The age-herald., 1900-07-03
SITUATION AS TO
 YICE-PRESIDENT ShiveIy of Indiana Taken Out of
 the Race. MIR. HILL IS NON-COMMITTAL He Would Say Nothing as to the Re- suit of His Conference With MT. Bryan-Sulzer and
 Towne Very Active
MIR. HILL IS NON-COMMITTAL

Kansas City, July 2.-The Vice Presiden- tial situation has not cleared up during the day, and tonight it is apparently in as much doubt as it was when the delegates to the National Democratic Convention were elected. There was a shifting of the scene today when Benjamin F. Shively of Indiana was taken out of the race by his own emphatic statement to the Indiana del- egation. Not only the Indiana men, but other delegations in the city accepted the staterpent of Mr. Shively and he is not now considered probability in the race. As the contest stands after Shively's re- tirement, the two leading candidates seem to be Charles A. Towne and William Sulzer, with some man from New York, like Judge Van .Wyck or Elliot Danforth as a possi- bility under certain contingencies.
 The fact is that the Vice Presidential situation is interwoven with the platform If there is a simple reaffirmation of the Chicago platform some New York man may be selected for Vice President in the hope that he will assist in carrying that state If there is q specific declaration for l6 to l, then Towne may be made Bryans running mate. It is pointed out as not quite conceivable that a convention which would refuse to make a specific declaration for It to l with view of carrying some of the Eastern states would nominate Towne, who left the Republican party sole ly on the ground of his attachment to sil- yer. It is conceded by all the Democratic leaders that Towne's strength is in the West and on silver platform, and that he would not be strong in the East on a modified platform.
 While it is not certainty that Towne ha aif,af 1 4h~.,a specific 16 to l declaration, it is generally believed that his chances would be greatly improved by such action as his friends are making every effort to bring about that result in the convention.
 New York Uncertain
 New York is still an uncertain quantity in the field. It is still asserted that she has no candidate. although there is more genuine activity in the Sulzer canvass than any other that is being made MF. Sulzer while New York man, is not the, candidate of New York and is making his canvass outside of that delegation. That the delegation under favorable con- dtions such as concessions in the plat form, would unite on some other man, seems to be perfectly understood, but 1t would undoubtedly be brought about by moyement from outside the state. F Whether the convention would unite on Danforth or Van Wyck is uncertain be-
 
 yet great deal of talk about the ex- senator in connection with the vice-presi- dentil nomination and in case a modified platform he might be rushed upon the conventional the same time 1t Is well understood that his selection would not be satisfactory to MT. Bryan, less satisfactory perhaps than the other New York men mentioned. MT. Hill himself insists that he is snot to be considered and says 1t in a way to indicate that he does not want it, but that he has doubts about his selection if he did want It. There may be some dark horses in the stable, some men who | have not yet been considered possible or availabl, some man like Sewall, the pre- sentat,e'' nf whose name was @ surprise l and " 7omination was not even sur l missed are plenty of guesses made l but no u..~ 1eels authorized to make defin- | ite predictions.
 Hill Returns from Lincoln
 Ex-Senator Hill returned from Lincoln today, and it may be said that his return did not cause as great a sensation as his departure The mysterious silence which he maintained and which he explained by saying: MT. Bryan and myself agreed that nothing should be said regarding the con ference between us, did not serve to Whet the political appetite very much. Of course it was not expected that Mr. Hill would talk of the conference, but there was a belief that he would say something of in terest relating to the platform and pros- poets of a modification, but he was de- cidedly non-committal When asked di- rect question as to his fight against a 16 to declaration, he said the convention did not meet for two days. It might not act upon the, platform for three days. There fore there was no reason to now discuss the questions as to what it was to con- tain. MT. Hill talked with many men and quite long time with some of them. but