Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-10
'IH[ IOWA DEMOCRATS
The Convention Next Wednesday
Promises to Be Lively and
Largely Attended.
Bryan to Make an Ante. Convention
Address-Railroads Make
Low Rates.
Candidacy Of Bashor Seems to Be
Growing In Favor--The
Platform.

i II.
Des Moines, Aug. 10.-There is every
Indication that the democratic state
I.convention to be held in this city next
Wednesday will be alively one. A num-
Der of hot contests are already slated,
though nearly all these hinge upon the
attitude which the party is about to as
sumo on the money question. There are
a few other matters to be settled, how
ever, and upon each of these somewhat
son to believe that the attendance at
the convention next week will exceed
that of the past fe wears. In the first
place William Jennings Bryan is to
ticipate that he will prove drawing
card. Then the Western Passenger As
sociation announced yesterday its de-
termination to make a one fare rate
| from all parts of the state, and this will
induce many to attend who would not
| otherwise do so.
| What the convention will do upon the
silver question is impossible to deter
mine. Just now the ultra free silver
men are having the best of it. This was
not true few months ago. when there
was an evident movement on the part
of many of the democratic leaders to
throw over liz to l and to base the COM
the past week many county conventions
-. IL. L. .t =, -,
meetings the friends of 16 to have won
with ease, and have adopted platforms
| indorsing Bryan and free coinage at the
present ratio. These resolutions in the
| majority of cases have been given the
prominent position in the platforms,
and it is the intention of the silver men
to make the question of ratio the sole
test of patty fealty in the coming cam
paign.
/ But the other element of the party
has not been wholly idle. and many OF
the men who have been prominent in
the management of the campaigns for
| the last two or three years are deter
mined to compromise upon the money
question SO that a good many who left
| the party on that issue in 1886 may be
induced TO return. They argue that il
Is impossible TO conduct a campaign
solely on the money question. as ii will
have to be conducted wholly without
money. Last year the state central
committee had at its disposal less than
sl.ioo. Silver was anything but free
with the party machinery, Some of the
state central committee have insinuat-
ed that they would resign rather than
attempt another campaign on this issue
Last winter and spring the conservative
element Seemed to be In the majority,
and at the time OF the democratic con-
ference held by the party leaders in this
city it was fully agreed to put silver In
the background and TO give prominence
to other issues.
But just now it looks as though the
other men We're about 70 carry the day
II Is sure that they are determined to
fight rather than permit compromise
OF this character The silver men on
the state central committee have not
heen idle, and in securing Bryan for an
address on the night preceding the con
vention, these committeeman have been
actuated by desire to stampede the
convention for the Chicago platform
and l6 to l. They are now confident of
success and are beginning to question
whether or not the other fellows will
dare make fight in the convention.
III the silver advocates carry the day
Cato Sells will not be the nominee. The
temporary chairman is now at outs
with this element Of the party. The
non-comm!ttal policy pursued by Mr.
Sells has led many of the believers in
16 TO to think that he has been playing
with them. 1t is charged that he is a
rabbi free silver man to one man and a
soldbug to another BY members of the
state central committee IL is said that
he contributed not one cent to the cam
paign fund of 1896, and this crime is re-
garded as more heinous than that OF
49, They refer also to his failure 10
speak in behalf OF silver during that
campaign.
In reply to the first of these charges
Mr.. Sells has said nothing. To the lat
ter he replies that he was instructed
specifically by the president to take no
part in the campaign, and as he was
then United States attorney, he had to
obey instructions. Mr. Sells has yet
wholly failed to say whether or not he
would accept the nomination were 1t
rendered him. He has been asked by
many of the party leaders to do so, and
ndS Dteu assured tnat ne could receive
it should he indicate Willingness to
accept. Thus far he has refused to com
nit himself either way, although the
impression obtains that he would not be
unwilling, could he get the nomination
without fight. If the conservative ele-
ment wins in the convention, it is con-
fidently believed that Sells will be the
nominee.
There has as yet been no agreement
among the silver men as to their can
didate, and they now have several. OF
these. S. ii. Bashor, of Waterloo. is
plainly in the lead. He has several
county delegations instructed for him.
He has behind him such men as Fred
White. l.. 7. Genung, Horace Boies.
George Huffman. secretary of the state
central committee, and others of the
silver leaders. His outspoken advocacy
of 16 to during the last three cam
pagins has brought him in favor with
this element, and they are now support
ing him for the gubernatorial nomina-
ton. j. b. Romans, of Denison, mem
Der of the state central committee, Is
also regarded az q probable candidate.
Ar. Romans has money which ynanv