Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-25
National Committee Compares Notes
at st. Louis-DiHiculty i'm sccur-
ing Quorum.


methods of conducting the next presidential
campaign will be considered by the demo-
cratic conference at the Planters hotel to-
morrow. 1t Is not expected that much
other matter will come before the meeting,
and no definite action OF any sort will be
taken unless a majority of the members
of the committee is present and whether
a sufficient number will be in attendance
is problematical.
Ex-Governor Stone of Missouri, who is
sued the call for the meeting, has received
twenty eight favorable reports. Two Of
these have been withdrawn and proxies for
warded This leaves but twenty-six mem
bers of the committee as outside num-
Der to be present at the meeting and the
democratic leaders are not oversanguine
tonight that they will have this number, or
even twenty three, which would constitute
q working majority of the committee. If
a quorum is secured it is altogether likely,
according to Committeeman Gahan of llli-
nos, that the meeting will be resolved into
a formal session of the national committee
and some definite action taken. Otherwise,
there will be nothing but an informal con-
ference regarding the best methods of con-
ducting the campaign. Only three COM
mitteemen are in the city tonight-Wo
of Kentucky, Gahan Of Illinois and Stone of
Missouri.
1t is generally understood that "ani-
trust will be the rallying cry for the de-
mocracy, with nti-imperalism" a close
second, and "16 to T. not entirely discarded,
but kept in third place. AS one of the lead
ers of the party expressed it, "anti-trust''
and "anti-imperialism" will be the salt
and pepper with which we will flavor "16
to II
There have been countless rumors floating
around to the effect that silver is to be en-
tirely discarded and that so far as Missouri
is concerned Bryan is to be shelved in favor
of William ]. Stone of Missouri. This Mr..
Stone positively denied today, saying that
he would 60 into the next convention to
work for Mr. Bryan and that the Missouri
delegation would vote sofidly for Mr.. Bryan's
nomination.
Committeeman Gahan was closeted for
three hours today with Mr.. Stone, urging
the claims Of the Harrison 'sctiUn in Illinois,
as against that headed by Ex-Governor Alt
geld The Harrison men deeply resent the
action of the democratic national committee
in the endorsement 1t gave Altgeld in the
mayoralty campaign this spring and was
very stiff in urging that Altgeld be removed
from the advisory committee Of the national
committee, as he did not represent the regu-
lar democratic organization, which the Har
rison men assert themselves to be.
If the conference should be resolved into
a formal meeting Of the national committee
tomorrow 1t is probable that the resignation
of Messrs. Teller and Alien from the ways
committee will be accepted. Both are will
ing to get out and the other members of
the national committee are willing they
should.
ic .TOneS
of the national committee will resign but
this is not confirmed. 1t is known that
Senator Jones is a sick man and his illness
is of nature that may prevent his taking
an active part in the management Of a
presidential campaign. If his resignation
comes his successor is likely to be William
j. Stone of Missouri or j. G. Johnson of
Kansas, the present acting secretary of the
national committee.
The Antitrust" banquet tomorrow night
promises to be a most successful affair. All
available seats have been sold and an over
flow meeting has been arranged for. The
toasts will be as follows:
"Why We Are Here" Eon. Harry B.
Hawes.
Presentation of state and district banners
in the name of the district committee, Hon.
Champ Clark.
Acceptance of state banner, Hon. c. B..
Farris.
Acceptance Of district banner, Hon. NJ. E.
Benton.
TRUSTS and Democracy" NJ. C. Wetmore
"The Trust and Its Parents" Hon. ID. A.
De Almond.
"Monopolies," William J. Bryan
1t is expected that short talks will be
made by other distinguished democrats.