Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-12-22
THAT GOLD PLANK.
The Origin and Authorship in Republican
Platform Of 1896 al Last Settled.

Washington, Dec. Ex-senator For
aker published some time ago a long
article concerning the origin and adop-
ton of the Gold plank" at the Repub-
lican national convention of 1896, in
which he maintained that the plank
was prepared by the committee on res
olutions of which he was chairman, af-
ter much discussion out out of diverse
materials. II. II. Kohlsaat editor Of
the Chicago Times Herald published
an article in reply in which he claim
ed the Gold plank was framed by
the friends of Gov. Mckinley. at a CON
ference held in Mr. Hanna's room at
the Southern hotel four days before
the meeting of the convention. and
therefore, long before Mr.. Foraker was
elected either a member or chairman
Of the committee on resolutions. Mr.
Kohlsaat claimed. furthermore. that
that were present at the conference,
Mr.. Hanna. Henry G. Payne, Senator
Proctor. Myron r. Herrick. ex-Govern-
or Merriam. VI. T.. Stone and himself
and that the gold plank then and there
prepared was submitted to various Re
publican leaders and also to the COM
mittee on resolutions by which it was
adopted with minor changes of phrase
ology. and presented to the convention.
The principal statement as to the for
mutation of the plank comes from Mr.
Payne and is as follows:
THE original draft Of the 50 called
gold plank was taken to st. Louis by
Mr.. Hanna. Il was the subject of earn
est consideration at the hands of Mr..
Hanna, MyrOn T. IferriCk and myself
who were in St. Louis some 20 days be
fore the meeting of the convention and
closely associated in guarding the inter-
ests of Gov Mckinley After many in
formal discussions the plank was entrust-
ed to me for the purpose of drafting q
substitute for the original, and several
substitutes were 50 drawn and discussed
Soon Gov. Merriam of Minnesota, and
Senator Proctor of Vermont. joined this
informal committee of Gov. Mckinley's
friends who were endeavOring to phrase
this particular feature of the coming
platform Many changes We're made in
phraSeOlogy and probably Il dozen differ
ent forms Were discussed at the various
meetings, until at the meeting. on Friday
morning. | submitted the text Of the gold
plank which was substantially the one
finally adopted by the convention. At
rived in st. Louis, that morning, was
present and WAS strcnuOusly inSistcnt
upon a plain. unequivocal declaration of
the gold standard. and his inSistence did
much to end any division of sentiment
which might have previously obtained
among the friends of Gov. Mckinley as
to the wisdom of the course.
"A copy of the resolution as thus
agreed upon was shown. ON Friday, to
Hon. Joseph II. Manley of Maine and
Gov. w. Murray Crane of Massachusetts,,
who were at the convention in the inter
est of Speaker Reed. and it was also sub
mitted to Senators Lodge of Massachu-
sets, and Plat of New York, who all
gave their unqualified approval.
THE resolution as agreed upon was
given to Myron T. Herrick OK 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 10
saw to that committee that the rcsou-
lion as presented by him had been drawn
by Immediate and responsible friends OF
Gov. Mckinley and approved by him, and
to ask that it be adopted by the com
mittee. tSigned) HENRY c. PAYNE.
Senator Hanna adds that he has read
Nr. Payne's statement and that il is cor
rect; Mr. Merriam also adds that the
statement accords with his recollection
and that A copy of the plank was shown
10 Senators Foraker. Platt and Lodge.
Senator Proctor says that II was known
that Senator Foraker was to De the
chairman of the committee on resolutions
and that the plank was shown TO hin
and met with his approval.