, 1900-07-05

Importance. and "a lie feels confident
thai the New England delegates are
practically solid In that position. The
free coinage of silver III thp ratio Of
III to / was the touchStone of the o
vention in 1896" he said to-day. and
its reitcration will add strength to the
cause in the coming campaign
James Kerr. a delegnto-at-largc from
Pennsylvania and secretary of the
congressional campaign committee.
takes n somewhat different view, hut
he would not stop at a mere d%eclara-
ton for the Chicago platform. lie
holds that new conditions will make II
necessary TO add something to what
was said on trusts in 1896. and he says
to max an additional plank on that
subject II not 10 make IL on HE IL
nances would he considered as invidi-
rus and would result inj%uriOusly. He
would. however, not Use the phrase rs
to l, hut would declare for free coin
age at the legal ratio"
II is expected that the Silver ltepuh-
lican party will ask to he consulted up
on the question of the financial plank.
The representatives of that party al
ready here express Il strong preference
for n positive declaration for the ola
ratio. we want III TO l. said former
Senator Dubois of Idaho today. but
If they will put Towne on the ticket
with Bryan we will be willing to make
concessions Oh the money plank.
If. however. sucn n man as Hill Is
10 be nominated, we want an irOn-Clad
silver platform. THUS you see tho
ex-senator added. the personality of
the vice presidential candidate may
have n decided influence upon the plat
form II vice persa. Bryan II
Towne would he Il platform in them
selves
Mr.. Bryan's position as outlined by
those close in touch with him is this:
He holds that the popularity of the
Democratic ticket in 1896 was due
largely 10 the positive position taken on
the silver question. and that to take II
backward step mt this time would he
an eveidcnce of falterinG and you'd
weaken the ticket in It's OWL strong
holds without strengthening II where
there is no hope of winning. He even
goes so far as to say that he regards
the platform as of more importance
than the ticket.
He thinks also if he should AXE any
other position, he would be accused or
vaccilation. and that. in short. every
things is to be lost by making n change
while nothing is TO he gained by 1t.
Those who agree with Mr.. Bryan on
this point contend that there is no pos
Sibility of his changing front before
the time arrives for the party's official
declaration, and they consider it pre-
posterOus thnt the convention should
disregard his wishes on this point.
Hence they contend with great conf
dencc that whether the Chicago plat
form is reatfirmed or not there will he
an unequivocal prUnounccmcnt for the
old ratio.
Fol the rest. the resolutions will de
nOunce the gold standard and the Porto
Itican Legislation of the last session OF
Congress. 1t will condemn trusts in
unmeasured terms and Mt the same
time accuse the Republican party of
fostering and maintaining them. The
administration will come in for strong
censure for its policy in the Philip
pines, and It will recommend that the
Philippine archipelago be placed on the
same footing ms Cuba. In the same
connection there will he plnnks de
%nouncing militarism and Imperialism,
I'M there will also he planks Oh the in
come tax, good roads, civil service.
pensions. etc, II II strong resolution
of sympathy with the Beers.