The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-07-05


The suggestion was adopted and the
committee entered upon the effort to set
tie the question Of ratio. The. session
proved very interesting one and many
speeches were made. Mr.. Van Wyck led
off with brief statement saying that
while in his platform he had referred to
four issues as prominent, namely those
of imperialisln militarism, trusts and
the finances, he cOnsiderd that only three
of these were of current consequence, be
lieying that the money question had been
crowded into the background by other
subjects which had pressed to the front
during the past four years
Senator Daniel of Virginia somewhat
to the surprise of some OF the members of
the committee followed Mr.. Van Wyck in
support of his view on the question.
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.
Mr.. Fitzgerald of Colorado followed
i'll o warm speech denounoing in most
emphatic language any effort to minim-
ize the financial question.
eli, y he said, referring to the plat
form presented by Mr.. Metcalf, Mr.
Bryan is a good enough platform, then
the platform approved by him should be
good nough. :"
George Fred Williams Of Massachusetts,
also made q spi rlted argument for spec
i1lo declaration on the question Of ratios
He asserted that the Democratic party
had become new party since it had in
corporabed the financial question In it's
declaration of principles.
He eulogized Mr.. Bryan in high terms,
spoke Of his self-abnegation and patriot
ism 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. While
not pretending to say what Mr.. Bryan
would do, Mr.. Williams asserted emphat-
ically and significantly that ii placed IN
MIR. Bryans position he would decline
nomination upon an equivocal plat
form.
''There is no reason, y he exclaimed,
''for making any concession to treason. y
Continuing, he asked:
''Are we going to drive the Populists
into the middle OF the road in order to
get back those traitors9 Are we going
to sell our principles to the Tories of the
Democratic party and desert our real
friends?''
He predicted that if this course was to
be pursued the trusts would take com
plete possession OF the Democratic party
as they had already taken possession Of
the Republican party and in that event
there would no longer be an ark of ref
uge for the plain people.
Mr.. Williams was frequently applauded
during the course of his remarks. He
was followed by Mr.. DAILY of New Jer-
sey, who made plea of conservatism
and for concession to the moderate wing
of the party. He said that he had cheer
fully supported the platform and ticket
OF four years ago, and had stumped the
country for Mr.. Bryan, but he felt con
WINGED that the time had come when the
money question was no longer paramount
and he i1nplored the committee and con
vention to put it somewhat in the back
ground and make the fight upon other
issues. At the conclusion of Mr. Days
speech the committee concluded to take
a recess until O'Clock in order to allow
the members to get their dinners. Tt
had become evident to all present that it
would be impossible to conclude the pre-
paration Of the resolution in time for
presentation to the committee on reas-
semblng at s 30. Upon all questions
other than that pertaining to finances,
the three platforms presented were prac-
tically the same except that Mr.. Van
Wyck's draft did not cover as many
questions as did the other two
Mr.. Metcalf's copy, after reaffir1ning
the Chicago platform and referring es-
pecially- to the ratio insthe coinage Of
metes, denounces the trusts in drastic
language and in the same connection re
fers to the protective tariff as one of the
principal supports of the trust system.
1t also condemns the alleged tendency
of the present Republican administration
towards Imperialism and the increase of
the standing army, sympathy is expressed
for the Beers in their struggle with Great
Britain.
In connection with the expression on
the Boer question the assertion is made
that it is evident to all men that a secret
alliance exists between the Mckinley
administration and the British govern
ment and this alliance is denounced as
revolving and repulsive to all liberty low
ing people.
The platform takes positive position
on the Philippine question pronouncing
in favor of a policy locking to the grant
ing Of liberty and home government to
the natives of the Pacific archipelago
with a promise of protection to the peo-
pie Of that country against foreign asper-
sion by the government Of the United
States similar to that which is vouch-
safed by us to the South African repub-
lies. The committee reassembled at s. 30
p. m. and Chairman Jones said it was
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