The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-09-26

y Y Y Y V
Adopting the dark lantern methods
pursued by the non-partisan element
in the last city campaign, q select CO.
te-ie of silk stocking Repub-
licans met last night in Christensen
hall and formulated platform to be
adopted by the next city convention. II
was an invitation affair, and there
weren't many invitations Every effort
was made to keep the meeting and its
purposes secret from all except those
who participated in it.
Every man was required to show his
Invitation at the door. So as to make il
impossible for any of the lowiier Re
publicans to enter. AS a result of the
meeting the city convention viii have
rammed down its throat a, platform
that viii fail to endorse the national
administrator 1t may endorse free
silver. but that is an extremely un-
likely contingency.
Afraid Of National Issues.
The leaders apparently are ashamed
TO go before the people of
Salt Lake on national issues.
Perhaps Colonel M. NJ Kaighn
alarmed them when he spoke last night
of his surprise at the tremendous anti
expansion sentiment he found in the
east. At any rate, the whole thing is
now cut and dried, and Gus Holmes
was the only man present last night
with nerve enough TO denounce the
proceedings.
The convention WILL il it follows the
direction laid down for it at this secret
conference of Hannaite leaders. stu
diously avoid national issues in formu-
lat;ag platform, and confine itself
chiefly to local municipal affairs.
That chiefly" was Colonel William
Nelson's idea, and the gathering adopt
ed it with a unanimity that was beau
tiful to witness.
Colonel NJ. NJ. Kaighn was the only
man present who made an honest, out
spoken declaration in favor of free sill
Yer at the ratio of 16 to l, and he came
near being thrown out Of the meeting
for his temerity. AS sop
10 the silver sentiment it was
agreed that If the platform
touches on the monetary question.
il shall contain a declaration in favor
of free silver" That great big if is
the only thing that stands in the way.
The question which caused all the d s.
cussion was a resolution introduced by
George A. Smith, providing that the
platform be confined to local issues
only. To this was added the free silver
amendment with a string tied TO it and
Colonel Nelson's chiefly in place Of
''only."
Eichnor Opens the Ball.
The meeting was scheduled to begin
at s O'Clock, but Dennis Eichner and
Secretary Loofbourow Of the city Re-
publican committee were so anxious not
TO miss anything that they showed UP
at 80. The boys filtered in slowly, and
il was after O'Clock when Chairman
Eichnor raped for order.
We decided TO call this meet
ing" said Mr.. Eichnor, land when
say we / mean the city committee. to
see what can be done toward unifving
the various discordant elements in the
party with the view OF carrying the
next city election. If we all get to-
gether. ! believe we can do it. l also
think We can carry the county, and pcs
sibly the state next year. There is Il
saying that as salt Lake goes so goes
the state, and ii we can win this time it
VIII give US strong prestige for the
next election.
The main thing we want tc consid-
err here tonight is the next city plat
form. The question has frequently
been asked me. and ] presume ii has
been asked other members Of the COM
mitee: What shall we put in our plat
form? There are five things we want
10 discuss tonight
First. shall we confine ourselves to
local issues only; second, shall we
touch on national issues; third, shall
we touch on state affairs: fourth, shall
we reafflrm our allegiance to the party
and fifth. what local issues shall we
make most prominent. This gathering
is of a private nature and the chair
would be glad to have as full and free
an expression Of opinion as possible.
Speakers are requested to state their
views as freely as they desire. No
gentleman viii be Kissed nor viii there
be any other manifestations of disap
proval. no matter what is said. This is
q perfectly private meeting.
There was a silence of possibly two
minutes after Mr. Eichnor had finished.
Then Mr.. Smith got up and rather tim
idly moved, as he said. to get the ques-
tion before the house, that the plat
form be confined to local issues only.
This brought Gas Holmes to his feet
with an objection
Gus Holmes Objects.
THAT question is an improper one
at this time and place because we can't
make policy for the delegates to the
convention. We can't compel them to
adopt any line of policy we may agree
vote on the motion"
Another Silence Of two minutes fol-
lowed, presumably tn allow the words
Of Mr.. Holmes to filter into the minds Of
the leaders. Then Chairman Eichnor,
perhaps foreseeing q storm, entered a
hurried protest. This is not prear-
ranged thing" he declared we hav-
en't met here to fix up a platform but
20 get an expression OF opinion from
our leaders"
The next speaker was very cautious
lie suggested that the Republicans
wait until the Democrats had acted
before they adopted any kind Of policy.
I'VE should be guided by the course