Evening journal., 1896-07-01
rhe nimetalIlo conferenoe.

CHICAGO, July lat the meeting OF
the Illinois delegation at the Sherman
House Governor Altgeld was called to the
chair and delivered an address instructing
the delegation to stand together, to act as
unit and to rofuse all suggestions look
ing toward compromise with the gold
Democrats.
A resolution providing for the appoint
e..sat of committee to confer with the
national committee was offered hy Senator
Jones Of Arkansas. In Offering the resolu-
tion Senator Jones explained briefly his
purpose in doing SO, saying that he knew
nothing of the purpose OF the national
committee with regard to tho selection Of
temporary chairman, but 1t would not
do to take any chances He called atten-
tlon TO the fact that all those present at
the bimetallio meeting were delegates OF
the convention. sAid they were acting as
the Instruments OF the convention and
dlained that they had a right to know
what the purposes of the committee were
onJthe subjeot of temporary organization.
Representative Bryan of Nebraska,
Judge Powers of Utah and Mr.. MoNeil OF
Tennessee followed in like strain. The
disastrous effect Of allowing the gold men
TO name the temporary chairman OF the
Michigan convention when tho silver men
wer0 In the majority was recalled. The
remark was made by several of the speak
ers that ne concession should. be made as
mere matter of courtesy
There were 80 delegates present, and OF
the number there wns but one dissenting
view. A member of the Missouri delega-
tion suggested that 1t might be construed
as discourteous for the committee to de-
niandi the right to name the temporary
chairman and suggested that the national
committee should be asked to- hear the
views OF tho different delegations before
making its selection Of a temporary chair
man.
This suggestion was brushed aside as
impraoticable.
The ooinmittee appointed BY the Dem
Ooratio bimetailic committee TO confer
with the executive committee OF the ma
tional Dernocratic committed win meet
the gentlemen composing that body at
the Palmer House this evening
No selection For Temporary Chairman.
Members OK the executive committee
with whom the silver men conferred as
sured them that ne steps had been taken
looking te the selection OF temporary otii-
GERS This has had the effect of causing
the members OF the blmetallio organiza-
tion to feel that possibly their apprehen-
sions were unfounded and to conclude
that probably there will be no effort at
snap Judgment. They Will, however, make
their cali and present statement OF the
action OF the biInetallio committee and
ask that that committee be allowed to
suggest the temporary presiding officer.
If this request is not granted, they Will
report to their full ooinmittee, and the full
committee VIII proceed to select man for
the place This course will not however
be adopted without full warning to the
national committee IN case such warning
appears to bo necessary.
Also, in the event that the national
committee consents to the suggestion, the
silver men will proceed to name man
for the place. 1t is even possible that they
would consent to a compromise that would
allow the national committee to make its
own selection of presiding officer In case
they agree to take silver man and to
submit the name to the bimetallic COM
mittee before announcing the name.
The silver men are very determined
upon the point of not being thwarted In
this matter and are giving their entire at
tention to it. They will tell the national
committee very plainly that the only way
TO avoid a clash in the convention and for
the national committee to avoid being re-
pudiated is for them to accede to the
wishes Of the silver men in this matter.
They assert that 1t will have to be made
apparent from the beginning that 1t Is to
be a silver convention, and that this can be
demonstrated In no way SO clearly as by
the selection Of a temporary presiding OH
Ger.
The silvor men have given very little
attention to the question as to who shall
be selected to preside, but speculation
turns more freely to Senator Harris OF
Tennessee.
1t is suggested that the task may be
quite arduous for oOa Of Senator Harris
advanced age, but his great experience and
parliamentary ability as well as his popu-
larity In the party will render him for.
midable candidate II he manifests a desire
for the honor. The name of Governor
Hogg OF Texas is also mentioned In cen
nectlon with the selection.
The Illinois Delegation.
The fact that the Illinois delegation