The age-herald., 1900-07-03
CROWDS POURING
 INTO KANSAS CITY
Throbs and Thrills of a Great
 National AssembIage.
QUESTION OF A PLATFORM
It is Said That Bryan Will Insist on the l6 to l Plank, While More Conservative Are Willing to
 Grant Concessions

Kansas City, Mo-, July 2-The throbs and thrills of a great national assemblage are beginning to take possession of Kan sas City Throughout the day there has been a steady tramp, tramp of incoming thousands by every train, choking the rail- road stations with a struggling, travel stained and sweltering throng, filling the streets with slow moving, jostling crowds, emptying into the hotel Hobbies, where, amid cigar smoke and piles of baggage and the shout of badge vendors, the currents of earnest and excited men eddy into groups, declaiming the merits of candidates and issues, arguing, protesting, gesticuat- ing.
 The delegations have been arriving in scattered lots, some of them with bands and banners, to add sound and color to the animated scene. Among the days arrivals are many of the interesting figures of the party, including the smooth-faced, minis terial-looking Oldham of Nebraska, who will make the speech placing Bryan in nomination Hill of New York, weighted with his long conference with Bryan at Lincoln, and weary with three days of constant travel; Perry Belmont of New
 
 of Colorado, with his Jackson-like face, thin and worn; Senator Money of Mssis- sippi, tall and gaunt with a strong con tingent from the far south; a distinguished Populist trio-Senators Allen, Heitfield and Harris-here to aid the cause of Towne; John P. Altgeld of Illinois, brown and smil- ing under his broad brmmed panama; Governor am Walter Smith of Mary land, the close confident of MT. German; Arthur Sewall, the Maine shipbuilder, who ran with MT. Bryan four years ago, and that other unique figure, of the Senate, who has lately brought excitement to it's delib- erations, Senator William F. Clark of Montana, heading the delegation of 'regu- lars'' with two brass bands and an abun- dance of enthusiasm.
 National Committee Meet
 The real work of the Convention began today with a meeting of the National Com mittee to hear contests and to select tenn porary officers
 Mayor Rose of Milwaukee, the choice for temporary chairman, is a German-Ameri- can, reputed to be an orator of fine pres ence and effective delivery. Tonight the National Committee is having a private dinner, sort of family conference, as the guest of Daniel J. Campau, while great crowds of delegates and spectators are cen tering at Convention Hall, which is form-.
 
 structure is still surrounded with the debris of construction, an army of workmen and decorators are busy inside, but there is no doubt it will be complete and ready for the convention by Wednesday morning.
 The day has brought many developments and some surprises in the general situation. The dominating influence of Mr. Bryan over the convention had been made per fectly manifest causing some concern and just little rebellion in some quarters. It is not by any authoritative or formal words or actions that this influence fs exerted, but in ways none the less effective, It's presence, however, has never been 50 much in disclosing how strong a hand MT Bry- an holds on the conventions course as in showing that there is little likelihood of a modification or diminution for the Sisver ,plank.
 The arrival of the Nebraska delegation fresh from conference with their leader was mainly instrumental in showing Nr Bryan's attitude. They were hardly Of sAe cars before they met in caucus and form ally put forward a declaration of princi- ples. These expressed 'unalterable oppo- sition to any surrender of the principles of bimetallism and demanded for financial plank making specific pledge for the free and unlimited coinage of gold and silver at the ratio of 16 to 1, independently of what any nation may do" The resolution was accepted as a little short of notice to other delegations as to the sentiment of men very near to Mr. Bryan.
 Hnrs Conference with Bryan
 The return of Senator Hill without tangi- ble results which he was willing to dis close made it plain that his confidence with MT. Bryan at Lincoln had come to naught and 1t served also to emphasize the general feeling that MT. Bryan would
 Continued on Sixth Page)