Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-07-05
THE PLATFORM.
Committee Unable 10 Decide and Convention
Will Settle It's Wording.

which has been brewing ever since the
delegates to the convention began to
assemble found expression in the com
mittce on resolutions when il assem-
bcd. today The committee was called
together soon after the first adjourn
| mcnt of the convention. but then only
elected its officers, adjournng to meet
again at $50 +. NJ Senator Jones OF
Arkansas was unanimously chosen
chairman and Mr. Metcalf If Nebraska.
secretary.
When the committee reasscmblcd,
Mr. Metcalf presented the draft Of a
platform covering All questions 81 pub
| lie interest. which draft All the mem
Beers accepted as Mr.. Bryun's expires
sion upon This question. Mr.. Ciirard Of
| Georgia. also presented a platform m
did Mi. Van Wyck ~ New York. MI
these documents took practically the
same ground UPON all questions "N-
| cept that ~ finance. Mr.. Mctcalf' y
declaration WAS for the re-atlifmatinn
Of the Chicag" platform IN letter ana
spirit ana it emphasized ana reiterated
specifically tho declaration frr the free
coinage of silver At the ratio ~ Is u
| 1. Both the other drafts simply rr-
affirmed the chicago platform without
reference to the ratio.
The reading " MIR. Van Wyck's doc
um,nt brought Mr.. Ealt ~ Texas to
his rvct with the suggestion that III"
financial question should ~ taken M
ana PASSED upon He siid il was an
| parent to All that there was no divis-
ion upon any other platform question
ana that with the financial plank dis
posed If. the preparation Of the re-
m1indcr Of the plItforrn would ~
merely a matter If clerical work. This
suggestion was adopted ana the com
mittee entered upon the effort to settl"
the question Of ratio.
Tn. session proved 4 very interesting
ona. ana many speeches We're made
Mr. Van Wyck lead off With brief
statement saying that while in his
platform H. had referred t. four is
sues as prominent. namely. those Of
imperialism militarisIn. trusts ana the
finances. h considered that only three
If these We're If current consequence.
bell, wing that the money question had
been crowded into the background hy
ether subjects HIGH had pressed to
the front during the past four years.
Senator Daniel of Virginia. some
what to the surprise Of the members of
the committee. followc 1 Mr. Van WyCE
| III support Of his view Of the question.
He WAS. however. anxious tn bring
back into the fpll If the party those
who hal left it. four years ago. on ac-
count ~ the position taken N the Sill
yer question.
- I-ttru.,11l Ne Il IN "A
in warm speech drn,uncing III most
emphatic language any effort to mini
miH" tie financial question
'Jf" be said. referring to the plat
form presented by Mi N,trtIf. Mir
Bryan il 4 good cnnuEh platform. then
the platform approved ~ him should
he good enough
George Fred Williams of Masslchu-
sets. also made 4 spirited argument
for specific declaration on the qurS-
tion Of ratio. He asserted that the
democratic party had become Il nuyv
party since it had Incorporated thu fl
nlncial question in its declaration NJ
principles.
~ culngiZcd Mr.. Bryan in high
terms. spoke Of his s, lf-ahncgatipn ana
patriotism. and said that it would y.
coWardly to ask that gent oman to re-
cant what nc had been preaching
throughout the country for tie past
four years. While not pretending tA
say what Mir. I;ryan would 40 Mr
Williams asserted emphltically ana
significantly that if placed in Nj.
l'rEan's position hc would decline Il
nomination upon an cpuivucaI plat
form.
There is no reason" he exclaimed,
for making any concession tp trea-
son"
Continuing, he asked: Are We going to
drive the PopuIists into the middle of the
road III order to get back those traitors?
Are We going t. sen our principles to tn,
Tories Of the Democratic party ana de-
Sert our real friends
lie predicted that II this course WA;
t. hc pursued the trusts would take com
plcte possession Of the Democratic rartr
as they had already taken possession III
the Republican party ana in that event
there would no longer be any ark OF ref
ugc tor thc plain people. Mr.. Williams
WI frequently applIudcd during til.
course "f his remarks.
"" was followed hy Mr.. DAILY of New
Jersey, VINO made plea for conscrva-
ti%iu ana Tor concession to the moderate
wang Of the party. AZ, said that N. h,d
ohr'rfully supported the platform HIN
ticket ~ four years ago ana htd stump.,l
tAc country for Mr.. Bryan but he fult
convinced that the time had come when
Inc money question WAS no ioiIt,.r para
mount ana he implnred the committee
ana convention to Put it somewhat in the
background ana make the fight upnn
other issues.
At the conclusion Of Mr. DaIy's snce,h
IN" committee concluded to take a recess
until o'clock in order - allow the mem
hcrS to get their dinners. 1t had become
evident to all present that il would be
impossible to conclude the PREPARATION
OF th@ resolutions in time for presentation
{" the convention upon Te-aSsembIin1. at
S.D. Upon al questions other than that
pertaining To thc finances the three uIlt-
fnrns presented were practically thn
same except that Mr.. Van Wyck's draft
did not cover 50 many questions as did
the other two.
Mr.. Matcalfs copy. after rc-at,irmin,.
the Chicago platform and referring cspC-
cially to the ratio in the coinage Of The
metals. dcnoulccS The trusts in drastic
language and III tho same connection ~
fcrS u the protective tariff Az one of u,
principal supports Of the trust system
lt also condemns the alleged tendency
Of the present Republican administration