The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-22
The Plank was Subject Of Discus
sion, and Was Drawn by
H.c. Payne.
APPROVED BY Mr.. M'KiNLFY
Before It Was Presented to the Con-
ventiOn-Hanna and Others
Took Active Part.

HE(lCle CUuGeGLl4Ab t4AS SAAoAA NtAN t1NSF
tlon of the gold plank" at the Repub-
iican national convention Of 1896. In
which he maintained that the plank was
prepared by the committee on resolu-
tIons, OF which he was chairman, after
much discussion and out OF divers ma
terials. II. H. Kohlsaat, editor OF the
Chicago T'imes-H Herald, published an
article in reply. in which he claimed
the gold plank" was framed by the
friends Of Governor Mckinley at con-
ference held in Mr.. Hanna's room at
the Southern hotel. four days before the
meeting of the convention, and there
fore long before Mr.. Foraker was
elected either member or chairman
OF the committee on resolutions. Mr..
Kohlsaat claimed. furthermore. that
there were present at this conference,
Mr.. Hanna, Henry C. Payne. Senator
Proctor, 3IyrOn 7. Herrlck, ex-Gover.
nor Merriam. N. E. stone and himself.
and that the gold plank prepared by
them was submitted to various Repub-
lIcan leaders, and also to the committee
on resolutions. by which 1t was adopt
ed, with minor changes Of phraseology,
and presented to the convention.
The following statements by Messrs.
Hanna, Payne, Merriam and Proctor
Furnish an important contribution to
the history OF the gold plank:
"The original draft of the so-called
gold plank was taken to st. Louis by
Mr.. Hanna. 1t was the subject Of
earnest consideration at the hands Of
Mr.. Hanna, Myron T. HerrIcE and my
self. who were in st. Louis some ten
days before the meeting OF the conven-
ton and closely associated in guarding
the interests Of Governor Mckinley.
After many informal discussions. the
plank was entrusted to me for tine pur-
pose OF drafting a substitute for the
orIgina.. and severa. substitute were
so drawn and discussed Soon Cover
nor Merriam. OF Minnesota, and sena-
tor Proctor OF Vermont, Joined this in.
formal committee of Governor McKin-
ley's friends. who were endeavorlng to
phrase this particular feature Of the
coming platform. Many changes were
made in phraseology. and probably
dozen different forms were discussed
at the various meetings, until ut the
meeting on Friday morning submit
ted the text OF the gold plank which
was substantially the one finally adopt
ed By the convention. At that meeting
Mr.. Kohlsaat. who had arrived in St.
Louis that morning, was present, and
was strenuously Insisting upon a plain,
unequivocai declaration for the gold
standard. end his Insistence did much
to end any division OF sentiment which
might have previously obtained among
the friends of Governor Mckinley as
to the wisdom of the course.
"a copy OF the resolution as thus
agreed upon was shown on Friday to
Hon. Joseph H. Munley. Of Maine. and
Governor W. Murray Crane, of Massa-
chusetts. who were at the convention
In the interest of Speaker Reed. and 1t
was also submitted 10 Senator Lodge,
OF Massachusetts, and Senator Platt. OF
New York. who all gave to it their un-
qualified approval.
"The resolution, as agreed upon, was
given to Myron I. HerrIek, OF cleve-
land. who telegraphed 1t in full to Can
ton for the approval Of Governor Nc
Rlnley. which was soon obtained. and
then cory was given to Governor
Merriam. who had been selected as a
member Of the committee on resolu-
tions, and he was authorized to say to
that committee that the resolution as
presented by him had been drawn by
Immediate and responsible friends Of
Governor Mckinley and approved by
him, and to ask that 1t be adopted by
the committee"
slEned) HENRY c. PAYNE"
II have carefully read the foregoing
account of the origin Of the gold plank
adopted by the Republican national
convention at st. Louis in 1895, and 1
find 1t correct. In addition to the facts
brought out In 1t. l wish to add that
other Republicans were earnest and in
fiuentIal In their advocacy OF gold
declaration, among them Robert w.
Patterson, the Illinois member of the
committee on resoIutIOns.'
(slEned) M. A. HANNA"
THE forep statement Occords
with my recollection Of tho facts. The
copy nt the resolution referred to was
EsTkfi to me and submitted Il 70 the
committee on resolutions. Previously
threeto / showed a copy Of the plank
to Senator Foraker, senator Platt, of
New York, and Senator Lodge. and
conferred with them about It."
Csirned) wv. r. MERRIAM"
II was consulted about tho financial
plank OF the st. Louis platform by Mfr,
Payne and others fve or six days pre-
vious to the meeting OF the convention,
I remember the conference which took
place Friday morning in one Of Mr..
| Hannas rooms at the Southern hotel.
There were present Messrs, Payne.
Merriam, IierricK Kohlsaat Stone aud
myself Mr. Hanna was in and out oc-
caslonnlly, but gave the matter little
attention. as he was more Interested In