Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-07-21
EXPECTED wRANGLE AT CHICAGO
DID NOT MATERIALIZE.
NOTHING OF IMPORTANCE DONE
RULES REVISED AND PRESS AGENT
DEvLIN oUsTED.
While All Was Harmonious In Com
mittee Meeting, There Was Much
Bitter Strife Outside Be-
tween AIEeId and H9r-
risOn Men.

CHICAGO, July 2o.-No friction developed
at the meeting of the Democratic national
committee to-day, and the men who made
such belligerent assertions last night failed
to make them good to-day. Not a single
warlike. note was sounded, and no de-
fiances were uttered either. by the men
who demand that "16 to T. shall be the
rallying cry in the next campaign or by
those who oppose its adoption
The only movement made by the silver
men looking toward recognition by the
national committee was during the after
noon, when the Ohio Valley Bimetallic
League admitted to the committee
rooms, and James P. Tarvin, of Kentucky,
acting as spokesman, read some resou-
tions adopted by the committee earlier in
the day at the Palmer house. These reso-
lutions he demanded be inserted in the
next DenSocratic national platform, op-
posing trusts and Imperialism, and adher-
ing to the silver ratio of 16 to l. And
along these lines we offer you our aid"
said Mr.. Tarvin. There was a defiant ac-
cent upon the word these that seemed
TO imply that the support of the BIZ
metallists could be secured along no other
lines than these marked out, but of this
the committee took no notice. The Ohio
Valley Bimetallic League was courteously
thanked for its proffer of assistance and
assured that it would be called upon at
such times as the national committee felt
in need of its assistance. That was the
beginning and end OF the silver episode.
The fight against P. ]. Devlin, editor of
the press bureau of the national committee
was brought to a finish, the Harrison fac
ton of Illinois securing his deposition for
the part taken by him, as an officer of the
national committee, in the last mayoralty
election in Chicago.
Beyond making several changes in the
rules governing the committee, nothing else
was done during the day.
The fight between the Illinois factions
began as soon as Mr.. Bryan arrived in
the city at s o'clock in the morning He
was Immediately beset by men of both
sides, the Altgeld faction asking him to
be at the Auditorium meeting without
fail, and by the Harrison men, who asked
that he remain away from the Auditorium
altogether. Mr.. Bryan was in dilemma
and for a long time would not declare
himself as being in favor of the meeting
or not. He said that he had accepted the
invitation for the meeting, and there was
no apparent reason why he should decline
at the last moment at the demand of
political faction hostile to that which had
invited him to the city. At the same time,
he expressed himself as being anxious to
avoid anything that would create further
friction and, as a remedy. proposed that
the Altgeld people turn over the control
of the meeting to the national committee.
Mr.. Altgeld was personally willing that
this should be done, but the majority of
his adherents who are bitter against the
Harrison men objected most strenuously.
When the Harrison men heard that there
was opposition to the plan in the Alt
geld camp, they openly championed the
passing of the meeting under the control
of the national committee. The arguments
on both sides were hot and fierce for sew
eral hours, and there seemed to be no
chance of a settlement. The large major
ity of the members of the national COM
mittee declared themselves as being op-
posed to having anything to do with the
meeting ps In p.a any gb ay They tss
at that moment, born of the outraged
feelings of the Harrison faction because
It believed that the nationalI committee
good reason, and they were disposed to
keep their hands out of the political fight.
Finally, Mr.. Altgeld sent word to Mr..
Bryan that, IL he considered that his at
tendance at the meeting would embarras
him, he could feel at perfect liberty to re-
main away. The meeting could get along
without him. This message was declared
by the Altgeld people to be one of simple
courtesy to Mr.. Bryan, but the Harrison
men declared that it was a message Of
was afraid to keep his word to address
the meeting, it would be success without
his presence.
It was late in the afternoon before Mr.
Bryan made up his mind to attend the
meeting. the Harrison people, who were in
good humor over the defeat of Devlin be-
might attend the meeting without causing
any hostility TO himself in the Harrison
camp. This message, however, had moth
ing to do with the intention reached by
~ Hing fhn ttnu fnr na
had decided to attend before it reached
him;
order In the club room of the Sherman
house at II o'clock. all the states were
represented either by proxy or by their
regular committeeman with the exception
West Virginia and Arizona. Mr.. Bryan
held proxies for Michigan and South Da-
kota, and was present throughout the
meetings of the committee, although he
did not take an active part in the proceed
| ings Ex-Governor Altgeld was offered the
proxy of Committeeman White, Of Wash
ington, but declined it, and Willis j. Alb
bott, of New York. acted for the. state.
| Mayor Harrison held the proxy for Alaska,
but did not attend either session of the
| AS soon as Vice Chairman Stone had
| called the meeting to order, Congressman
| Ferguson, of New Mexico, was elected to
| fill the vacancy from that state caused
by the resignation of F. A. Manzanares.
| The chair then announces that it would
| be in order to consider the question of
admitting the new member from Massa-
| chusetts, Committeeman Corcoran, a gold
| Democrat of that state, having protested
| against his removal to make room for
George Frederick Williams. The matter
was settled in favor of the latter, who
| retained the seat.
| Mr.. Stone then announced that the COM
mittee of three appointed to investigate
the charges made by the Harrison faction
of Illinois against p. J. Devlin, editor of
the press bureau of the national committee,
was ready to report. The report was ad-
| verse to Mr.. Devlin, and recommended his
removal.
A motion was promptly made by Mr..