The age-herald., 1900-07-03
The AssembIage Far from
 Harmonious. FIGHT ON PLATFORM Conservative Democrats Favor Granting Some Concessions. SULZeR DOING MUCH TALKING He Will Have Little Show for Vice. Presidential Honors When Con-
 vention Has Met-Alabam-
 ians WantHarmony
SULzeR DOING MUCH TALKING
BY F. w. BARRETT.

BY F. w. BARRETT.
 Kansas City, Mo-, July 2-(Special) )-The Kansas City Democratic Convention prom ises no harmony today. There are conflict ing elements. It is all one way for Bryan, of course. but over the platform the con- test opens with much picturesqueness. The elements are two. almost equally divided; one claiming to represent MT. Bryans per- sonal wishes, and in favor of reflecting in silver issue so conspicuously to the front as to make it the hub about which the con- stellation of issues shall revolve.
 The other and more conservative element advocates simple reaffirmation of the Chi cago platform, declaring through loyalty and fealty to its blanks, yet recognizing the new questions which have arisen and dealing with them conspicuously and firm ly The first element fears some one may accuse the party of having taken the back track. They fear silver Republican vote or a Populist vote may be lost here or there.
  They would have the shouting silver Re- publican or loud-mouthed office seeking Populist get in the band wagon of the Democratic procession with the glare of the calcium light fully upon his active whs- kers for fear that if relegated to the rank and file of the procession he might stray off into the wilderness of politics and cry out, Shame upon the backsliders"
 In other words, there is a large element endeavoring to use the name of Bryan to eliminate strong element in the party whom they believe may rise above their nose and shout in the councils of the party.
 Do Not Represent Bryan's Views Men who believe thoroughly in the leader ship of Bryan, in his ability and his wis dom, do not believe, whether these shout CTS are representative of his views or not, that the platform should be dictated in advance by him or by any one man or particular element in the party.
 The views and wisdom of all representa- tives should be consulted and platform
 
 declarations of the party, but which deals primarily with issues which must be hand led and settled now, issues up for discus sion by the people and upon which the peo- pie will elect the next Democratic ticket The Illinois and Indiana and Kansas dele gations and the delegations from several of the Southern States are demanding such a platform, reaffirming, however, all prin- ciples of the party heretofore expressed, but not eliminating great pending questions to make silver the only shining light of the platform.
 As to the Vice-Presidency, that depends upon the platform. If the conservative element wins it will be David Bennett Hill or Elliott F. Danforth or some other man named by the New York delegation, not Snlzer, however. He is simply the weiner- wurst man of the convention crying his succulent sausages, but decoying no vetes
 If the radical element be successful the Vce-Presidential nominee may be Towne or some DleatlnS lamD now IleQ out Tn the woods. I write plainly because plain words are best. This is no harmonious gathering There are all manner of plots and plotters.
 Hill and Croker
 Hill is here and Dick Croker is here. They have knives and razors for each others throats and on one can predict the outcome of the warfare.
 Augustus Van Wyck is here with plat form of anti-imperialism, of antitrust and an anti-high tariff which he will submit for the New York delegation. He is no candidate, however. for anything and Ben Shivley of Indiana has withdrawn. The only blatantly announced candidates are Sulzer and Towne.
 The platform will be first, then that plat form will make the Vice Presidential cam didate. Much bluff talk is being indulged in by the radical element tonight that Mir. Bryan will not accept the nomination un- less the platform said to have been writ \ ten in Lincoln Is adopted. Of course this lis the merest bcsh of the fanatical shrine >>~--- ~>--~---~~~~~~~~~~~---
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