The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-07-01
h'lEAN AND FREE SILVER
WILL BE ALMOST UNANIMOUS
on THESE TWO.
HOUGH IS FAVOR|TE FOR GOVERNOR
But the Field In Making Hitter
Fight Against Him-silver Re-
pubIicnns May BE Allowed
a Place on Ticket.

Columbus, w., June Z3.-lne preIlnll
nary work of the democratic state con
vention today showed that it was almos
unanimous for free silver, and John X
Mclean for senator. There was, how
ever, continuation Of the contests for thu
different places on the state ticket ant
for positions on the committees.
Lawrence Il. II. Neal, who was defeat
ed for governor by President McKin
icy, and ex-Mayor j. Y. Farley and Other
gold standard democrats were active in
the chorus for Mclean, but they were
contending for different men for gov.
ernor. Robert Il. Hough was again the
favorite today, and regarded as the Nc
Lean man, but the field made very bit
ter fight on him, especially the friends Of
ex-Congressman Sorg, who was support
ed by Ex-Governor James Il. Campbell,
ex-Collector Joseph Bowling, who was
removed by President Cleveland for VIC
lation Of the civil service rules, and other
leading conservatives on the financial
question. The fact that Mr.. S0rg voted
for the issue of gold bonds while in CON
gress was used by the radical silver men
very strongly against him.
In the contest for governor John &.
Welty and Horace L. Chapman showed
much strength today. Even if the Nc
Lean men insist on putting through the
Hough slate tomorrow it is believed that
there will be several ballots in order to
permit the dozen or more candidates to
show their respective polls.
There are many candidates for other
places on the state ticket. and the con-
yention may be extended to Thursday.
Previous TO the district meetings at $3.50
y. m. the fight against Il. H. Hough for
governor became so bitter that there was
much talk of ex-Congressman ID. ID.
Donavin for the head of the ticket Wei
ty, Chapman and some Others showed
gains, but il was generally believed that
Donavin would be slated if it was neces-
sary for the controlling elements to drop
Hough. On all sides it was held that
no standard bearer should be elected
with any gold streak in his record. While
it was concluded that Hough was an
original Bryan man at Chicago, even be-
fore the nomination was made, and he
had advocated a free silver plank in the
state platform three years ago when
Senator Brice controlled the state con-
vention against him. yet the fact that
Mr.. Cough wore Carlisle badge one
ing evidence against him. The Mclean
men were all anxious for clean-cut sill
yer man for governor, as no objection
was made to Mr.. McLean's record on
that Issue, and they felt Mclean was
suffering some on account of his friends
supporting Mr.. Cough, against whose sill.
yer record some found objection. The
Mclean men held that the reports
against Hough were untrue and they
were circulated by the managers of other
candidates for governor, but it was evil
dent that the Mclean lieutenants today
considered the situation serious enough
TO have another man ready for the slate
in the event they could not control their
forces for Mclean.
Those who favor Mclean for senator
became involved in such bitter contests
against each other over the head of the
state ticket that il became doubtful
whether McCenville, wilkins and other
Mclean managers could control the con.
vontion on the nomination for governor,
which involved the support of the state
administration for Mclean in securing
the senatorship. Efforts were made
again today to get Mr.. Mclean to come
from Cincinnati to Columbus, but no as
surances were received on these calls.
The Mclean leaders held several con-
ferences during the day, and while they
did not want to antagonize the friends of
other candidates. they could not be in-
duced to drop Hough.
The democratic state central commit
tee this afternoon adopted II resolution
recommending that the committee on
rules designate one place on the state
ticket to be filled 10y the state league of
silver republicans.
When the delegates met at I30 p. III.
it developed that there was Il strong
feeling against some of McLeans mana
gers because of their attempt to dictate
the state nominations, especially of r..
II. Hough for governor. After the dele
gates had been felt in the preliminary
motions, n conference was called for to-
night between McLean's lieutenants and
other leaders. The Mclean men car
ried all of the twenty-one congressional
districts by large majorities for members
of the state central committee and for all
the other committees, but many who CO.
operated with them at these meetings oh
jected TO the word being given out for
any one of the dozen candidates for gov
ernor as against the other candidates,
who have spent months in their respec-
tive canvasses,
There was a movement tonight TO
bring out new man for governor one
who had not been involved in the com,
plications of the past two days, and \. j.
Warner, president of the National BIZ
metallic League and one of the original
silver advocates in congress, was most
prominently mentioned as the dark horse.
Gen. Warner has been here all week.
and is regarded us candidate for gov
ernor.
The convention assemblies at 10 o'clock
tomorrow. and it is stated there will be
no recess until nomination is made for
governor, IL il takes all night as well as
all day to dispose of that selection.
Ii is believed that some of the candi-
dates will drop before the start. but
there will be almost dozen names for
governor, and balloting will be tedious.
The committee on credentials tonight
decided all the contests in favor of the
Mclean delegates and the new state cen
trail committee was organized by the Nc
Lean men. The old state central com.
mittee recommended this afternoon that
the committee on rules provide for a
vacancy on the state ticket, to be filled
by the state league of silver republicans,
hut when the populists appeared before
the committee tonight and demanded a
place on the state ticket and representa-
tion in the organization at the state head
quarters the committee referred the
whole matter without recommendation or
prejudice to the state convention.
The committee on resolutions drafted a
platform after discussion lasting until
after midnight.
All the resolutions on Cuba, tariff and
everything were thrown away. There is
nnth hing mon, in rho platfnrn, Tho Ch;u,