The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-07-03
Kansas City Convention Must
Adopt l6 to | Plank.
yICE-PRESIDENTIAL MIDDLE
Nebraska Delegates State That Towne Is
Bgan's FGyohte Because He Stands
sOIIdy tor White Metal Dave IiHrs
chauces Go GIimmerIng.

KANSAS CITY. July 2.-The throb
and thrill Of great national assem-
blage Is beginning to take possession
Of this young queen ,ity Of the south
west. Throughout the day there has
been the steady tramp. tramp, OF incom-
ing thousands. by every train.
Among the days arrivals are many
Of the interesting figures Of the party,
including Oldham, OF Nebraska, who
viii make the speech placing Bryan
in nomination; Hill. OF New York; Per-
ry Belmont. Of New York; Teller. Of
Colorado: Senator Money. Of Mlssissip-
pi. Senators Allen, HeitfeIdt and Har-
ris are here to aid the cause OF Towne.
Arthur sewall. the Maine ship-build-
er. who ran with Bryan four years
ago; Senator Pettigrew; Senator wiz
liam A Clark. Of Montana. with two
bands and an abundance Of enthus-
iasm.
Aside from the formal proceedings,
the day has many developments ana
some surprises in the general situa-
tion. The dominating influence Of
Bryan over the convention has been
made manifest causing some concern
and just little rebellion In some quar-
tiers. 1t is not by any authoritative
or formal words or actions by him that
this influence is exerted, nut in ways
none the less effective. It's import
anee. however, has not been so much
in disclosing how strong a hand Bry-
an holds on the conventions course
as in showing that there is little like-
lihood Of modification or dilution Of
the silver plank.
The arrival OF the Nebraska delega-
tion. fresh from conference with its
leader. was mainly instrumental in
showing Bryan's attitude. They were
hardly of the cars before they met in
caucus and form lily put forward their
declaration Of principles. This ex-
pressed unalterable opposition 10 any
surrender Of the principle Of bimetal-
ism, and demand for a financial
plank making a specific for free and
unlimited coinage Of gold and silver
at the ratio Of Is TO /, independently. OF
what any other nation may do. The
resolution was accepted as little short
OF notice TO the other delegations as
to the sentiment of men very near to
Bryan. Some Of them had just left
him. and Judge Tibbets. head of the
delegates-at-large. dined with Bryan
and Governor Hill at Lincoln last night.
THE platform must be straight out
for le to l. There is no question as
to that" said Judge Tibbets.
Judge TiLbets said that it had been
accepted as positive that Bryan would
not be a candidate unless the plat
form contained specific declaration
in favor of silver at 16 to 1.
The return Of Senator Hill from Lin
coin without any tangible result which
he was willing to disclose. made II
plain that his conference with Bryan
at Lincoln had come TO naught. and 1t
served also to emphasize the general
feeling that Bryan would not toler-
ate any temporizing on the platform.
The vice-presidential situation has
not cleared up in the air today and
tonight, apparently, Is as much in
doubt as when the delegates to the
Democratic convention were
elected.
There was shifting of the scene to-
day when Benjamin Shively Of Indi-
ana, was taken out Of the race by his
own emphatic statement. AS the con-
test stands. after Shively's retirement.
the two leading candidates seem to be
Charles A. Towne and William Sui
zer, with some man from New York
like Judge Van Wyck or Elliatt Dan
forth as a possibility under certain
The fact is that the vice-presiden-
Eial situation is interviewer with the
platform. If there is a simple reaf-
firmation of the Chicago platform some
New York man may be selected for
vice president in the hope that he viii
assist in carrying that state. II there
Is a specific declaration for 16 to /. then
Towne may be male Bryan's running
mate. 1t is pointed out as not quite
that convention which
would refuse to make specific decla-
ration for 16 to l, with a view Of carry
ing some Eastern states. would nomi-
nate Towne, who left the Republican
party solely on the ground Of his at
tachment to silver. 1t is conceded by
al the Democratic leaders that Townes
strength IS in the West, ana on the
silver platform, and that he would not
be strong in the East on modified
platform.
While 1t is not certain that Towne