Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-20
Arousing Bitter Feeling Between
Democratic Factions in Chicago.
PROSPECT OF HIS REMOVAL
Bryan Tries to Evade Responsibility
of Tonight's Meeting.
DEMANDS OF BIMETALLISTS

committee gathering this morning The
fight over his retention or dismissal be-
came very bitter.
1t was reported that the Altgeld people
had made a threat to Vice Chairman Stone
of the national committee that they would
withdraw from the democratic party and
form national committee of their own
in the event of the dismissal of Mr. Devlin
Some of Mir. AItgeld's following made this
assertion with great energy, but the ex-
governor personally and Judge Prentiss
who is practically an authorized mouth
piece of Mr.. Altgeld. refused to substan-
tiate any such statements. They said it
would be time enough to cross the bridge
when it was reached. but confident asser-
tions were made to the effect that Devlin
would not be dismissed, and therefore no
emergency could arise in that direction
calling for any action on their part
Judge Prentiss said he had made call
on Vice Chairman Stone this morning. but
it was lust a friendly visit and he insist
ed that he made no threats and delivered no
ultimatum.
All Up i'm the Air.
Everything this morning was ''in the air.
and all kinds of rumors were flying fast
Nobody seemed to know anything of the
probable action of the committee this after
noon. There was a general opinion, how
ever, that the committee appointed at St.
Louis to investigate the charges against
Mr.. Devlin will report in favor of his dis
charge
The Altgeld people have won an unquali-
fled victory as far the attendance at the
meeting tonight is concerned. Mr.. Bryan,
who arrived at o'clock this morning. will
certainly speak. and, what is more prac-
ucally every member of the national COM
mittee will be there to hear him.
F1,a
draw the committeeman to one side by
1nvitatiors to carriage rides, trips to the
drainage canal, rides on the lake and sim
liar delights proved fruitless. and not only
will practically all the committeeman be at
the meeting, but a large portion of the
Harrison crowd as well.
The Harrison men admitted that their eff
forts to draw from the meeting have re-
suited in failure, but claimed they are
making their fight against Devlin, and if
they secure his head the success of the
meeting. no matter how glittering it may
be, cannot injure them.
Demands of BimetaIIists.
1t is now certain that unless the bimetal-
lists secure the recognition they demand
from the national committee at this after
moons meeting they will form new ma
tional committee of their own
There seems to be- however, a strong
probability that they will obtain formal
recognition.
They claimed this morning to have two
thirds of the national committee and said
there will be formal declaration in their
favor by the national committee as soon as
they have presented their demand, that
they be allowed to cooperate in the next
national campaign with the national com
mittee in the management of the cam
paign.
Vice Chairman Stone refused to say any
thing upon this subject.
Il I'm hat will do h.ac a
Nobody knows what will be done. l am
not looking for any bolt from the demo-
cratic party, however, [ can assure you.
There may be some honest differences of
opinion, but there will be no split
Shortly before noon the Altge!d people
made a decided change of base regarding
Deviin, when VIM j. StrcI g. close friend
and adviser of Mr.. Altgeld, announced that
the latter did not propose to stand or fall
by Mr.. Devlln or by what was done with
him. This was accepted by the Harrison
to go and that the Alleged people were
trimming tEeir sails in orGer that his dig
plissal might not compromise them to any
serious extent.
Mr.. Bryan's Proposition.
W. ]. Bryan today made a proposition to
the warning democratic factions in Illinois
that the meeting tonight (over which there
has been much pulling to and fro to
secure his attendance or his abseuce) be
placed under the control Of the democratic
national coElmittee.
This would relieve him from the dilemma
in which he is now placed of taking sides
in the Illinois row. The proposition was
made to the Altgeld people, who are in con-
troll of the meeting, and they agreed to re-
fer it to the national committee Men of
both si> es agreed that Mr.. Bryan has
through no fault of his own, been placed
in a position where, no matter what his
decision regarding the meeting may be- he
is certain to lose large part of the SUD-
port of the Illinois democracy.
Any change in the management of the
meeting will relieve him personally of all
embarrassment.
There was strong undercurrent of feel
ing among the national committeeman
against accepting the proposition they
claiming that it would look too much as
though the committee was disposed to in
dorse the silver proposition. The silver
men of the national committee are of
course, willing TO accept charge of the
meeting, and say that they will have suf-
ficient strength at the meeting to carry
Mr.. Bryans proposition through
Address by New York Democrats.
Representatives of the Chicago platform
democrats of the state of New York last
night issued an address ITO the members
to the democratic voters of the United
States'' as follows:
We, acting as committee created and
authorized by the Chicago platform democ-
racy of the state of New York, desire to
make public the following well-esta blished
facts concerning the situation in the state
of New York, believing that everything af-
fecting the political situation In that great
state is of national, rather than merely To-
cal. Importance.
We assert without fear of successful con-
tradiction, two propositions:
l. An overwhelming majority of the yo-
ters in the democratic party in the state of
New York are enthusiastically in favor of
the principles laid down in the Chicago plat
form of 1896, and demanding without quail
fcation the noninatio of that man who
shall in his record and in his personal quail
tiles most thoroughly stand for and incar-
nate those principles.
2 We declare that the small group of men
who have seized upon the machinery OF the
democratic party in the state of New York
are absolutely opposed openly or covertly
to all that the Chicago platform stands for
ond fo the nomination of auy man who Sir