The age-herald., 1899-05-25
THE COMMITTEE CONFERENCE Action on the Campaign in St.
 Louis Today. WILL CONSIDER WAYS AND MEANS Harrison and Altge,d Factions of Illi- nois Are Fighting Hard-Bryan and o. H. P. Bel Exreot-
 ed At the Meeting.
WILL CONSIDER WAYS AND MEANS

St. Louis, May A.-Whether the demo- cratic battle cry in the coming presidential campaign is to be "Anti-Trusts' and "Anti- Imperialism or the old slogan of "16 to mined at the conference of the national committee, which Is to be held at the Planters hotel tomorrow morning.
 It is generally understood that Anti Trust will be the rallying cry for tine democracy, with "Anti-ImperialiSm" a close second, and ''16 to r not entirely discarded, but kept in thid place. As one of the leaders of the party expressed 1t, Antitrust and "Anti-Imperial- ism will be the salt and pepper with which to flavor '16 to 1.''
 There have been countless rumors floating around that silver is to be entirely discarded and as far as Missouri is concerned, Bryan is to be shelved in favor of W. J. Stone, of Mis- sourl. This MT. Stone positively denied today, saying that he would go Into the next conven- tion to work for Bryan and that the Missouri delegation would vote solidly for Mr. Bryan's nomination.
 Will Not be Binding
 At the same time it is definitely stated by all the committeeman who have so far put in an appearance that any recommen- dations which may come from the confer ence can have no binding force on the par ty at large nor can they in any manner De construed as the official utterances of the democratic party
 The meeting, they assert, is not a regu- lar gathering of the committee. and it has no power other than to annoince the opin- ion of those who attend 1t. The entire af- fair is, however, assuming an antitrust aspect, and so far there have been no voices lifted in behalf of silver.
 The subject of silver Is. moreover, care- fully omitted from the lists of the toasts at the dinner-which Is pronounced an ''anti-trust" affair.
 May Not be Enough Present
 Ways, means and methods of conducting the next presidential campaign will be con- sdered by the conference. It Is not likely 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 at-
 
 Stone, of Missouri. who issued the call for the meeting has received twenty-eight fa- vorable replies. Two of these have been withdrawn and proxies forwarded. This leaves but twenty-six members of the com mittee as an outside number to be present at the meeting, and the democratic leaders are not over sanguine tonight that they will have this number, or even twenty-three, which would constitute working majority of the committee.
 If quorum is secured it is altogether likely, according to Committeeman Gahan. of Illinois, that the meeting will be resolved into formal session of the national com mittee, and some definite action taken. Otherwise there will be nothing but an in- formal conference regarding the best meth ods of conducting the campaign. Only three committeeman are In the city to- night, Woodson. of Kentucky; Gahan, of Illinois, and Stone, of Missouri
 Harlison-Altgeid Fight
 The fight between the Altgeld and Harri- son factions of Illinois is the uppermost thing today. The Harrison men are by far more numerous than the Altgeld partisans, are working hard, and they will make a savage effort tomorrow to have Altgeld forced from the advisory committee of the national committee. Their efforts will be directed principally upon this point, and if they can obliterate the committee entirely their happiness will be supreme. That will mean the passing of ex-Governor AltgeId from controlling power in national issues in Illinois and the Harrison faction will reign supreme.
 MT. Bryan will not arrive before tomor- row. Ex-Governor Altgeld and O. H. P. Belmont are expected at the same time. Committeeman Gahan was closeted for three hours today with MT. Stone, urging the claims of the Harrison faction in Illinois as against those made by ex-Gov- ernor Altgeld. MT. Altgeld will probably remain member of the advisory commits tee, but the Harrison men were assured that the power and influence of Mr. Alt geld as a member of the advisory com- mitte would be greatly curtailed. Similar assurances were also received concerning national press bureau, who circulated the endorsement of Altgeld. to which the Har- rison men object. The Harrison faction. after receiving assurances that the Alt geld power will be restrained, lessened their fight against him, but there Is to be no let-up regarding Devlin. Devliu is not