New-York tribune., 1900-07-04
B0WING TOBRYAN'SWILL
He IS IN COMPLETE CONTROL
AZ KANSAS CITY.
CROKER TAKES REVENGE on HILL
JOHN W. KELLER NEW-YORK'S can
DIDATE FOR vICE-PRESIDENCY.
IHr TELEGRAPH To THE Tr1nrxr.I

IHT TELEGRAPH To THE TE1BrNF.I
Kansas City, Mo. July 3-Ex-senator David
b Hilrs pre-Convention trip 10 Lincoln seems
to have proved vertabIe expedition 10 Mos
COW Flushed with the idea thar the money
plank he had drawn for the Democratic state
Convention in New-York embodied just those
hair splitting concessions which Western lead
ers would see the necessity of making 10 senst-
tive Eastern sentiment. he confidently invaded
win MS compromise proposals the very citadel
OF free coinage fanaticisn, Mr. Bryau's clear
ing house for political vagaries at the Nebraska
capital His encounter with the partv's pros
pectIve Presidential candidate ended as was an
nounced in these dispatches yesterday. in an
absolute rebIn. Colonel Bryan insisted in
terms which admitted no softenins or miscon-
struction, that any attempted evasion OF the
free coinage issue would justly discredit and
dlshonOr his own candidacy for the Presidency
and cloud whatever prospect he now had OF
election To all appeals based on the political
expediency of a new and less radical treatment
of the silver question Mr. Hill found Colonel
Bryan perplexingly Indifferent. and after four
or five hours of argument he was forced to re-
treat to Kansas City with no greater comfort
than the assurance that he was free TO exert
what pressure he might there among the dele
gates 10 secure possible modification or shad-
ing of the platform demand for the rehabilita-
tion of silver as standard money.
EFFECT OF HILLS REBUFF.
Hardly. however. had Mr. Hill reached this
city again when the fatal consequences OF the
reverse he had suffered at Lincoln began to be
apparent. The various Democratic leaders with
whose secret sympathy he made the effort to
force modification of the silver plank on Colo
/ mel Bryan had been forewarned OF his failure
and Immediately set out 10 divest themselves OF
all respOns; btity for his Journey Senator JONES'
of Arkansas. and Ex-Governor Stone of Missouri.
the chairman and the vice-chairman OF the
. Democratic National Committee. at once issued
| interviews repudiating the idea that they had
any part in inspiring the demand for compro-
mise which Mr.. Hill carried 10 Lincoln. The
indiana Illinois and Wisconsin leaders made
similar disclaimers They had, according to
| their owE statements. never wavered for a
minute in their loyalty to the paramount de-
mand on which Colonel Bryan had made his
memorable first run for the Presidency In the
/ New-Tor!l delegation itself it was known that
| Mr.. Croker had not at any time sympathized
/ with the effort 70 drive Colonel Bryan into
| embarrassing surrender So that after care
! ful review of the forces at his command to
/ carry into the Convention his controversy with
the prospective head of the ticket. 8Ir Hin this
! morning found himself assured OF the support
| OF practically only handful of delegates The
/ PenrsvIvauiqus two of whose spokesmen. ex-
( Representatives Kerr and NutchIer. had made
similar fruitess visit TO Lincoln, stiu bent
| on taking an appeal TO the Judgment of the
Convention. Maryland was openly pledged TO
| aid in any movement to rid the platform OF a
/ Is 10 l declaration. In West Virginia. Della
| ware. louisiana and Iowa there was some scat
! terms, sentiment in favor of fighting for more
/ uCderata silver plank; but. virtually, the Goa
/ Htion which 1Ir Hill had expected TO ind sup
! Iorting his programme and acknowledging his
J leadership had been scattered TO the winds at a
word from the all powerful party autocrat at
Lincoln.
DISASTER OVERWHELMS HILL
But. like another MOSCOW, Mr.. HilTs retreat
was to be marked by even more staggering dis
asters This morning he had awakened TO find
the forces he had planned 10 lead in the Con-
vertion dispersed and demOralized. By noon
he discovered that even his title TO leadership
was to be wrested from him. IL was Mr.. HilIs
purpose TO represent New-Yor1 on the ResolU-
tions Committee and TO prepare and advocate
before the Convention a substitute platform II
beaten in the sittings of the committee. He had
not doubted that the State would respect his
wish to speak for Eastern sentiment. both in the