The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-07-03
that will electrify the convention and
serve as a campaign keynote.
LETTER TO BRYAN.
Delegates Write Asking Him to Conn
promise.

ing story got abroad today concerning a
letter said to have been sent to Mr.. Bryan
by Democratic leaders here. This letter,
according to general report, outlined the
situation and suggested that Mr.. Bryan
ought to make some concessions regard
ing the platform so that those who
wanted a modification would be concili-
ated. 1t was stated that the concession
asked made victory possible, while with
out it the campaign would be hard one
Many leaders were mentioned as having
acquiesced in or signed the letter to Mr..
Bryan. Hon. James Kerr, one OF the dele
gates from Pennsylyaniaswho set out for
Lincoln last night accompanied by ex-
Congressman Mulchler and another
Pennsylvania delegate is said to have
carried the letter to Lincoln. 1t was re-
ported that this letter was signed or APP
proved by Senator Jones, ex- Governor
Stone, j. 6. Johnson James Guffey and
ID. j. Campau, all me nbers of the ma
tional committee and members of the ex-
oo1tiye committee Most of these gentle
men said they had not signed such let
ter, but there was an intimation from a
reliable quarter that some such move
ment was on foot and that the views OF
some of these gentlemen were laid before
Mr.. Bryan in way to indicate that they
believed it would lie better policy to re-
affirm the Chlago platform and not insist
upon the specific declaration of Is to l.
The impression prevails that the leaders
are not likely to meet with much success
in such movement, especially in view
of The action of the Nebraska delegation
which declared explicitly today for the
old ratio.
Cato Sells, chairman of the Iowa dele
cation who spent three hours closeted
with Mr.. Bryan yesterday said tonight
when told of the movement to have Mr..
Bryan agree to the elimination of
specific plank in the platform calling for
the free coinage of silver at the ratio. OF
16 to 1.
81 talked over the whole situation with
Mr.. Bryan and have not the slightest
hesitancy in saying that the gentlemen
who have gone to Lincoln with the idea
of getting Mr.. Bryan to hedge on the pro-
position of is to /, win do nothing but
go up the hill and come down again.
know exactly what I am saying when 1
tell you that there is not the slightest
chance in the world to get Mr.. Bryan to
accept any evasion or abr1dgement of
the is to / proposition. He will run on a
platform containing that plank, or he
will not run at all. I am positive that
there viii be no fight against the 16 to
plank which win compel Mr.. Bryan to
change his attitude.
Quite different view of the matter
was taken by Thomas Gahan, national
committee man from Illinois. He said
when told of the attitude OF Mr.. Bryan:
1--WE do not want IS to l plank in the
platform and we will not have one if we
can help 1t. A re-afirmation OF the silver
plank of the platform adopted four years
ago covers the ground amply
Judge A. S. 1ibbetts of Lincoln, chair
man of the Nebraska delegation, said
that it could be accepted as 4 positive
that Mr.. Bryan would not be a candidate
unless the platform con tanned specific
declaration in favor Of silver at 16 to /.
He cannot do it and he viii not do
it, said Judge Tibbetts. The different
state delegations have been instructed for
him with the understanding and now at
the last minute he cannot stultify him
self by accepting a candidacy based upon
any other platform
CROKER CORRECTS AN impress
SION.
Kansas City, Mo-, July ar wish to
correct the impression that Tammany is
fighting against the insertion OF the silver
plank in the Democratic PLATFORM said
Richard Croker to an Associated Press
representative, tonight. 'ephis is not SO
and it is q point on which and the
whole New York organization have been
more misrepresented and misunderstood
than upon any other.
NATIONAL Committeeman.
Kansas City, Mo, July 2.-The follow
ing members of the ma tIonal committee
ave so far been chosen.
Few of the delegations have met, others
will not until they get here tomorrow.
National COMMITTEES:
Arkansas-James P. Clark.
onnecticut-Homer S. Cummings,
Florida-George Ii, Ranch.
11I1uOlS-1nOlnaS Canaan.
Indiana-Ihomas r. Taggart.
Aentucky-U Woodson.
-alne Arthur Sewau.
sebraska-James G. Dahlman.
nlo-John r.. Mclean.
Observation-Disclosures M, Guffey.
ya5n Carolina-Bsnja min Tillman.
2u5l Dakota-Morris II. baylor.
e,ias-R. M johnson.
eginont-JOhn $. Senter
shlngton-W III. Dunphy
sconsln-TimOthy e. Ryan,
--Iuska-E. Il. Williams.
MAINE FOR 16 TOT.
Iansas City, July 2-Maine is in favor
. 0ne adoption Of the Chicago platform
p whole, said L. nj. Staples of that
a.. ~ - - I