The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-03
HILL DOES NOT THINK HE is IN IT.
Silent Regarding Conference With Bryan.
Presidential Situation Still Foggy g
(By the Associated Press.l

Silent Regarding Conference With Bryan.
vice-Presidential Situation Still FOggy 9
(By the Associated Press.)
Kansas City, July 2.-The vice-presi-
Dental situation has not cleared up dur
ing the day and tonight it is apparently
i'm as much doubt as 1t was when the
delegates to the National Democratic
convention was selected. There was
shifting of the scene today when Benja-
min F. Shively, of Indiana, was taken
out of the race by his emphatic state
ment to the Indiana delegation. Not only
the Indiana men, but other delegates in
the city accepted the statement of Mr..
Shively and he is not now conidered a
probability in the race.
AS the contest stands after Shively's
retirement the two leading candidates
seem to be Charles A. Towne and Will
liam SulZer, with some man from New
York, like Judge Van Wyck or Elliott
Danforth as a possibility under certain
contingencies.
The fact is that the Vice Presidential
situation is interviewer with the plat
form. 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 a specific declara-
ton of 16 to ] then Towne may be made
Bryan's running mate 1t is pointed out
as not quite conceivable that q conven-
ton which would refuse to make
specific declaration for 16 to / with
view of carrying some of the Eastern
States, would nominate. Towne, who left
the Republican party solely on the
ground of his attachment to silver 1t is
conceded by all Democratic leaders that
Towne's strength is in the West and that
on a silver basis and that he WOULD not
be strong in the East on modified plat
form. While it is not certainty that
Towne would be nominated even II there
was a specific 16 to / declaration, it is
generally believed that his chances would
be greatly improved by such action ana
his friends are making every effort to
bring about that result in the conven-
ton.
New York is still an uncertain quantity
in the field. 1t 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. Mr..
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 favora-
Bile conditions such as concessions
in the platform would unite on some 9TH
er man seems to be perfectly understood,
but it would undoubtedly be brought
about by a movement from outside the
State. Whether the convention would
unite on Danforth or Van Wyck is I'M
certain because of the personality of Hill.
There is yet a great deal OF talk about the
ex-senator in connection with the vice.
presidential nomination and in case OF a
modified platform he might be rushed
upon the convention. At the same time 1t
is we'll understood that his selection
would not be satisfactory to Mr. Bryan,
less satisfactory, perhaps, than the other
New York men mentioned. Mr.. Hill him
self insists that he is not to be consid-
cred and says it in way to indicate
that he does not want it and that he has
doubts about his selection if he did want
, it. There may be some dark horse, some
man who have not been considered posi-
BILE or available some man like Sewall,
the presentation of whose name was
surprise and whose nomination was not
even surmised. There are plenty OF gusses
made. but no one feels authorized to
make definite predictions.
Ex-senator Hill returned from Lincoln
today and it may be said that his return
did not cause as great a sensation as ana
his departure. The mysterious silence
which he maintained and which he ex-
planned by saying:
"Mr. Bryan and myself agreed that
nothing should be said regarding the con-
ference between u.s." did not serve to sat
isfy the political appetite very much. Or
course, it was not expected that Mr.. Hill
would talk of the conference, but there
was a belief that he would say something
of interest relating to the platform and
the prospects of a modification but he
was decidedly non-commital. When asked
direct question as to his tight against
a 16 to 1 declaration, he said the eonven-
ton would not meet for two days. 1t
might not act upon the platform for three
DAYS therefore there was no reason TO
now discuss the question as to what 1T
was to contain. Mr.. Hill talked with many
men and quite q long time with some OF
them but to no one did he outline HI"
intended position or give any intimatioii
as to the position Mr.. Bryan had taken
while discussing the coming convention.
To some visitors Mr. Hill said his con-
ference with Mr.. Bryan was very salts
factory, but in what particular he did
, not disclose When the matter Of his con-
nection with the ice-preSidency was
mentioned, he dismissed it in a manner
Indicating that there was not the least
possibility of his being selected.
pnpurYsr YrAnEPS FAVOR TOWNE