Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-03
THE RATIO
DISCUSSED
Democrats at Kansas City
Talk Little But Free
Silver.
SELLS WILL FIGHT IT,
No Opposition to Bryan as the PresI-
Dental ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
for the Big Convention
lowans at Kansas City.

ioWans at Kansas City.
Kansas City, July Especial Corr
respondence. ITO be or not to he
specific 16 to l. seems to be about all
there is to discuss here today among
those ON the ground now for the DEM
ocratic fireworks on the Fourth. OF
course there is the same element of
mystery about the vice presidential
candidate as there was in the repub-
liean convention, but that does not
seem to worry the party leaders with
whom | have talked today near as
much as the planks of the platform,
and particularly that one in relation to
the much mooted silver question.
1t IS surprising to note among the
leaders OF the Iowa delegation the
change that has come about in the LAST
TOUR years in relation to free silver at
! the ratio OF 16 to l. Many of those
whom l talked with today, that I know
were rank 16 to l men in 1896 are
leaning now very m1c the other way.
Several have even told me that the
Iowa delegation in caucus would prob
ably vote not to support specific 16
TO ! plank in the platform. Think OF
that you democrats who are stayin@
at home. With Cato Sells as chairman
OF the Iowa delegation (and you all
know that he has no use for the free
silver fallaey) there will probably be a
strong fight made to vote down any
speelhc mention of Mr.. Bryan's pet
money theory in the platform.
No Opposition 10 Bryan.
So far as | could tell, after having
been on the ground only a few hours,
there is 10 opposition to William Jen-
nln2s Bryan for the nomination for
| the presidency Bryan pictures adorn
all the delegations. and the talk all
over the town, in the hotel lobbies and
everywhere is Bryan and , the
blank to be filled out later. The lead
| lers of nearly all the delegations from
the different states have come to Kan
sas City via Lincoln, Neb., and had a
conference with Bryan. There seems to
be a unanimity of feeling towards
pleasing Mr.. Bryan with the platform
and also with the vice presidential cam
dldate Nearly every state that has a
vice presidential possibility has sent
either the possibility himself or his
managers to Lincoln to interview Mr..
Bryan. This tends to show that the
gentleman from Nebraska is master of
the situation, as far as any one man
can be, and that his wishes are being
consulted by every state in the Union.
Cato sells Talks.
Chief among those who visited Mr..
Bryan at his Nebraska home is CATO
Sells, of Ninton, the chairman of the
Iowa delegation. Mr.. Sells is eonsid-
cred one of the most conservatives
members of the party in Iowa and is
also said to have his thumb about as
near covering the situation as anv one
leader in the west. Mr.. Sells arrived
from Lincoln this morning, and short
ly after his arrival was closeted for oy-
er an hour with Chairman Jones. Sec
retary Walsh and other leading mem
bers of the central committee. OF
course the subject of the conference
has not been given out, but it was no
doubt taken up with Mr.. Sells inter-
view with Mr.. Bryan and what was
best to be done.
saw Mr.. Sells in his room shortly
after the committee meeting, and he
was very courteous and kind to me.
The first question | put to him was in
regard TO reported interview with
him in Lincoln in which he was rep
resented as coming to Lincoln an avow-
ed advocate of the conservative side.
which wants the Chicago platform en-
dorsed as q whole without any specific
reference to 16 to 1, and going away.
after his interview an out and out sup
porter of Mr.. Bryan and his view Of
what the platform should be, which is,
as is well known, that free silver and
16 to l should be dealt with in sepa-
rate plank and fully endorsed as a
part of the democratic articles of faith.
But before | tell you what he said,
L had better quote from the Lincoln
Here is what Mr. Sells is
quoted as saying:
Mr.. Bryant VIII oe the certain dem
ocratic nominee for president. He is
the recognized leader of democratic
thought in this country. He is not for
one thing in private and for another
thing in public. His position on all
public questions is well known, and a
platform should be made to represent
MS IDEAS, and candidate for vice-pres-
ident nominated who represents the
same views as he does l can say no
more. will advocate a platform in
accordance with Mr.. Bryan's wishes.
Hill is an impossibility."
Here then you hare the views of the
most conservative democrat in Iowa.
after conference with Mr.. Bryan.