The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-21
DEMOCRATS OFF FOR 1900.
NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEETS AND
<LT6ELD SETS THE PACE

t,opni Committee Meeting-Stone Elect
ed yice-Chairman OF the Committee
and Empowered to Appoint New Exec
utiye and Ways and Means Com
mittses Only After Consulting Chair
man Jones-Freo Silver tho Loudest
Note of the MeetinG-Altgeld Wins Over
Rrynn and Has Big Meeting with Bryan
asa Speaker-Harrison'sS Star Dimned.
CHICAGO, July 20-The story OF the Demo-
cratic day should begin with the arrival OF the
Hon William Bryan at the Sherman House
atso'clock this morning. 1t had been a hot
trip from Lincoln. Col. Bryan has grown
stout He looked very serious. Many OF his
friends and others who were totally Indifferent
10 his political fortunes pestcred him with
questions as to whether he was to speak at
the Altgeld Sixteen to One demonstration at
the Auditor UNI Theatre in the evening. Col.
Bryan's face became even more serious when
these Inquiries were hurled at him.
Il cannot tell you, gentlemen" he replied,
whether | shall speak or not. I do not be-
leve shall be ready to make u decision much
before an hour or two before the meeting as
aep,bes II is to he a very busy day with me-"
That's all that Col Bryan would say on the
subject After breakfast the great men Of the
Democratic party here assent led gathered in
go Bryan's room to greet him. In the throng
there was not an Allen Greenleaf Thurman. or
q George II. Pendleton. or a Samuel j. Tilden.
Eeither was there Thomas A. Hendricks. nor
Samuel J. Randall. nor a Daniel Manning.
Neither was there William c. Whitney or a
David B. Hill. or an Arthur Pue German. To
men who have been accustomed for the last
twenty years, and even longer, to observe the
great men OF the Democratic party the scene in
Col Bryan S rooms this morning was positively
humatng for q party which for nearly a
hundred years has been powerful in the nation.
Ex-Gov William j. Stone OF Missouri was
there and so was Senator Francis NJ Cockrell.
also OF Missouri. and later came ex-Gov John
p Altgeld OF Illinois. No Democrat out this
way disputes the abilities Of these three men.
but somehow many OF the Rlories which have
clustered around the old Democratic war;
horses do not appear to be associated with
even these three able citizens. The Democratic
National Committee with but few excep-
lions. in the estimation OF those conyersant
to speak OF the matter. is made up OF men OF
mediocre political ability. Clark Howell OF
Georgia. John q. Shunkn OF Indiana. Frank
Campbell Of New York. f. c. Wall Of Wiscon-
sin and Alexander Troop OF Connecticut. how
ever. are acknowledged to be we'll up in the
political line. Moreover. they are accustomed
10 the broad ways Of life There is no inten-
ton. however. OF continuing 70 speak OF a con-
trast which can only result in unpleasant COM
ment. 1t is not the purpose to bring pain to
others. but nevertheless the exigencies OF
politics sometimes require that these unpleas-
ant contrasts should be made.
ALTGELD JoLTs BRYAN.
The frst efforts OF Col Bryan were directed
toward smoothing out the wrinkles on the
brovs Of the Harrison and Altgeld men over
the Altged demonstration in the Auditorium
Theatre o-night Col Bryan had thought OF
the matter all the way from Lincoln. he told
his friends and he believed that he had found
way out OF the trouble In his talk with ex-
Gov. Altgeld he suggested that Altgeld grace
fully retire and place the Democratic National
Committee in charge OF the demonstration.
There Is no use in resorting to exaggerated
language in describing eI-GOv. Altgelds re-
eeption OF Col. Bryan's proposition. He simply
looked into Col. Bryan's face with that leer for
which Mr.. Altgeld is noted. and he positively
sneered out his refusal, his absolute refusal to
acquiesce in Col. Bryan's suggestion.
Furthermore. 1t may be set down as a copper
riveted fact that Mr.. Altgeld told Col Bryan in
che painest Of plain English that II he did not
care to speak at the meeting he need not. On
the contrary. II he thought it convenient and
agreeable to come and make the speech which
ne, COL Bryan, had promised to make all we'll
and good. It is asserted that this Is the first
time since Col Bryan became the national
leader OF his party that he has listened compla-
Gently and without sharp rebuke to straight
forward utterances OF this kind.
Col Bryan. after the conversation with Mr..
Aitgeld. had talk with Mayor Carter Harri-
son. and Mayor Harrison urged Col. Bryan not
70 attend the A!tge!d meeting All the time
Co. Bryan's face became more and more
Int H. k, Ln,
little conference with that eminent Democratic
statesman George Fred Williams OF Dedham
OF the Commonwealth OF Massachusetts.
MI Williams has been here for a couple
OF days. He and Willis A. Abbot OF
now York have made an excellent team.
II may be said that Mr.. Abbot also had talk
with COL Bryan shortly after Mr.. Williams left
tne room. Several more OF the Thurmans and
fendIetons and Hendrickses and Tildens and
hannlngS OF the present day were in confer
ehce with Col Bryan. and IL was shortly after
ward announced that Col. Bryan would attend
the meeting OF the Democratic National Com
mttee at nooa
BRYAN KEEPS TAB ON STONE
Before Col Bryan came here he caused 1t to
DC announced that under no circumstances
"ou!d he enter the committees rooms for the
reason that the committee was quite cOmpe-
Nv NO o"H Work. wen, tne committees
SAT IN Stufry parlor almost continuously for
SIX hours. and during every minute OF the
time 'oI. Bryan sat beside cX-Gov. Stone OF
missouri and watched out" He kept watch
OF every move made by Mr.. Stone. National
committeeman have said all along that Col.
hryan suspected Mr. Stone; that he did not
peu''e that Mr.. Stone in his heart was for
nryan; and this, Of course. is a cardinal sin
win the Democratic national leader.
Just year ago this month tho Denfocr attic
S'a'e Committee Of New York assembled at
cara'oga to name day and place for the State
NohVehtion which nominated Augustus Van
" "ySK Of Brooklyn for Governor. Richard
.foker aud his friends had captured the com
.a'"ee from David Is. Hill. The Chairman OF
sne Sommittee, however. was Elliot Danforth
Wv hehango who for decade has been strong
.pporter OF eH Senator Hill. On that day in Sar-
G" richard Croker sat beside Mr. Danforth
curing the meeting OF thecommi:toe. To old
He'S II was remarkable scene. To sus-
SEious minds 1t was apparent that Mr.. Croker