The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-03


cred a probability in the race.
AS the contest stands after Shively's
retirement the two leading candidates
seem to be Charles A. Towne and Will
liam Sulzer. with some man from New
York. like Judge Van Wyck or Elliott
Danforth, as a possibility under certain
contingencies.
Place and Platform.
The fact is that the vice presidential
situation is interwoven with the platform.
If there is a simple reaffrmation of the
Chicago platform some New York man
may be selected for Vice President in the
hope that 1t will assist in carrying that
state If there Is a specific declaration
for 16 to l, then Towne may be made
Bryan's running mate. 1t is pointed out
as not quite conceivable that a conven-
tion which would refuse to make a sper
cihc declaration for 16 to l with view of
carrying some of the Eastern States would
nominate Towue. who left the Republican
party solely on the ground of his attach
ment to silver Il is conceded by all DEM
ocratic leaders that Towne's strength is
in the West, and that on a silver plat
form. and that he would not be a stronger
form, and that he would not be strong
in he East on modified platform.
While IL is not a certainty that Towne
would be nominated, even If there was a
specific 10 to l declaration, 1t is believed
that his chances would be greatly improv-
ed by such action, and his friends are
making every effort to bring about that
result in the convention.
New York Uncertain.
New York is still an uncertain quantity
in the field. 1t is still asserted that she
has no candidate, although there is more
genuine activity sn the Sulzer canvass
than any other that is being made. Mr.
Sulzer. while New York man, is not the
candidate of New York. and is making
his canvass outside of that delegation
That the delegation, under favorable con-
ditions, such as concessions in the plat
form, would unite on some other man
seems TO be perfectly understood. but II
would undoubtedly be brought about by a
movement from outside the state.
Whether the convention would unite on
Danforth or Van Wyck is uncertain. be-
cause of the personality of Hill. There
is yet a great deal of talk about the eX-
Senator in connection with the vice pres
idential nomination, and in case of a mod
ified platform, he might be rushed upon
the convention. AT the same time, II
is we'll understood chat his selection
would not be satisfactory to Mr.. Bryan,
less satisfactory perhaps, than the other
New York men mentioned. Mr.. Hill
himself insists that he is not to be con-
sidered. and says 1t in a way to indicate
that he docs not want 1t. and that he has
doubts as to his selection. If he did
want ii.
There may be some dark horses, some
men who have not been considered pos
sible or available, some man like Sewall
the presentation of whose name was a
surprise and whose nomination was not
even surmised. There are plenty OF
guesses made, but no one feels author
lied to make definite predictions.
Hill Keeps His Counsel.
Ex-senator Hill returned from Lincoln
to-day, and II may be said that his re-
turn did not cause as great a sensation
as did his departure. The mysterious
silence he maintained he explained by
saying: "Mr. Bryan and myself agreed
that nothing should be said regarding the
conference between u.s.
This did not serve TO appease the politi-
cal appetite very much. or course, II
was not expected that Mr.. Hill would talk
of the conference. but there was a be-
lief that he would say something of in
terest relating to the platform and the
prospects of a modification. but he was
decidedly non-committal. When asked a
direct question as to his fight against a
ls-to-1 declaration. he said the convention
would not meet for two days. 1t might
not act upon the platform for three days,
therefore, there was no reason now to dis
cuss the question as to what IL was to
contain
Mr.. Hill talked with many men, and
quite a long time with some of them but
10 no one did. he outline his intended po-
siton or give any intimation as to the
position Mr.. Bryan had taken while dis
cussing the coming convention. To some
visitors Mr.. Hill said his conference with
Mr.. Bryan was very satisfactory. but In
what particular he did not disclose. When
the matter of his connection with the
vice presidency was mentioned, he dis
missed II in manner indicating that
there was not the least possibility OF his