Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-07-27
MEET OF DEMOCRATS.
NATIONAL COMMITTEE TRANS
ACTS BUSINESS IN CHICAGO.
Mr.. Bryan Pleads for Party Unity
Reafhrms Chicago Platform and
Criticises Policy of xpansion-Some

The national Democratic committee
met in Chicago Thursday and held long
executive session at the Sherman House.
But for one or two differences the bust
ness of the preliminary meeting passed
off smoothly and quietly. As stated by
ex-Gov Stone when he first called the
meeting to order, this gathering was not
for the purpose of transacting much bust
ness, but was called for the purpose of
organizing for ~,e approaching struggle
of the ensuing year." Hence no new
business of Importance was considered.
The summary of the business transacted
may be told in the following short para
graph:
The meeting created the Office of vice
chairman and elected William j. Stone to
fill it; took action tantamount to oustlng
T. ]. Devlin from the editorship of the
press bureau; adopted new rules which
add the ways and means committee to
the list of standing committees; thanked
the bimetallists for their offers of coop
GRAFTON and agreed to call on them when
their services are needed; received and
placed on file bids for the national con-
vention from Milwaukee and Kansas
City; provided for a press committee OF
five and directed the vice-chairman to
name it's members; authorized the chair
man to divide the States into groups for
campaign work; elected John l. Martin
sergeant-at-arms for next national con-
vention, and accepted an invitation from
the sanitary trustees to visit the drain
age canal.
Chicago's name was not mentioned
when the question of location Of the con-
vention came up. Buffalo, Milwaukee,
Kansas City and Denver locked horns in
a sharp fight for convention honorS. All
four cities were represented in the coun-
ellis of the committee by large delegations,
and there were offers Of special trains
and all sorts of inducements to capture
the committeeman. All these suggestions
and offers were placed on file.
Auditorium Meeting.
A mass meeting was held at the Audi
forum in the evening, at which consider
able enthusiasm was manifested. When
William J. Bryan arose to speak the
great theater resounded with cheers, and
at every reference to the old Democratic
principles of 1896 there was enthusiastic
applause. When the denunciation of the
protracted war in the Philippine Islands
was mentioned the audience shouted it's
approval.
ExGov. Altgeld did not occupy a po-
sition on the stage. He was seated in
front box with number of friends.
When his name was called there was
great enthusiasm shown, and when he
stepped to the front of the box to deliver
his speech he was greeted with prolonged
applause.
Judge James P. Tarvin of Kentucky
was the first speaker at the meeting. His
address was mainly eulogistic Of ex-Gov.
Altgeld. He was followed by James T.
Brown, who spoke in the same strain and
referred to Altgeld as the Henry George
Of Illinois," Mr.. Brown was chairman
of the famous New York dollar dinner"
committee. Senator Tillman's speech,
which followed, was delivered in his char
acteristic style. He spoke mainly on the
platform question, and said that he had
three prongs to his pitchfork-silver,
antitrust and anti-imperialsm."
Following a speech on free silver by
Congressman John T. Shafroth of Colo
RADIO, Alexander Troup, national commit
teeman, made short speech, in which
he assured the audience that New Eng
land Democrats were for Bryan. George
+. Williams next spoke, and he was fol-
lowed by ex-Gov. Altgeld. The trend of
the remarks by John J. Lentz was anti
imperialism, and Gen. e. b. Finley spoke
on prosperity