The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-17
AUTHORS OF TIE PLATFORM.
Interesting Chapter in the Doings of
Convention Week.

Interesting Chapter In the Doings or
Convention Week.
ST.. LOUIS, June 1.-THE true story OF
the formation of the platform which Will
be proclaimed to the country by the Re-
publican convention today makes the
most interesting chapter of the past week
in the party's history. In the inner
circles of the Republican leaders; among
the men who name candidates and shape
policies, the authorship of The financial
plank, the plank which has been the
vortex of the convention whirlpool Is
accredited to Mr.. IA. III. Kohlsaat, the
publisher Of the Chicago s-Herald,
and a warm friend of Major Mckinley.
Ii is known also to the party managers
that the spirits and matter OF the plank
meet the approval Of Mr.. Mckinley and
OF his chief adviser, Mark Hanna; this is
known we'll, that neither Mckinley nor
Mr.. Hanna has borne any active part in
the struggle which led up to the final de-
cision upon the party's monetary utter
ance.
Through tho clouds OF speculation
which have been thrown up about the
finaucial question during the past week.
many eyes have endeavored to pierce to
the sanctum where MIR. Hanna was
directing the current of the Mckinley
campaign and many rumors have floated
through hotel Iobbies and State head
quarters. In the inner circle 1t has
been no secret from the beginning
that both Major Mckinley and Mr..
Hanna were personally favorable TO
declaration for the maintenance OF the
gold standard 70 long as the present finan-
cial conditions of the leading commercial
nations were to continue. There were
complications existing, however. which
FORBADE MIR. Hanna from giving his
views on the money question or from
throwing his influence into the ante-con-
vention campaign in the direction of his
personal preference. Foremost among
the considerations which have weighed
with Mr.. McKinley's managers have been
the wishes OF that contingent of the Nc
kinley supporters nrrsyed in the column
OF Western free coinsge men. The Cali
fornia delegation was the most influential
section OF this wing and that Delegation
has been pledged TO cast its vote in con-
yeniion for the Ohio candidate. The
Californians have given their aiiegience
TO Mckinley recognizing tnat his PER-
scDal preference was Tor a gold platform.
They have expected to be forced to accept
an utterance for gold. but they said that
they thought that only reasonable de-
gres OF consideration toward the silver
supporters OF Mckinley shoula he
shown and that the inevitable re-
suit should be brought in the natural
way by the action of the convention
ana should not be assisted by the
Mckinley forces. By their support OF
Mckinley, they have helped to put him
aud Mr.. Hanna In position where any
words they might say on the platform
would carry weight and they have
tnotght IL only fair TO them that the
powers they were helping to give Mr..
Hanna should not be used in behalf of
a policy bitterly distasteful TO them.
They have said TO Mr.. Hanna in sub
stance: "Your solemn mission is TO Sc
cure the nomination OF Mckinley and
whatever your personal views may be,
they should not be permitted Gt this time
to influence the conventions ac-
ton on this subject This de-
cleration thrust upon Mr.. Hanna
what amounted to almost an obligation
OF honor TO keen aloof from the faclional
fight between gold and silver. Into this
financial field came Mr.. Kchlsaat, well
known to be pofsoDal friend of Mr..
Mckinley. and equally well known as a
strong advocate of a gold plank. Imme-
distely upon his arrival last Friday Mr..
kohlsaat strode into the thick Uf the
light Tor the gold plank. bis first step
was to di cuss tho situation with Mr..
Myron Herrick OF Cleveland, aiso-ene of
Major Mex inley's clCpcst friends and
managers, and x-Governor Merriam OF
Minnesota, bo gentlemen whose views
conceded with his own. The result of
their conference WAS the draft of q iinan-
which will be presented TO the conven-
tion todsy. 1t was based upon the In
oiana plank with slight changes in the
verbiage and an additional phrase pleog-
ing the Republican party to the mainten-
arce OF the gold standard AZ n conspjcu-
Gus feature. When this had been done,
MIR. Kohlssat began missionary canvass
with ali the energy Of which he was Ia
patle. In The meantime the Massschu-
setts and New York delegates arrived
upon he scene and Instituted n campaign
for gold on its own behalf.
These separate movements speedily
drifted in gaine OF cross purposes with
tnat Mckinney contingent represented by
the leadership OF Mr.. kohlsaat: with Mr..
Lodge and his friends aud Mr.. Plat and
his friends inoElging IN tattle royal,
each faction recognizing thst the majority
OF the convention held its own views and
each determined 10 capture for it's own
self the honor OF being the special cham
pion and inspirer OF the financial policy
or which the party would enter the
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