make Il conservative speech if sc
lccted to preside over the convention. HI
l is very much under the impression that HI
l would be elected if selected by the nation
1 al committee, although every delegation
. from the south and west which has re
: Gently arrived Joined in the declaration
previously made by the silver men on tn
ground that they would not accept any
9 body but silver man for temporai. chair
2 man. Leaders who are here say that evel
:. if they We're disposed to stand by Hi
( they would find it impossible to contrC
r the delegations from their states, who ar
Y determined that none but "a l6-to-l ma
IA shall preside.
t A secret meeting of the leading silve
n men was held last evening. The confer
It ence was devoted exclusively to canvas
l. of the situation with reference to the ST
y lection of a temporary presiding Officer
t and majority of those present announce
II themselves as favorable to the selection c
q Senator White 1t is understood, however
If that this action is in no sense binding d
\ to White, but the selection will be final
t made by the full silver committee TIL
J. afternoon, after being passed upon at
previous meeting of the steering commi
tee The idea of accepting Hill did NJ
have single advocate.