Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-07-06

Another stirring event of the day was
the appearance of Webster Davis, former
assistant secretary of the interior under
Mr.. Mekinley's administration, in q
speech severely a~raigning the republican
party for its lack of sympathy for the
Beers and formally announcing his al
legiance to the democratic partv.
But the great battle of the convention
has not been fought under the eyes of
cheering thousands. but in the privacy of
the closely guarded quarters of the COM
mfttee on platform. Here was Waged
throughout last night and again this
morning. one of the most remarkable
struggles that has ever racke this his
toric party. On the one hand was the in
fuence of Bryan and the absolute unity
Of devotion felt toward him and the
cause of silver with which his name is
~inseparably linked. On the other hand
We're many of the patriarchs of the party,
men like Danial of Virginia, insisting
that the very life of the organization was
endangered by changing it's old issues
and that the duty of the hour called for
new issues based on new and vital
events. This contest was at last mar
rowed down to the one issue of especific-
ally reaffirming the party's adherence to
a l6 to l standard as desired by Mr..
Bryan, or r~eatfirming the silver plank in
most general terms. And on this issue
the brains. the sagacity, the persuasive
NIoiuSllCS diiu Tile UeSt dDllIGy OIL the con-
Vention has for the last 26 hours been en-
gagged in a battle for supremacy. And
out of this fierce strife the adherents of
Bryan emerged, SCARED but victorious.
They have written the platform in their
own way, with 16 to /. But it was a vic
tory by a scratch, for a single vote would
have turned the scale. And it has not
been a victory without concession for in
the final draft silver is no longer para
mount; it is far down in the platform,
While in the very forefront is the declar-
alton that imperialism is the paramount
issue of the campaign.
There only remains the choice of a AN
didate for vice president and the work of
the convention is over. There is every
evidence hat this choice will be quickly
settled tomorrow morning, although
there is still doubt as to whom the nomi-
nee will be.
1t was not until 4 o'clock that Chair
man Richardson, turning from a confer
ence with Governor McMillin and SEN
ator White, picked up the gavel and
brought the convention to order. The
platform committee, headed by Senator
Jones, D. J. Campeau. Senator Tillman
and Judge Van Wyck. had just pushed
their way through the dense crowd ami,
proceeding to the platform, had taken
seats thanking the chairman. Mr. Rich.
ardson appealed long and vainly for or
der. The portly form of Senator Jones,
silver haired and serious, advanced to
the front Of the stage. He held a roll Of
manuscript in his hands. But it was
hopeless to talk in such a tumult, and he
dropped back in his seat while order was
being restored.
At last the noise subsidized and Mr..
Jones. in a clear voice, announced. Il am
authorized by the committee on resolu-
tons to present the platform agreed upon
and will yield to the senator from
South Carolina, Mr.. Tillman, to read the
document"
Mr.. Tillman now stepped to the front
and was greeted with a cheer. He read
the platform in a full, round voce easily