New-York tribune., 1900-07-02
THE BRYAN CONVENTION
PLATFORM AND TICKET TO BE DTCTAr-
ED BY THE NEBRASKA MAN.
DAVID B. HILL GOES TO CONFER WITH
PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATE FOR PREs1-
DENT-MAY RUN WITH HIM
IBT TELEGRAPH TO THE rpnrr

follow courses Of action almost exactly nara1la1
Each is TO go on record as renominating bv ar
ciamation the Presidential candidate If put for
ward four years ago. The absolute unanir,i+v
II choice on each side offers striking contrast
70 the friction and bitterness in the conventions
a. which similar denominations we're accom-
pIished in 1892.
Each party likewise with an assured and nm
opposed selection for the head OF the National
ticket viii be found TO have left practically 10
chance the nomination OF a Presidential
candidate. For II at Philadelphia q reluctant
and protesting nominee was impressed into
party service, so here AT Kansas City there Is an
equal likelihood that second horors will be
thrust upon some more o- less receptive and m
heralded running mate"
history VIII IN that event be justified in view
Ing The work Of the two conventions Of 1900 as
cut 10 a pattern more uniform than anv known
for generation past or likely to be known for a.
generation hereafter. Uniformity in politics has
its limitations, however. and there are some
particulars in which the parallel between PhiIa-
6=-Phia and Kansas City does not hold entirely
good.
The Republican National Convention though
widely charged with susceptibility 70 pressure
from the Administration and its representatives.
made an absolutely free and spontaneous choice
Tor the Nice-Presidency, choice, indeed. which
did not a. the outset commend itself TO those
leaders On The spot especially recognized as voic-
ing the Administrations plans and wishes
DICTATION BY BRYAN.
Here. on the contrary, there is every evidence
rhat The Tice-Presidential nomination viii be
controlled and dictated by the prospective head
q The ticket, against whose fat once expressed.
ro considerable element in the Convention would
venture 10 raise q serious protest. The first ses-
son q the Convention is now less than three
days on, and party leaders from all parts Of the
country have already reached this city.
Yet 70 one here disputes the fact that the pol-
icies which will govern the Conventions action
are being determined now, and Will continue 10
be determined until the delegates disperse, not
a. The various headquarters here, but in Colonel
B-yan's Office n Lincoln Kansas City is and
VIII remain the stage on which the Convention
VIII play out its three days mixture Of raeIo-
drama comedy and farce, but the chief actors
viii al have learned their parts IN advance, and
VIII take their cues from the prompter's box, 900
miles away II the Nebraska capital
I any convincing proof were needed Of the
extent 70 which Colonel Bryan's personal wishes
are 70 dominate the National Convention It
would be found II the hurried trip made 10 Lin
coin to-day by ex-senator David 3. Hill, Of
New-York. AS is well known Mr. Hill is the
one Eastern Democratic leader OF experience and
force OF character who has come 10 Kansas
City sincerely determined 70 force some rnodi-
fcatton OF the financial plank Of the Chicago
platform.
To his mind Democratic success next fall is
dependent entirely on the appeal the Conven-
tioa may make 70 Eastern sentiment through 4
sofrening OF the extreme free silver coinage dec
Iaration of 1895 Even an appearance of re-
treat from the advanced and radical position
taken at Chicago would IN his view. materially
improve the prospect Of the National ticket and
ha 0Tg1d max
fight n the Convention which Mr. Croker Mr.
Murphy and other Eastern Democrats seem 10
deprecate.
Why HILL WENT TO SEE BRYAN
Arriving here early this morning, Nj Hill
found after a conference with Senator Jones, OF
Arkansas, the chairman Of the Democratic Ma
L0nal Committee. that persuasion would only
be lost on the Western politicians he could
reach unless he first came 10 an understanding
with Nj. Bryan al Lincoln. The New-Yorker
saw the force Of this suggestion. and at once
took z train for Nebraska He is not expected
back until tO-nOrrOw night, and till then specu-
la-iOn on the wording Of the money plank Of the
Platform may be dismissed as void OF any
serious importance.
For the last TWO days every visitor 10 Lincoln
has brought news here Of Colonel Bryan's pur-
pose 70 Insist not only on a general reafhrnation
Of The Chicago platform. but upon a specific re-
statement OF the demand for free silver coinage
al the ratio OF Is 10 l To neglect this definite
pledge Of loyalty 10 the case Of silver. Mr..
Bran has argued 10 numerous Democratic
leaders would start the cry Of cowardfce and
q far toward alternating Populist support, on
which he counts 70 carry Nebraska, Kansas,
South Dakota and other Western States.
P L MercaIf. Editor CT The Omaha World
Herald" and one Of the delegates-at-Iarge from
Nebraska. who had long talk with Colonel
Bryan Saturday, has announced that there
must be z specific renewal OF the free coinage
demand in this years platform To abandon
r1ls attitude, he declares would be simply
weak yielding 70 Tammany clamor."
Ex-Represenrariv James Hamilton Lewis, Of
washington, who talked with Nj. Bryan
This point also insists tIlaI aus programme N
1lldes special mention OF the silver issue,
though Mr.. Lewis himself believes that a gen
eraI reafirnation Of the Chicago resolutions
would be better party policy.
WRAEGLE OVER WORDING OF PLATFORM
The wrangIe over the wording OF the platform
for nobody questions its real intent or sig
Hlfcaace-wiI probably furnish enough political
eZclrernent 70 I'LL out the two days before the
convention assemblies. Were II not for this ap-
parent bone Of contention the argumentative
and jealous Convention camp follower would
have practically nothing TO exhaust his spell
binding powers on.
Tae contest for the Presidential nom
nation mas proved 50 far q stngularly lfeIess
one Nr. Hill IS the strong man put for
ward for the second place, and should he come
terms with Bryan on the platform his
selection would be logical sequence OF their
c0mpact M Hill Is not eager 10 be nom
mated and does not care 70 run on PLATFORM
NJ -uadulterated Populisun. II he becomes
FanCi6ate be viii have the support or the New
York delegation, which otherwise may put 1or-
ward Elliot Danforth. Judge Parker George q
Mcclellan, or any other OF the long Ilst oI re-
,ep-ive aspirants.
5- highly acceptable 10 the Convention snouId
Colonel Bryan indicate desire 70 nave hlIn
named for the second place. Mr. Suffers candi-