Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-06-18
IA ST. LOUIS RESUME
ALL IN READINESS FOR THE RE
PUBLICAN CONVENTION.
SILVER MEN RE WEAK

y
Fifty Delegates OF the Nine Hun
dred and Some Odd-T~enty Eight
States Instruct for Gold Talk OF
the Vice Presidency.
st. Louis, June il The eve of the
tenth national convention of the re-
publican party at ST. Louis resembles
a bride deeked for the coming OF her
liege lord. Buildings are all ahame
with buntings, windows are adorned
with pictures OF the various candf-
dates, the air is 6led with martial
music as parading clubs go sweeping
by, streets are surgeG With people
borne along in restless streams, while
hotel corridors are choked with a
jostling, pushing mass of humanity
Ii was estimated that there were 49,
600 strangers in the city last night
The Southern and Planters hotels,
where the headquarters of the prin-
cipal delegations are located, were
thronged to the doors all day. Bands
played in the rotundas and kept the
crowds that pushed their way up and
down the marble staircases in good
humor; while delegations met and the
leaders conferred behind closed doors
as to the final details. The most re-
markable feature about the conyen-
so far has been the absence of bad
blood among the rartisans of the va
rious candidates. The triumph OF
Mckinley has been 50 complete thus
far that his friends can afford to be
magnanimous, and his opponents can
tanned will of the majority. Partisans
of Reed Quay, Morton and Allison
still wear their buttons and are
as staunch as ever in their loyalty
but they realize the hopelessness OF
making offensive demonstrations in
favor of their champion and the man
ayers OF the anti-McKinley candi-
dates have practically sheathed their
swords This does not mean that
they have abandoned the field With
the exception of Governor Bradley
Of Kentucky, who dropped out Sunday
night. the names of the other candi-
dates will be presented and voted for
and will probably poll their full
strength. Indeed, the Reed men yes
terday labored assiduously 10 rally
their followers to the last man. They
appealed to his friends to 60 down
with colors flying. So, too, with the
followers Of Morton, Allison and Quay,
but no one ventures to suggest the
possibility of Mckinley's defeat.
The real struggle that is going on
is over the financial plank in the
platform. Beyond disputes in vari>
Gus delegations over supremacy and
factions, 1t is almost the sole subject
of plots and counter plots; 1t is the
real battle ground. In phrase and
word 1t is all important Upon the
tariff and upon all other questions,
there Is substantial unity but differ
ences upon the financial plank are as
wide as the continent. Free silver
and gold are as irreconcilable as the
poles and radical silver men are pre-
pared to stake their all upon the issue,
and knowing that they cannot succeed
they are even now formulating man
ifesto that will sever their allegiance
to the republican party But these
radical silver men are largely out
numbered. Headed by Senator Teller
they can only muster five states ana
perhaps one territogy--less than fifty
delegates IN ALL out of a total Of over
300 The real struggle is between
those who are in favor of a bold
declaration for the maintenance of a
gold standard, except through inter-
national agreement, and those whose
iriendliness To silver, although OPP
posed to free coinage makes them
seek TO avoid a specific endorsement.
of the gold standard.
The result of the meeting of che va
rious state delegations yesterday GEM
onstrdted emphatically that the con-
vention will not dodge this issue nor
equiyocate III its language Twenty
eight states, comprising all the terri
tory east If the Mississippi and almost
the entire south. elected members of
the resolutions committee aud in
structed them to vote for gold
declaration Wisconsin. Minnesota,
Nebraska. Oregon and Washington
also took strong ground for gold In
Indiana General Lew Wallace was
chosen d member OF the resolutions
committee after he had declared thai
he would not stand on the Indiana
plank and that utterances for the
maintenance of a gold standard could
not be made too strong for him Min.
nesota with her rs votes instructed
Ex-Governor Merriam to insist upon a