The record-union., 1899-05-26
Members of the National Committee
Hold a Conference,
But Take No Action Relative to Its Policy
in the Coming Presidential Campaign.
The Meeting Almost Entirely De-
Methods of Work of Next Year,
and the Ways and Means by
Which It Can Best Be Accom-
pIished.

Which 1t Can Best Be Accom-
plished.
ST. LOUIS, May 25.-When the con-
ference of the members of the Demo-
cratic National Committee adjourned
this afternoon at $50 o'clock, it had
taken no action regarding the policy
of the party in the coming Presidential
campaign, and no plans for the plat
forms were even discussed. The meet
ing from first to last. was one of dis
cussion regarding methods of work of
next year. and the ways and means by
which this work could best be accom-
plished All members were urged to
see that the organization Of the party
in their respective States is perfected
as soon as possible, and all preparations
made for the fight. The matters of
.'Anti-trust,'' "Anti-imperialism'' and
silver were not touched upon. No ac-
ton was taken regarding them and no
tions were made.
The next meeting of the conference
will probably be held in Chicago on
July Doth, and Chairman Jones of the
National Committee, has been asked to
is expected that at this meeting def
mite action will be taken, and the ques-
ton of what is to be the rallying cry
of the Democracy will be determined.
Those present at the meeting to-day
We're: Henry D. Clayton of Alabama,
who acted as proxy for Committeeman
Tomlinson of that State; Thomas c.
McRae, Arkansas; t. j. ODonnell
proxy for Wilson Adair of Colorado; ].
K. Oil, proxy for Clark Howell Of
Georgia; Alexander Troup, Connecticut;
Thomas Gahan, illinois,; Thomas G.
Shankin, Indiana; J. G. Johnson, Kan
sas; Urey Woodson, Kentucky; w. B.
Sullivan, Mississippi; w. ]. Stone
Missouri; w. H. Thompson, Nebraska;
Josephus Daniels, North Carolina; j.
M. Guffy, Pennsylvania; j. NJ Head,
Tennesse; ]. G. Dudley, Texas; D. j.
Otey, Virginia; John T. McGraw, West
Virginia; w. N. Holiday, Wyoming;
Thomas Marcum, Indian Territory.
Mr.. Bryan acted as proxy for J. NJ
Woods of South Dakota during the time
that he was in the meeting -
Governor Stone stated the object of
the meeting as set out in the call Mr.
Walsh was in his place as Secretary
having ccme from Ottawa, Canada,
where he said he had been for the past
four months, looking after some min
ing matters
j. NJ. Guffy of Pennsylvania, who was
present as proxy for Committeeman
Harrity of that State. made a total
representation of twenty three States
Committeeman Stone of Missouri was
elected Chairman, and Immediately
after calling the meeting to order an
nounced that reports on organizations
and conditions of the different States
were desired.
One by one the representa- tives of the
different States outlined the conditions
existing at home, and the reports were
accepted without recommendations of
any kind Not one of the speakers
touched upon trusts, Imperialism or
silver
After the committee had been in ses-
sion an hour, Mr.. Bryan was present
ed. He made short address, urging
the members to look closely after the
organizations in their States, and sus-
gesting that strong efforts be made to
provide campaign fund for the com
ing campaign. He made no specific
suggestions, merely talking in a gen.
eral way of the great advantage of or
ganizations.
The fight of the Illinois Democracy
against Editor Devlin of the National
Committee Press Bureau was then
brought up by Commit teeman Gahau
of Illinois. He made vigorous speech
claiming that Devlin had acted against
the Democratic organizat ton in Illinois.
and that he should be removed He
said that the control of the Democratic
party in Illinois was now in the hands
of the regular Democrats, and that it
should be allowed to remain there. If
Mr.. Devlin persisted in his attacks
upon the regular Democracy of Illinois.
he should be compelled to do so from
some other position than that of the
official manager of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee. He urged strongly
that Devlin be removed.
A motion was carried appointing a
committee of three to investigate the
Dsvlin matter, and report to Chairman
Jones upon his return from abroad. Mr..
StCne appointed on the committee of
investigation Messrs. John of Kansas.
Daniels of North Carolina, the third
man to be named later in the day
AT l:30 the conference adjourned TO
meet again at 3 o'clock
During the afternoon session the same
line of discussion as that which had
ruled during the morning was taken up.
and after the resources of the party for
the next campaign had been gone over
thoroughly, the motion of Committee
man Gahan of Illinois. having for its
object the removal of Editor Deylin of
the Press Bureau of the National Com
mittee, came up once more
The committee of three which was
appointed at the morning session to in
vestigate the row in Illinois was com
pleted by the appointment of Woodson
of Kentucky, and an amendment to the
resolution of Mr.. Gahan of Illinois
which was judged a trifie warlille in it's
tone, was offered, declaring If the duty
of the committee to confer with Chair
man Jones with view to compromising
the trouble.
A committee of five on press matters
was appointed, its members being How
ell of Georgia, Daniels of North Caro-
Lima, Troup of Connecticut, Woodson of
Kentucky and Stone Of Missouri
1t was declared the sense of the meet
ing that it was advisable that a regu-
lar meeting of the National Committee
be held in the near future, and Commit