The sun., 1900-07-04


what took place between him and Mr.. Bryan.
and when he first returned 1t was the same old
story that has been told to Hill and to all the
others, and so Jones and Stone. Campau and
GuiIey and johnson saw that their plan had
failed and that the last hope Of keeping the con-
vention from pronouncing over again In favor
of Bryanism and Popullsm had fed. Now.
therefore, the question IL, Can David b, Hill with
his wings clipped force the convention to do
what majority OF the delegates would like TO
do. but which the Bryanites declare shall not
be- done? OF course he can't but Hill has often
made losing fights and may be willing TO throw
himself into the breach once more.
The plan that is favored now by those who
would make last desperate stand and put Hill
TO the front to save the Democracy against
Ryanism and Populism Is to have him made
member Of the Committee on Resolutions BY
the proxy of delegate from another State than
New York and bring into the convention a
minority report and fight the whole thing out
in public. Plenty Of proxies will be forthcom-
ing " Hill Is willing to stand forth. Clark How
ell of Georgia johnson OF Kansas. Menzies OF
Indiana and one or two more have already
offered 70 give him theirs. but none has yet
been accepted, Hill may determine to make
the hght with the purpose Of making a record
for his own future use, but OF course he knows
he could not wrest the sceptre from Bryans
hands at this late hour. Bryan himself will be
the presiding genius Of the convention. whether
he IL In Lincoln or In Kansas City during Its
session. His own personal representative
L. Metcalf u Nebraska. the editor-in-chief OF
the Omaha Norld-Hevdd. the Western organ
of the silvertes and Populsts. will be the Neyas-
ka member of the Committee on Resolutions,
and in all probability the chairman OF the COM
mittee. He II in Kansas City now. and In his
pocket Is a draft Of q platform that Mr. Bryan
indorses and which he will have adopted.
whether he Is attempting TO control the action
OF the convention or not. One VI the planks
of that platform reaffirms the Chicago platform
and renews the demand for the free coinage
of silver at the ratio OF 10 to l. That Is the plat
form that the majority Of the Commttee on
Resolutions will report back to the convention.
and that Is the onethat vii be adopted. whether
or not Mr.. Hin or any other advocate makes
the fight in behalf OF policy Of lodging.
The leaders OF the already defeated move
ment to keep all specific reference 10 free sill
yer and To ratios out Of platform do not at
tempt To conceal their belief that the Demo-
cratic party Will be utterly defeated from the
moment that the platform is adopted, any
more than they attempt to conceal their dis
gust at the III success of their efforts. The
leaders from Pennsylvania, Indiana, Michigan.
Wisconsin. Ohio, West Virginia and other great
States are all in the same boat, Their feelings
are well expressed by the action OF the West
Virginia delegation to-day. under the leader
ship Of J. W. st. Clair. who will be the member
from his State on the Committee on Resolu-
tions. BY a unanimous vote they decided
that there should be no declaration for free
silver In the platform and that even the Chi
cago platform should not be reafiirmed.
Why they did this was explained by Mr..
St. Clair as be sat In Gov. Hills rooms at the
Coates House this afternoon.
why" he said. how can We reaffirm plat
form that Ia based upon condition Of things
that may have existed four years ago. but
which even blind man can see does not exist
nowp How can we. for instance. reaffirm
platform which contains this language We
denounce the profigate waste OF money wrung
from the people by excessive taxation and the
lavish appropriations OF recent Republican
Congresses which have kept taxes high. while
the labor that pays them La unemployed and
the products of the peoples toll are depressed
in price TILL they no longer pay the cost Of pro-
duction.' That is a statement Of conditions
that do not exist, and why should the Demo-
cratic party go on record az saying that 1t ex-
lists when they know II does not? IL Is all nom
sense to talk about resfirming the Chicago
nlatform as a whole. We shohld have q new
platform based on the conditions as they
exist to-day. and ii should not declare in favor
OF q financial policy which majority Of the
4, L. a mot
Mr.. st. Clair Will. as q member OF the Com
mittee on Resolutions. aid In any fight that Is
made for the purpose Of breaking down the free
silver faction. but he does not expect IL 70 win
any more than he and others no think as he
does believe that the Democracy has any chance
of winning in November.
So far as the financial plank of the platform is
IL is settled now. and some attention
is therefore being paid TO the various other
planks OF more or less importance These parts
Of the platform will be dictated by Bryan and
viii be- The leading sublect aside from that OF
silver will be. OF course, militaIsm. trusts and
imperialism. These VIII be the planks upon
which all the Bs tss "a Uf y
IL Ia understood. be strong enough 10 include
even the lce Trust. The party will deprecats
the maintenance OF standing army large
States, and the dark shadow OF imperialism
that has arisen To wreck the American Republic.
Then there Will be few other planks including
IN
Syracuse. to take away from legislative bodies
the power Of direct legislation and placing it
by constitutional amendment in the hands OF the
people where they can have their hands on 1t at
all times. This Is the platform that Is To be
adopted, and 1t makes no difference whether
Hill or any other Democrat leads fight against
any portion Of It.
Mayor James X. Mcclure Of Syracuse. VINO
was at Mr.. Brysns home when senator bill
was there on sunday night gave tie following
statement this AFTERNOON
AT the request OF Mr.. Bryan went to Lin
coin, accompanied by Eugene Hughes Alr.
Bryan looks RUGGED and Is PREPARED Tor that
In which work hs has no equal. He appears
to be a physical marvel. his MANAGERS have
changed the plan OF campaign ana from pres
ent Intentions he will speak only in the large
cities We spent the afternoon with Mr. Bryan
at his little farm. where he lives during the
summer, like Cincinnatus. In rural simplicity
What he wanted 70 talk with me about was
the platform and the situation In New York
| told him plainly Of the peculiar political con-
ditions which prevail In New York and the
necessity for carrying that State in order to
win the general election. Mr. Bryan is quite
determined "a have the Kansas City Conven- |
ton reafirm unequivocally the Chicago plat
form, including q declaration In favor OF the
free and unlimited coinage Of silver at the
ratio of 10 to without the consent Of any other
nation. The Chicago platform is TO be- in
dorsed In whole and part III elter and IN spirit
Mr. Bryan said 10 me- that his strenuous ad-
vocacy Of the white metal during the past
seven years his nomirafon and political cam
paign on that issue IN 1893, made II logical
and impossible for him 20 disassociate him
self from the silver principle, a. by so doing
he would not only be accused of Inconsistency
but with great political aud personal cowardios
lie demands Of hl- friends loyalty TO silver
a. a 'st Of loyalty 10 him. which Is the cause
Of much embarra, smant To his Eastern friends
After dinner former senator David B Hin
had long talk about the platform Senator