The San Francisco call., 1896-07-04
GOLD AND SILVER MEN.
Chieftains of the Rival Factions
Lining Up in Chicago for the
Battle Royal.

Chieftains of the Rival Factions
Lining Up in Chicago for the
Battle Royal.
CHICAGO, ILL, July 3.-The most at
tractive event of the day and the most
important from the standpoint of the
anti-free-silver members of the party as
sembled in the convention city was the
arrival of the advance guard from the
Eastern States, principally New York.
representing the gold-standard minority.
Their leader, towering in stature and in
fiuence, was William G. Whitney. The
distinguished party arrived at the Audi
torium annex Hotel at the same time that
several other influential gold and silver
delegates and on-Iookers were unloaded at
the Auditorium proper, and the scene in
the rotundas of both hotels was an ami
mated one until the guests scattered to
their rooms. At o'clock the 'busload of
the Whitney party drew up in front of
the hotel, where the former Secretary of
the Navy has engaged almost the whole of
the parlor fioor-Line bedrooms and six
parlors-for the cause of ''sound money"
and the Democracy. Unless than half an
hour Mr.. Whitney reappeared in the ro-
tunda. When asked if he had any state
ment to make to the press Mr.. Whitney
said:
81 shall have nothing to say to-day in
the way of an interview. The fact is
have not anything to add to what I said
for publication in New York on the issue
and the crisis before the party. 1 don't
know anything new to talk about because
have been on a train for twenty-four
hours and have just got in TO look over
the ground"
Then came Mr.. Harrity, the National
Committee chairman. who greeted the
New York gentleman and said he was
glad to see him in Chicago. Close behind
the Pennsylvania man walked the Presi-
Dental candidate from Kentucky, Senator
Blackburn, who added his welcoming
words. Ali the mem bers of the Whitney
party could not be accommodated at the
annex so they were quartered at the main
hotel. These were James r. Martin and
ex-Mayor Hugh Grant of New York City.
Ex-Governor Flower, who came with the
party, went to the Palmer House. While
Mr.. Whitney was at the elevator waiting to
20 into conference with Mr.. Harrity and
others, he was greeted by Colonel S. w.
Fordyce, president of the Cotton Belt
Railroad, who forms one of the gold
standard contingent from Missouri. He
evidently came TO the convention at the
request of Mr.. Whitney, as he called to the
New Yorker while the car was being
started: "You sent for me and l came.
You see, always come when you call me,
and like TO oblige my friends"
Senator Hill and Ex-Governor Flower
went to the Palmer House, where the State
delegation as body has large parlor
reserved for its use as headquarters. Gov
ernor Flower discoursed at some length
upon the financial condition of the
country. He said that free silver was not
the cure for existing evils, but that re-
striction OF production by farmer and
manufacturer alike was necessary.
"The farmer" he asserted, "needs above
all things else short crop to enable him
to sell what he has at good prices. He
has had two or three crops now so bounti-
ful that he could not well dispose of them
at remunerative rates. He is the last OF
the row of bricks to be knocked down as
the result of the panic of 1898, and who
ever shall be elected President this year
there will be good times, believe, in 1897.
But not upon free silver basis. Diluting
the currency viii not restore the condi-
tions of good and profitable business.
Credit is the stability and soundness of all
our money and must be maintained"
Governor Flower expressed the opinion
tn at if the Democratic Convention nomi-
mated candidate upon the free-silver
platform the Republican ticket would
carry New York by $50, 900 majority.
of 1aff =
(which never, even in Fremont's days.
gave to exceed $500 majority, will give
5000 to that ticket, believe, and that is a
rural county, too."
The Governors interesting talk was in
terrupted by a messenger who whispered
something in his ear which had the effect
of taking him out of the room with much
celebrity and he was next heard from in
Senator Hills room. A card sent to the
Senator IVES returned with the statement
on its reverse side, "Just arrived; nothing
to say at the moment"
This afternoon a party of silver advo-
Gates consisting of Senator Stewart of Ne
vada, Representative Newlands of Nevada
and Hon. George c. Gorham, formerly Sec
retary of the United States Senate, called
upon Senator'S Jones and Cockrell at the
Sherman House to urge the nomination of
Senator Teller as the one man who could
solidify the forces of silver and make the
victory of that metal absolutely certain at
the coming election. So far as the express
sions of the gentleman visited were con-
cerned it is said the visit was not very sat-
isfactory. Senators Dubois of Idaho, Petit
grew of North Dakota and Mantle of
Montana and Representative Hartman of
Montana, the boiling delegates from the
st. Louis convention, have headquarters
at the Great Northern Hotel, whence they
are directing q very active canvass in be-
half of Senator Teller. Senator Carter of
Montana is expected to arrive tomorrow
'The report that Senator Teller had is
sued letter to the effect that he would
not accept the nomination if it were ten
dered him was denied at the headquarters