The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-22
PARTY IN A ROW
FAMILY DISPUTE IN REPUBLICAN
CAMP AS TO AUTHOR OF THE
MONEY PLANK
R. FORAKER Is DISPUTED
DEFT FINGERS OF EX-GOV. MER-
RIANI, OF MINNESOTA. HAVE
BEEN TRACED
HE DID NOT PLANE PLANK

Had Much to Do With the Prepara-
ton and Handling of the Gold
Issue In the Republican Platform
Mr.. Hanna Did Not Dictate, but
Was willing to Accept Commit
tees Work.
WASHINGTON, Dee. Ex-senator Fora
ker published some time ago a long ar
ticle concerning the origin and adoption
OF the gold plank at the Republican ma
tional convention of 1885, in which he
maintained that the plank was prepared
by the committee on resolutions, of
which he was chairman, after much dis
cussiOn. and out of diverse materials
II H. Kohlsaat, editor OF the Chicago
Times Herald, published an article in re
ply. in which he claimed the gold
plank was framed by the friends of MaJ.
Mckinley at a conference held in Mr..
Hamnas room at the Southern hotel, four
days before the meeting of the conven-
ton, and, therefore, long before Mr.. For
aker was elected either member or
chairman of the committee on resoIu-
tions. Mr.. Kohlsaat claimed further that
there were present at this conference
Mr.. Hanna, Henry c. Payne, Senator
Proctor, Myron T. Herrick, ex-Gov. Mer-
riam, M E. Stone and himself, and that
the gold plank prepared by them was
submitted to various Republican leaders,
and. also, to the committee on resOlu-
tions, by which it was adopted, with
minor changes of phraseology, and pre-
sented to the convention.
The following statements by Messrs.
Hanna, Payne Merriam and Proctor fur
nish 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 MeSsrs.
Hanna Myron T Herr1ck and myself,
who were in st. Louis some ten days be-
fore the meeting Of the convention, ana
closely associated In guarding the inter
ests of Gov. Mckinley. After many In
formal discussions the plank was intrust-
ed TO me for the purpose OF drafting a
substitute for the original, and several
substitutes were so drawn and submitted.
Soon Gov. Merriam, Of Minnesota. and
informal committee OF Gov. McKinley's
friends, who were endeaYoring TO phrase
this particular feature of the coming
platform. Many changes were made in
phraseology and probably a dozen differ
enI forms We're discussed al the various
meetings, until at the meeting on Friday
morning, l submitted the text Oh the SOIo
plank, which was subs tanttally- the one
finally adopted by the convention. AT
that meeting Mr.. Kohlsaat, who had ar
rived in St Louis that morning, was pres
ent. and was strenuously insistent upon
plain, uneQuiyOcal declaration for the
gold standard, and his insiStence did
much to SD any division of sentiment
which might previously have obtained be-
tween the friends of Gov. Mckinley as
10 the wisdom of the course.
A copy Of the resolution as thus agreed
on
Joseph H. Manley, of Maine, and Gov.
W Murray Crane. Of Massachusetts, who
We're at the convention in the interest OF
Speaker Reed, and I was also submitted
to Senator Lodge, of Massachusetts, and
Senator Platt, Of New York, who all gave
to it their unqualified approval
given to MyTOn T. Herrick, of Cleveland,
who telegraphed it in full to Canton for
the approval of Gov. Mckinley, which
was soon obtained, and then copy was
given to Gov. Merriam, who had been
selected as member Of the committee on
resolutions, and he was authorized to say
that the proposal as submitted by him
was drawn by immediate and responsible
friends of Gov. Mckinley, and approved
by him, and to ask that 1t be adopted by
the committee. Henry c. Payne"
Il have carefully read the foregoing ac-
count of the origin of the gold plank,
as adopted by the Republican nationa /
convention a [ st. Louis in 1896, and I
find it correct. In addition to the facts
brought out in 1t / wish to add that other
Republicans were earnest and influential
in their advocacy of a gold declaration,
among them Robert w. Patterson, the
Illinois member Of the committee on res
olutions M. A Hanna"
The foregoing statement accords with
my recollection Of the facts. The copy Of
the resolution referred to was given to
me and l submitted it to the COMMITTEES
on resolutions. Previously thereto I
showed a copy of the plank to Senator
C~.aI Iyp~ Il
Senator Lodge and conferred with them
about ii. w. r. Merriam"
Il was consulted about the financial
plank of the ST. Louis platform by Mr..
Payne and others, five or six days
previous to the meeting OF. the conven-
ton. l remember the conference which
took place, Friday morning, in one of Mr..
HannaS rooms, at the Southern hotel
There were present Messrs. Payne Mer-
riam, Herrick, KOhlsaat, Stone and my
self. Mr.. Hanna was in and out oc-
cassiOnally, but gave the matter little at
tention as he was more interested in max
ing a president than the platform for him
70 stand on. He, however, expressed
fa1s{a aflmself as as ready to agree to anything we
t0rmulated, and did agree to it at the
close OF our work. Mr. Kohlsaat had just
arrived In town and was very active and
earnest for the gold standard, and his
Iorcefu! lnslstence came at an opportune
moment Tor settling the matter in the
fsht way. was surprised to find some
OF the Western men so strong for gold
VI course substantially all Eastern Re-
pubicans would favor 1t, but the credit
of leading in the matter belongs to the
Western, men I have named. 1t was
known that Senator Foraker was to be
chairman Of the committee on resolu-
tions, and the plank was shown to him
and met his full approval. It was sub
mttted to President Mckinley by wire.
and received his approval. 1t was also
SHOWN to the different delegates, but es-
pecfally to those delegates who were to
be appointed on the committee on resollI-
tions and 1t was known very soon that 1t
would meet with the approval of good
majority of the committee.
-'Redfeld V Proctor"
FIGHT WILL BE CLOSE.