The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-07-10
DEMOCRATIC HOSTS
AT KANSAS CITY
After Long and Hot Discussion the Plat
form Committee Came Out Strong
for is to l.

tumultous enthusiasm betting such an
event and such n day, the Democratic
national convention began its sessions
to-day. But after sitting until late
hour tonight, the expected climax OF
| the day-the nomination of William j..
Bryan as the Democratic candidate for
President-has failed of realization,
and all of the large business of the
convention awaits the completion OF
the platform.
As a spectacular event, however, the
convention has fulfilled the hopes of
the most fervid party man, for the vast
assemblage of spectators and delegates
has twice been swept with whirlwlnd
demonstrations, first for the leader VINO
is about to be placed in nomination,
and then for that other champion of
Democracy, David b. Hill. But in ac-
tual accomplishment the days work is
confined to organization, with the
speeches of the temporary chairman,
Governor Thomas of Colorado, and the
permanent chairman, Hon. James ID.
Richardson, the appointment of the va
rious committees and the detailed pre-
parations for the more serious work
yet in store.
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 1t assembled to-day. Sen
! ator Jones of Arkansas was unani-
mously chosen chairman and MI. Met
calf of Nebraska secretary.
Mr. Metcalf presented the draft OF
platform, covering all questions of pub
lie interest, which draft all the mem
bers accepted as Mr.. Bryan's express
| sion upon this question. Mr.. Girard of
Georgia also presented a platform as
did Mr.. Van Wyck of New York. All
took practically the same ground on
all questions except that of the
finances.
Mr. Metcalf's declaration was for the
reafiirmation of the Chicago platform
in letter and spirit, and it emphasized
and reiterated. specifically the declara-
ton for the free coinage of silver at
the ratio of 16 to 1. Both the other
drafts simply reaffirmed the Chicago
platform, without reference to the ra-
ito.
The reading of Mr.. Van Wyck's doc
ument brought Mr.. Ball of Texas to
his feet with the suggestion that the
financial question should be immedi-
ately taken up and passed upon. lie
said It was apparent to all there was
no division upon any other platform
question and that with the financial
plank disposed of the preparation of
the remainder of the platform would
be merely n matter of clerical work
This suggestion was adopted, and the
committee Immediately entered upon
the effort TO settle the question of ratio.
Mr.. Van Wyck led of with n brief
statement. saying that while in his plat
form he had referred to four issues
as prominent namely, those of imper-
ialism, militarism, trusts and the IL
nances, he considered that only three
of these were of current consequence,
believing the money question had been
crowded into the background by other
subjects which had pressed TO the front
during the last four years.
Senator Daniel of Virginia. some
what to the surprise of some members
of the committee. followed Mr.. Van
Wyck in support of his views of the
question. The senator said that no man
who knew him would doubt for a min
ute that he now stood where he had
stood on the silver question in 90, and
he entertained precisely the same
views on this subject which then con-
trolled him. He was, however, anx-
ious 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 If this could
be accomplished, as he believed 1t
could be, by emitting all reference
whatever to the ratio, he, for one. was
content to pursue that course. simply
reaffirming the Chicago platform.
Mr.. Fitzgerald of Colorado followed
in warm speech, dcnouncing in most
emphatic language any effort TO mini
mize the financial question. He assert
ed that the omission of declaration
! on ratio of the two metals would be q
mere evasion and concealment: that
such evasion would not get any one or
catch any of the gold-standard people
whom it was meant to entrap. 1t was
only meant to be construed as a silver
plank in one section of the country, and
an anti-silver plank in another. Such
course as this would fail to satisfy
the people of all sections.
If" he said, Mr.. Bryan is good
enough platform. then the platform ap-
proved by him should be good enough
He declared it was essential that
there should be n declaration for the
ratio in clear and unmistakable terms,
and ne followed this up with the asser-
ton that if such declaration was not
made even Colorado could be counted
as doubtful state, with a prospect of
not only casting its electoral vote for
Mckinley as president, but of sending
Mr.. Wolcott back to the United States
Senate.
George Fred Williams of Massachu-
setts also made a spirited argument for
specific declaration on the question
of ratio.
He asserted that the Democratic par
ty had become n new party since it had
incorporated the financial question in
its declaration of principles. 1t had be-
come virile and live party since 1896,
and this fact was due solely to the cir
cumstances that the money question.
which was the question of the people,
had been made the paramount issue
Representative Newlands of Nevada
declared in favor of specific declara-