The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1900-07-05
TALK OF PLATFORM
Bryan Said to Insist on Insertion Of
Ratio Plank.

Kansas City, Mo-, July 2.-The PLATFORM
to be adopted by the democratic national
convention will contain declaration for
the free coinage of silver at the ratio OF
sixteen to one unless Mr.. Bryan changes
his attitude, and each fresh arrival from
Lincoln brings renewed assurance that the
foreordained nominee of the convention Is
maintaining his position in favor OF the
declaration. Occasionally a delegate can
be found who will take the position that
! not even Mr. Bryan can be allowed to die
| tate the party's platform, but majority
! agree that as all the delegates are prac-
! tcally instructed for the denomination OF
| the candidate of 1896, he has an exceptional
right to ask to have the resolutions har-
monize with his views on any and all sub
| jects.
However, while it is true that the indi-
| cations point strongly to the specific ut
| terance above outlined, there is still a very
! determined opposition to such a course.
| This opposition apparently originated with
| former Senator Hill, of New York, and his
| following, and it has been taken up by
| other leaders IN various sections of the
country. The Tammany interest Of New
York appears to be entirely reconciled to
any silver plank, however extreme, but
other factions unite in opposing 1t.
Senator James K. JONES' chairman of the
national committee, and ex-Gov. Stone, of
Missouri, both of them recognized as
stanch leaders of the silver sentiment, are
| of the opinion that a reaffirmation of the
Chicago platform is all that is necessary.
| Gov. Stone said that he considered the diff
terences that have manifested themselves
a mere bubble, but he declined to say
whether he would be willing to stop with
! the reaftirmation Of the declaration of
1896. Many southern delegates express
themselves as Indifferent on the point, and
are inclined to make the concession de-
manded by the Hill sentiment. National
Committeeman Campau is also inclined to
subordinate the question of ratio to other
subjects of current Importance.
On the other hand, George Fred Williams
! announces that he considers the financial
question. still of the greatest Importance,
and says he feels confident that the New
England delegates are practically solid in
| that position. 1.-THE free coinage of silver
at the ratio of sixteen to one was the touch
stone Of the campaign of 1885," he said,
| land its reiteration will add strength to
! the cause in the coming campaign"
| 1t is expected that the silver republican
party will ask to be consulted upon the
| question of the financial plank. The repre-
/ sentatiyes of that party already here eX-
press strong preference for a positive dec
! laration for the old ratio. 1--WE want six
teen to one" said former Senator Dubois,
of Idaho, but If they will put Towne on
! the ticket with Bryan we win be willing
! TO make concessions on the money plank.
! If, however, such a man as Hill is to be
nominated, we want an ironclad silver
platform. Thus you see," the ex-senator
added, 1.-The personality of the vice presi-
Dental candidate may have decided in
, fluence upon the platform, and vice versa.
Bryan and Towne would be a platform in
| themselves"
organs Position.
Mr.. Bryans position, as outlined by those
close in touch with him. is this:
I IL hGI1 dc. kI,FN
| ocratic ticket in 1896 was due very largely
to the positive position taken on the silver
question, and that to take a backward
step at this time would be an evidence of
| faltering and would weaken the ticket in
| its own strongholds without strengthen
| ing 1t where there is no hope of winning
| He even goes so far as to say that he re-
CARDS the platform of more Importance
| than the ticket. He thinks also that II he
should take any other position he would be
accused of vacillation, and that, in short,
everything is to be lost by making a
| change, while nothing Is to be gained by it.
Those who agree with Mr.. Bryan on this
point contend that there is no possibility
of his changing front before the time ar
rives for the party's official declaration,
and they consider it preposterous that the
convention should disregard his wishes
on this point. Hence they contend with
great confidence that whether the Chi
cago platform is reaffirmed or not there
will be an unequivocal pronouncement for
the old ratio.
Other PIanks.
For the rest, the resolutions will de-
nounce the gold standard and the Porto
Rican legislation of the last session of
congress. 1t will condemn trusts in I'M
measured terms, and at the same time ac-
cuse the republican party Of fostering and
maintaining them. The administration
will also come in for strong censure for it's
policy in the Philippines, and 1t will be rec
commended that the Philippine archipelago
be placed upon the same footing as Cuba.
In the same connection there will be planks
denouncing militarism and imperialism,
and there will also be planks on the income
tax, good roads. civil service, pensions,
ETC., and a strong resolution Of sympathy
with the Beers.
A dispatch from Lincoln, received late
Sunday night, says that draft OF the plat
form, said to have the Endorsement of Mr..
Bryan and meeting the approval OF his
friends in nearly half the states In the
union, has been made. 1t makes the three
leading Issues of the campaign imperial
ism, militarism and trusts, in the order
named. The financial plank, according
TO the present draft. will be secondary.
There will be a brief plank reaffirming the
Chicago platform, and in that plank is the
reaffirmation Of sixteen to one, income tax,
repeal of the currency laws and minor is
sues.
Condition of the Hall.
Eighty laborers were at work in con-
yention hall Sunday. The regular daily
force is 300. If the convention were to
meet tomorrow its members would find
difficulty in getting inside the building.
The streets In front and on the side Of
the structure are filled with rubbish, to re-
move which large force will be necessary.
The entrances are blocked with material
g.. .fakxN,. - 81
hall. Mr.. Taylor, in charge of the work,
says the delay, II any occurs win be in
clearing up. Heretofore no effort has been
made to do this, but an order was issued
at noon Sunday to bar the entrance TO the
public. Sightseers will not be allowed in
the building until tonight, when a popular
concert will be given. The contractors con-
fidently assert that they will be ready to
turn over the hall to the national commit
tee Tuesday night