Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-07-05
lBy Telegraph to vlrginlan-Pnotl

Kansas City, July 4.-The committee
on resolutions organized by electing
Senator James X. Jones, of Arkansas.
chairman, and r. l.. Mctcalfe. of Ne
braska, secretary. Senator Jones had
the draft of platform which had
been submitted to Mr.. Bryan and ap-
proved by him.
The contest over the question of the
monetary ratio, which has been brew
Ing ever since the delegates to the con-
vention began to assemble, found ex-
preston in the committee on resolu-
tons when Ii assembled to-day. The
committee was called together soon
Ventlon, but then only elected its Off
GERS adJourning to meet again at $3.50
p. m. Senator Jones, of Arkansas was
unanimously chosen chairman and Mr..
Metcalfe' OF Nebraska, secretary.
DRAFTS OF THREE PLATFORMS.
When the committee reassembled
Mr.. Mctcalfe presented the draft of a
platform. covering all questions Of
public interest. which draft all the
members accepted as Mr.. Bryan's. Mr..
Girnrd, of Georgia. also presented n
platform. as did Mr. Van Wvck. Of
New York. All these documents TOOL,
practically the same ground upon ali
questions except that OF the finances
Mr.. Metcalfe'S declaration was for the
re-afirmation of the Chicago platform
III letter and spirit and it empha sized
and reiterated specifically the declare
ton for the free coinage of silver Mt
the ratio of 16 to |. Both the other
drafts simply re-aflirmed the Chicago
platform without reference to the
ratio.
FINANCIAL PLANK ONLY ONE AT
ISSUE.
The reading of Mr. Van Wyck's
document brought MIR. Ball. of Texas.
TO his feet with the suggestion that the
financial question should be immcdi-
ately taken up and passed upon. He
said it was apparent to all that there
was no division upon any other cues
ton of The platform. and with the
financial plank disposed of the prepa-
ration of the remainder of the plat
form would be merely matter of
clerical work.
This suggestion was adopted. and
the committee Immediately entered
upon the effort to settle the question
OF ratio.
The session proved very interesting
one, and many speeches were made.
NAN- ANYGLl,S THREE; 4ss,jES
Mr.. Van Wyck led off with a brief
statement saying that while in his plat
form He MAD referred to four issues as
prominent, namely those of imperial
ism. mllitariSm, trusts and the fl
nances. he considered that only three
oil these were of current consequence
believing the money question had been
crowded into the background of other
subjects which had pressed to the front
during the past four years.
DANIEL SUPPORTS VAN WICK.
Senator Daniel, OF Virginia, some
what TO the surprise of the members
OF tho committee. followed Mr.. Van
Wyck IN support of his view of the
question. The Senator said that no
I'm a
minute that he now stood where he
now stood on the silver question in
1896 and that he entertained precisely
the same views on this subject which
men controlled him. He was, however
anxious TO bring back into the fold of
the party those who had left it four
years ago on account of the position
taken on the silver question, and il
this could be accomplished, as he be-
lieved it could be. by emitting all ref
erence TO the ratio he, for one. was
content to pursue that course. simply
reafiirmins the Chicago platform.
FITZGERALD GETS WARM.
Mr.. Fitzgerald. of Colorado, followed
in warm speech dehouncing in most
emphatic language any effort to mini
mize the financial question. He as
serted that the omission of q declara-
ton on ratio of the two metals would
be mere evasion and concealment
that such evasion would fool no one.
He declared that If such declaration
was not made even Colorado could be
counted doubtful State.
WILLIAMS FOR SPECIFIC DEcI,A-
RATION.
George Fred Williams, of Massa-
chusetts, also made a spirited areu-
ment for n specific declaration on the
question of ratio. He asserted that the
Democratic party had become new
party since 1t had incorporated n new
financial plank in It's new declaration
of principles. 1t had become n virile
and live party since 1896, and this fact
was due solely TO the circumstances
that the money question. which was
the question of the people. had been
made the paramount issue. He eulo-
gized Mr.. Bryan in high terms, spoke
of his self abnegation and patriotism.
and said that it would be cowardly to
ask that gentleman to recant what he
had been preaching throughout the
country for the past four years.
AN UNEOUIVOCAL DECLARATION
While not pretending to say what
Mr.. Bryan would do. Mr.. Williams as