The record-union., 1896-07-04
GOLD FORCES MEET,
But the Expected Sensational Happen
ings Did Not Occur.

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talk about sensational happenings that
might be expected from the conference
of the gold forces led by w. c. Whitney,
the meeting tonight of Whitney and
those who are with him in his endeavor
to secure some cnocessions from the
triumphant silver majority resulted in
nothing more than a decision to appoint
sub committees to do missionary work
with the incoming delegates.
For three hours Whitney and the
gold men discussed the situation, and
although frequent applause drifted out
into the corridor from the parlor where
they held their secret session, there
was practically little developed to give
hope that the situation had undergone
any change, or that anything might be
expected from the silver forces
1t was $50 o'clock when Whitney's
cohorts assembled in the parlor of the
Auditorium, and it was three hours
later before the doors were opened at
the adjournment of the meeting. What
ever of hope they had at the beginning
did not progress one iota during the
time the conference lasted. About $50
gold men We're there, and the largeness
coura cement at the outset.
Mr.. Whitney called them to order in
a short speech. He explained that the
meeting was the result of invitations
issued by him, and said the purpose
was to have a preliminary talk and Sc,
cure reports from the various States,
with a view to getting at the general
situation. At his suggestion Senator
Gray of Delaware was made Perma-
nent Chairman of the conference. Ben
T. Gable of Illinois and John A. Reid
of Pennsylvania were elected Secre-
taries.
The conference proceeded to its busi-
ness at once. The States were called
alphabetically, and some one responded
Tor nearly everyone of them.
The gold men frankly admitted after
the conference that not all the re-
sponses were from regularly elected
delegates, but all the men who did re-
spond were representative of the sec
tons for which they spoke. Those who
told of the local situation were listened
to attentively, and some of the re-
marks made were applauded.
There was no lack of oratory. for
Hon. John r. Fellows of New York.
one of the most brilliant speakers in
the country, addressed the meeting at
length. In beautiful word picture he
painted the disaster that was sure to
follow if the Democratic convention in
sisted in pursuing the course the ma
jority of it's members had marked out.
he spoke of the loyalty of the New
York Democracy and it's grand record
In the past, but warned those present
from other parts of the country that the
sturdy allegiance of the party in that
State would be sorely tried If it was
forced to support a ticket of silver.
There was a natural indisposition
among those present to tell what was
said by the various speakers, for the
reason that the gathering was called to
enable the gold men to get acquainted
with each other and with the sentiment
that prevailed in the various sections
OF the country. In accomplishing this
plain language was used, and men were
urged to give the unvarnished truth re-
garding the situation in their States
During this Interchange of views 1T
was apparent from the tone of the men
from the South that there was a strong
fear that if free silver candidate on a.
free silver platform was nominated the
Democracy would lose several of those
States. Especially was this claimed to
be the true position of the border States
of Maryland, West Virginia and Ken
lucky. Tennessee was also represented
to be doubtful.
Some of the Southern States dele
gates, and not an inconsiderable num-
Der from the East, were in favor of bolt
ing the ticket, but this subject was not
referred to by such men as Whitney,
Harrity and Dickinson. Ex-Governor
Flower was a little more outspoken. He