The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-07-21
DEMOCRATIC LEADERS
Depose Editor Devlin For Support
ing Altgeld Against Harrison.
BRYAN AT ALTGELD MEETING.

In His speech He Declares: "AII Chi
cago Platform Democrats Look Alike
to Me"-The Currency Question No,
Considered by National Committee
| Chicago, July 2l.--No friction de-
veloped at the meeting Of the Demo
| cratic national committee, and the mer
who made such belligerent assertions
Wednesday night failed to make them
good yesterday. Not a single warlike
note was sounded and no defiances
were uttered either by the men who
demand that "16 to /" shall be the
rallying cry in the next campaign or
by those who oppose its. adoption.
The only move looking toward recog-
milton of the silver men by the national
committee was during the afternoon,
when the Ohio Valley Bimetallc league
! was admitted to the committee room
and James P. Tarvin, of Kentucky,
acting as spokesman, read the resolu-
tions adopted by the committee at
their meeting early in the day at the
Palmer House.
These RESOLUTIONS demanded that
planks be inserted in the next Demo-
cratic national platform opposing
trusts, opposing imperialism" and ad-
herring to the silver ratio of 16 to l.
And along these lines we offer you
our aid, said Mr.. Tarvin. There was
defiant accent upon the word these
that seemed to imply that the support
OF the bimetallists could be secured
along no other lines than those mark
ed out, but of this the committee took
no notice. The 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. j. Devlin, editor
of the press bureau of the national
committee, was brought to finish, the
Harrison faction of Illinois securing
his deposition for the part taken by
him as an officer of the national COM.
mittee in the last mayoralty election in
Chicago, he supporting Altgeld against
Harrison.
The fight between the Illinois fac
tions began as soon as Mr.. Bryan az
rived in the city, which was O'Clock
in the morning He was Immediately
beset by men of both sides, the Alt
geld faction asking him to be at the
meeting without fail, and the Harrison
men asking that he remain away from
the Auditorium altogether. Mr.. Bryan
was in dilemma, and for long time
would not declare himself. He said
that he had accepted the invitation for
the meeting, and that there was no
apparent reason why he should de-
cline at the last moment at the de-
mand 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 remedy proposed that the Alt
geld people turn over the control of
the meeting to the national committee.
Mr.. Altgeld was personally willing but
the large majority of the members of
the national committee declared them
selves as being opposed to having any
thing to do with the meeting in any
way. ...- ...,....., L.. zs.
Finally Mr.. Altgeld sent word to Mr.
Bryan that il he considered that his
attendance at the meeting would en-
barrass him he could feel at perfect
liberty to remain away. The meet
ing 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 de-
clared that it wa&a message of sar-
casm, which meant that If Mr.. Bryan
was afraid to keep his word to ad-
dress the meeting it would be success
without his presence.
1t was late in the afternoon before
Mr.. Bryan made up his mind to at
tend the meeting, the Harrison peo-
pie, who were in good humor over the
defeat of Devlin before the committee
announcing that he might attend the
meeting without causing any hostility
to himself in the Harrison camp. This
message, however, had nothing to do
with the intention reached by Mr..
Bryan regarding the meeting, for he
had decided to attend before it reached
him.
AT the national committee meeting
all the states were represented either
by proxy or by regular committeeman,
with the exception of North Dakota,
Oregon, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West
Virginia and Arizona. Mr. Bryan held
proxies for Michigan and South Da-
kota, and was present throughout the
of the committee, although
he did not take an active part in the
Ex-Governor Altgeld was
offered the proxy of Committeeman
White. of Washington, but declined
It, and Willis ]. Abbott, of New York,
icted for that state. Mayor Harrison
leld the proxy for Alaska, but did not
attend either session of the committee.
Pennsylvania was represented by
James NJ. Guffey; New
Jersey by H. B. Paul, proxy for P. p.
Baker; Maryland, Colonel l.. V. Baugh-
nan, proxy for Arthur P. German;
Delaware, Senator Richard F. Kenney;
Virginia, Peter j. Otey; North Caro-
ina, Joseph Daniels; Ohio, Congress-
nan James A. Norton. proxy for John
+. Mclean; Massachusetts. George
fred Williams; South Carolina, SEN
ltor Tillman.
Beyond the action above noted and
making several changes in the rules
governing the committee, nothing else
vas done during the day
The Auditorium mass meeting of
Democrats last night was a magniti-
ent success. Clarence S. Darrow, who
resided, made short address defining
he objects of the meeting and then
Introduced in turn John p. Tarvin of
James F. Brown of New
York, Senator Tillman of South Caro-
ina. Alexander Troup of Connecticut,
George Fred Williams of Massachusetts,
Lentz of Ohio. General
Finley and William J. Bryan. The
Democratic leader received most en-
husiastic reception, and the points in
lis speech were loudly cheered. He
'eiterated his well known views in
L. L.. Ian, 10.