The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-05
Sentiment Evenly Divided and Vote
VIII Be Close.
SENATOR DANIELS POSITION
He Made an Earnest Plea Against the
Explicit Sixtcen-to-Onc Dec
laration-Aorced on Other
POin $ Committee
Still in Session.

KANSAS CITY, July 4.-The contest
over the question of the monetary ratio
which has been brewing ever since the
delegates to the convention began to as
semble found expression in the Committee
on Resolutions when it assembled to-
day. The committee was called together
soon after the first adjournment to meet
again at $50 P M. Senator Jones, OF
Arkansas. was unanimously chosen
chairman and NJ Metcalfe of Nebraska,
| secretary.
| When the committee re-assembed. Mr..
! Metcalfe presented the draft Of a platform
covering all questions Of public interest,
which draft all the members accepted as
N1r. Bryan's Mr. Girrard. of Georgia.
also presented d platform, as did Mr..
van Wyck, of New York. All these docu-
| ments took practically the same ground
upon all questions except that of the
finances.
THE PLATFORMS.
Mr. Metcalfe's declaration was for the
reaftirmation of the Chicago platform,
in letter and in spirit. and it emphasized
and reiterated specifically the declaration
for the free coinage Of silver at the ratio
Of 16 to /. Both the other drafts simply
| reaffirmed the Chicago platform, without
reference TO the ratio.
The reading OF Gir. Van Wycks docu-
ment brought MIR. Ball, of Texas, to his
feet with the suggestion that the imam
cial question should be Immediately taken
up ana passed upon. He said it was ap-
parent to all that there was no division
Iluou auv other question OF the platform
and with the financial plank disposed Of
the preparation Of the remainder OF the
platform would be merely n matter OF
the platform would be merely & matter
clerical work.
This suggestion met with approval and
the committee entered upon the effort 10
saftle the question of ratio The session
proved a very interesting one and many
speeches We're made.
Mr. Van Wyck led off with a brief state
ment saving that while III his platform
he had referred to four issues prominent
namely, those of Imperialism. mtlitaFisnl'
trusts and the finunCes-he considered that
only three Of these were of current con-
sequence. believing that the money ques-
ton had been crowded into the back
ground by. the other subjects which had
pressed 10 the front during the past four
years.
\ DANIEL COME TO JUDGMENT
Senator Daniel. of Virginia, somewhat
to the surprise of some of the members
of the committee. followed Mr. Van Wyck
in support OF his view OF the question
The Senator said that no man who knew
him would doubt for a minute that he
now stood where he had stood on the
silver question in 1856 una that he enter
tained precisely the same views on tn s
subject which then controlled him. He
was. however anxious 10 bring back into
the fold of the party those who shad left
II four year sago on account of the post:
ton taken on the silver question, and if
this could be ACCOMPLISHED. as he be
Iiayed II could be by omittng all referenc"
TO the ratio. he for one was content to
pursue that course. simply reaffirmins ths
Chicago platform
Mr.. Fitzgerald, of Colorado followed in
a warm speech. denounciug in most en-
phatic language any effort TO minimize
the financial question. He asserted tnat
the omission of declaration on ratio OF
the TWO metals would be mere evasion
ana. concealment: that such evasion would
fool no one. He declared if such deciara-
ton was not made even Colorado could
be counted doubtful State
WOULD DECLINE.
George Fred Williams. of Massachu-
rha question OF ratio He asserted that
the Democratic purity had become new
party since il had incorporated a new
financial plank in its new declaration Of
PRINCIPLES II had become a virile and
I've party since 1886. and this fact was
due solely To the circums stance that the
money question. which WINS the question
OF the people had been made the para
mount issue He eulogized Mr.. Bryan in
high terms. spoke of his selt-apnegatton
and patriotism and said that it would be
cowardly to ask that gentlemnn 10 recant
what ne had been prenching throughout
the country for the past four years.
Will, not pretending TO say what Alr-
BRYAN would do. Mr.. Williams asserted
amphaticalIr and significantly thai II placed
in II. Bryan' position. ne would decline
a nomination upon an equiyoca} platform.
4, for hi1nsel. he did not believe in de-
sartfne thos people who have left their
own parties to support the Democratic
poitcv OF four years ago for the purpose
q. resaininc the support OF the traitors and
trinners who had left ina Democratic
partv because of its financial position.
s.T-here is no reason" he exclaimed. for
r7sk;ne. any concession 10 treason Mr..
yrfIl;sms was frequently applaude1 dur
;n. tha course OF his remarks He was
followed by NJ. Daley, OF New jersey, who
mao, :: plea for conservatism. and for
concession, "a the moderate wing Of the
Marty. Ha said tnat ne had cheerfullv sup
ported tha platform and ticket of four
wear, age and had stunped the country
"a. Nj. Bryan. bE: he left convinced that
iha tina had come when the money ques-
ti.r v.a. n, .crger paramount, and he i'm
nrored the committee and tho convention
n nut il somewhat in the background and
max, the tigh! OF 1soo upon other issues.
A. the. conclusion Of NJ. Daley's spsech
tba committee concluded TO take recess
unttl / .,clock in order to allow its MEM
ber1 To get their dinners
PRACTICA ALLY AGREE.
t,pen all questions. other than that per-
tanning to finances, the three platforms
presented were practically the same. ex-
cept that Mr. Van Wyck's draft did not