The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-02
HILL LOOMS UP.
New Yorker Has Kansas City
Delegates Guessing.
He is Summoned to Lincoln to
Confer With Mr.. Bryan.
MAN FOR SECOND PLACE
Will Be the Nebraskan's Own
Personal Choice.
MAN FOR SECOND PLACE
Shively Positively Declines to
Enter the Race.
Sulzer Working Hard, and Cor
man Has Friends.

Kansas City. Mo-, July 2.-ThiS really
is the first business day of the Demo-
cratic convention. Soon after 10 o'clock
this morning the Democratic national
committee assembled at the Kansas
City club to consider the claims of con-
testing delegations, formally to select
temporary officers and transact some
other preliminary business; the United
States Monetary league at the same
hour began it's first session at the Audi
torium theater; and tonight it is pro-
posed formally to open the new conVen-
ton hall with a promenade concert.
The day dawned brilliantly, bright
and clear with the thermometer regis
tering in the seventies and a brisk
southeast breeze blowing. Within few
hours, as the sun gained ascendancy, it
became intensely hot and had not the
breeze continued, the heat would have
been insufferable.
While the arrivals during the past few
days have been by scores, they began
today to be by hundreds. Tomorrow
they will be by thousands. All the early
morning trains today, especially those
from the east were crowded with dele
gates and visitors. Throughout the day
and, indeed until noon on Wednesday
when Chairman Jones gavel will fall at
the opening of the convention special
trains bearing state delegations, politi-
cal organizations, marching clubs and
bands of music, will arrive almost hour
ly. Early in the day the New York del
egation, accompanied by many promi-
nent Empire state Democrats, arrived
in special train over the Wabash; the
Georgia delegation came in on special
train over the Burlington route; and
during the day a special train bearing
the delegations from New England will
arrive.
THRONES OF STRANGERS.
By tonight the hospital people of
Kansas City will begin-to realize what
it means to have big political -conven-
tionion their hands. The streets and no
tel corridors already are thronged with
strangers, yet scarcely nne-tenth of the
crowd expected is here. However, the
people of this metropolis of the south
west maybe depended upon to take good
care of their guests That they are ac-
cuStOmed to doing things well is amply
| evidenced by the notable accomplish
ment of reconstructing the convention
| hall in less than 80 days. Three months
ago fire swept the great hall to the
| ground. Undaunted by the disaster,
| Kansas City decided that another mag
nificent structure should rise, phoenix
| like from the ashes of the old. That
| promise has been fulfilled. Although
| even now hundreds of workmen are en-
gagged upon the new building, practical
| ly it is in readiness and only the finish
| ing touches are required.
After a day and night of conferences,
of discussion of platform and candidates
| and of earnest efforts to bring about
thorough harmony in the convention
the politicians were slow in rising to-
! day The one distinct topic of conversa-
! tion early in the day was as it also was
yesterday the visit of former Governor
Hill to Mr.. Bryan at Lincoln. The gov
ernor's arrival early on Sunday, follow
| ed by his almost instant departure for
! the home of him who is to be this con-
vention's nominee for the presidency,
| fairly daZed even the most astute DO
| litical leaders This morning the news
| papers were scanned eagerly but in
vain for an explanation of Mr.. Bryan's
| call for the New York statesman The
| cOnferPPS evidently haiI
counsel Gossip about the visit is on
every tongue, but all is speculative and
| ephemeral.
| HILLS VISIT TO LINCOLN.
| While, apparently, nobody here knows
why Mr.. Hill was summoned to Lincoln
| all thoroughly realize that his visit is
more than significant Harmony in the
| convention, for which all the leaders are
/ striving so vigorously, may depend up
on it and it may mean that Senator Hill
after all, will sink his personal desires
and become the party's candidate for
| the vice presidency. Much hinges upon
the conference between the two men on
| the farm near Lincoln last night
Pending definite informa ton as to the
result of the conference the situation to-
| day remains practically unchanged No
| irrevocable step will be taken until
Bryan and Hill are heard from. That
| Mr.. Bryan is the dominant factor in this
| convention no one can doubt. AS for
mer Senator Dubois, of Idaho. terseIy
| expressed it today:
| Bryan is master OF the situation, the
arbitrator of all Offences. Without even
seeming to dictate he will control the
convention. His wishes will be respect
| ed, both as to the platform and as to the
| candidate for the vice presidency"
That states the situation to a nicety
NO PLATFORM not entirely satisfactorily
| to Mr.. Bryan will be adopted and the
nominee for the vice presidency it is
assured will be running mate perfect
| 1y agreeable to him.
Thus far the only contest worth men
| tioning has been on the financial plank
| of the platform. Even that seems to be
only a difference of phraseology The
western men generally insist that a spe-
| cific declaration for the free coinae ee of
/ silver at the ratio of is to L shall be in
| corporated in the platform; those from
| the east and many from the south are
| inclined to favor simple reafflrmation
| of the financial plank of the Chicago
| platform believing that issues which
| overshadow the money question have
arisen since '96 and should be given the
| place of paramount Importance That
| Mr.. Bryan himself will let it be known
/ finally what his wishes are with re-
| spect to the question all fully believe
| and that his desires will be carried ont
nobody doubts.
With respect to the p1anks on sImper-
ialism' and expansion a note in a minor
| key has been sounded from the western
part of the country, especially from the
Pacific coast Mr.. Bryan and the lead
sAof the party in Kansas City have
/ been urged not to make the anti-ex-
pansion plank too strong lest the declar'-
alton injure the party's chances in the
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