The Grit-advocate., 1900-07-06
DEMOCRATIC HOSTS
AT KANSAS CITY.
The Exact Wording of the Silver Plank
Not Yet Agreed Upon.


of saws. shouting of orders. and rush
ing of feet, day and night. at the big
hall where the Democratic National
Convention is to be held. AS fast as
one portion of the structure is finished
the decorators pOunce upon it, and.
with bolts of bunting, flags, and pic
lures of Democratic leaders. set in the
national coats of arms. cover up the
walls and spaces so that the delegates
will see all the cOlors and emblems of
the national holiday coupled with evil
denccs of Democratic celebration.
About the hotels. however. there is
already briskness and moving throngs
of familiar convention faces. \ num-
her of the old-line Democrats. who have
been going to conventions for years.
and the younger men who belong to the
new Democracy have arrived and
taken up the work in hand. Several
boomers of vice presidential candidates
have come in and are making consider
able noise.
The platform to be adopted by the
Democratic National Convention will
contain a declaration for the free coin
age of silver at the ratio of 16 to l. un-
less Mr.. Bryan changes his attitude.
and each fresh arrival from Lincoln
brings renewed assurance that the
foreordained nominee of the convention
Is maintaining his position in favor of
the declaration.
Occasionally a delegate can he found
who will take the position that not even
Mr.. Bryan can be allowed to dictate
the party's platform. but a majority
agree that as all the delegates are prac-
tically instructed for the renomination
of the candidate of 1896. he has an ex-
ceptional right to ask to have the reso-
lutions larmoniZe with his views on
any or all subjects.
However. while it is true that the in
dications point strongly to the specific
utterance above outlined. there is still
Il very determined opposition. appa-
rently originated with former Senator
Hill of New York and his following.
and it has been taken up by other lead
ers in various sections of the country.
The Tammany interest of New York
appears to be entirely reconciled to any
silver plank. however extreme. but 9TH
err factions unite in opposing it. Judge
Van Wyck, Eliot Danforth and ]. Bris-
ben Walker all unite with Hill in this
position, though disagreeing with him
with Judge Van Wyck that there are
consideration. and while still profess
ing the utmost loyalty to the white
metal, he contends that in the interest
of the party it should no longer be Civ
en- the place of paramount Importance
in the declaration of principles.
Senator James X. Jones, chairman
of the national committee. and eX-Gov-
ernor Stone of Missouri. both of them
recognized as staunch leaders of the
silver sentiment, are of the opinion that
II reattirmation of the Chicago platform
is all that is necessary Governor
stone said to-day that he considered the
differences that have manifested
themselves mere Quibble. but ne de-
clined to say whether he would be will
ing to stop with the reatfirmation of the
declaration of 1896. Many southern
delegates express themselves AS indif-
ferent on the point. and are inclined to
make the concession demanded by the
Hill sentiment National Committee
man Cnmpau is also inclined to subor-
dinate the question OF ratio to other
subjects of current importance.
On the other hand. George Fred Will
iams announces that he considers the
financial question still of the greatest
Importance. and says he feels confident
that the New England delegates are
practically solid in that position. "The
free coinage of silver at the ratio of
16 to l was the touchstone of the con-
vention III 1896" he said to-day. land
its reiteratiOn will add strength to the
cause in the coming campaign"
James Kerr, a delegate-at-large from