Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-12-22
GOLD PLANK OF 1896
important Contribution to Con-
troversy as to the Repub-
lican Platform.
WHO FRAMED THE GOLD PLAEKl

Henry C. Payne Writes n Statement on
the Subject Which Is Indorsed by Ham
ma. Merriam and Proctor-Went to ST.
Louis in Hanna's Pocket but Was
Worked Over n Good Deal Before 1t
Was Finally Adopted
Washington, Dec. 22.-Senator For
aker and Ii. II. Kohlsaat, editor of the
Chicago Times-Herald, have had a con-
troversy over the origin of the gold
plank in the Republican platform of
1896, Foraker claiming that the reso-
lutions committee of the convention
originated it from diverse materials,
and Kohltsaat that il was framed at 4
meeting of Mckinley's friends some
days before the convention assembled,
and that at said meeting there We're
present Hanna, II. c. Payne, Senator
Proctor, Myron Il. Eerrick, eX-Govern-
or Merriam, NJ. f. Stone and himself,
and that the gold plank prepared by
them was submitted to various Repub-
lican leaders, and also TO the commit
tee OH resolutions, by which ii was
adpted with minor changes of phrase
ology, and presented to the conven-
ton.
Payne Contributes to History.
The following statement signed by
Henry e. Payne furnishes an impor
tant 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 sub
ject of earnest consideration at the
hands of Mr.. Hanna. Myron I. Her
rick and myself. who We're in st. Louis
some ten days before the meeting of
the convention and closely associated
in guarding the interests of Governor
Mckinley. After many informal dis
cussions the plank was entrusted to
me for the purpose of drafting a sub
stitute for the original, and several
substitutes were so drawn and dis
cussed. Soon Governor Merriam. of
Minnesota. and Senator Proctor, of
Vermont. Joined this informal commit
tee of Governor McKinley's friends
who were endeavoring to phrase this
particular feature of the coming plat
form.
Many Changes Were Made.
MANY changes We're made in
phraseolOgy and probably dozen diff
ferent forms We're discussed at the
various meetings, until at the meeting
on Friday morning l submitted the
text of the gold plank which was sub
stantially the one finally adopted by
the convention. At that meeting Mr..
Kohlsaat. who had arrived in St.
Louis that morning. was present and
was strenuously insistent upon plain.
unequivocal declaration for the gold
standard. and 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.
McKinIey's Indorsement Obtained.
"a copy of the resolution as thus
agreed upon was shown OH Friday to
Hon. Joseph II. Manley. OF Maine. and
Governor w. Murray Crane. of Mas
sachusetts. who We're at the conven-
ton in the interest of Speaker Reed,
and it was also submitted to Senator
Lodge. of Massachusetts. and Senator
Plat. of New York, who all gave TO it
their unqualified approval. The reso-
luton as agreed upon was given to
Myron T. Herrick, of Cleveland, who
telegraphed il in full to Canton for
the approval of Governor Mckinley,
which was soon obtained, and then Il
copy was given to Governor Merriam.
who had been selected as a member of
the committee on resolutions. and he
was authorized to say to that committee
that the resolution as presented by him
had been drawn by. immediate and re-
sponsible friends of Governor McKin-
ley and approved by him. and to ask
that il be adopted by the committee"
The foregoing statement is declared
over their own signatures TO be cor
rect by Senator Hanna, Ex-Governor
Merriam. and Redfield Proctor, the
latter of whom says it was known that
Foraker would be chairman of the
resolutions committee and is was
known to him and he approved ii.
Hay Reports on Samoa
Washington. Dec. 22.-Nothing i'm
portant was developed at the cabinet
meeting today. Hay explained that
Germany had not authorized its repre-
sentative in Samoa to raise the Ger
man flag, that if he has done so. as
the government would disa-
VOW the act.