The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-01
BUSY DAY AND NIGHT
KANSAS CITY TRYING TO FINISH
THE CONVENTION HALL.
DELEGATES ARE ARRIVING.
SILVER PLANK is BEING EARNEST
LY DISCUSSED.

Many Want Specific Reaff1rma ton
of the 10 to 1 PIank-Struggle Over
This Point May Prove Very Inter
esting-Bryan's Running Mate Can
No Man Safely Prcdict--Aspirants
for the Honor Appear on the
Scene.
Kansas City, June 30.-There is a con-
slant bang, bang of hammer rasplng OF
saws, shouting of orders and rushing of
feet day and night, at the big hall where
the Democratic National Convention is to
be held. AS fast as one portion of the
structure is finished, the decorators pounce
upon it, and with bolts of hunting. nags
pictures of Democratic leaders, set in the
national coats of arms, cover up the walls
and spaces so that the delegates who as
semble on the Fourth will see all the col
ors and emblems of the holiday, coupled
with evidences of a Democratic celebra-
tion.
Fears are expressed by new arrivals re-
garding the possible failure to have the
hall ready in time, but the genuine Wes-
tern push and energy, characteristic of
Kansas City, encourages the belief that
everything will be ready when chairman
Jones of the National Committee calls the
convention to order at noon next Wed
nesday.
The decorations on the outside of the
state delegation headquarters are not yet
in place, save in a few instances. and only
building here and there is ornamented
with flags, but by Monday there will be
a great change in their appearances. AS
it rains here nearly every day and night
at this season, decorations would soon be
dishgured, and they are therefore being
saved in order that they may be fresh
when the delegates come
About the hotels, however, there is al
ready briskness and moving throngs of
familiar convention faces. number of
old-line Democrats, who have been going
to conventions for years. and the younger
men who belong to the new Democracy"
have arrived and taken up the work in
hand. Several boomers for vice presiden-
tial candidates have come in and are MAX
ing considerable noise. Delegates are
dropping in from different states, and the
meeting OF the Subcommittee on Conven-
ton arrangements attracted quite knot
Of men about the National Committee
headquarters.
Hair Seems Wide.
AS on Friday the most interesting
topic and that which gives the Demo-
Gratis here the most concern, is the prom
ised contest over the 16-to-l plank Of she
platform. The utteranees u men like
National Chairman Jones, William j.
Stone and other Western and Southern
leaders, together with the action of west
ern and Southern Democrats in their plat
forms, would seem to Indicate that a sim
pie reaffirmation of the Chicago plat
form is all that would be necessary Such
action, under ordinary circumstances,
would be apt to be accepted as the prob
able action of the National Convention,
but the Representatives from Lincoln In
dicate that l6 to 1 must be specifically de-
elared If the views of Mr.. Bryan are to
be followed.
There are so many delegates. who de-
sire to carry out the wishes of the COM
.ng nominee that the clash between them
and those holding different views is like
ly to be spirited and the results some
what doubtful. Chairman Jones said
that the declaration on silver
should not vary the breadth
of hair from that contained
in the Chicago platform, and he thinks
reaffirmation is sufficient. The breadth
Of a hair, however, is still too wide for
scme. and they favor splitting the hair,
especially If the Chicago platform is TO
be the test. The extreme silver men in
sist that "a reaff1rmation will be a con-
cession." Gold men and others who have
returned to the party say such a conces-
sion is sufficient. SO the hair that Sena-
tor Jones spoke about seems 10 be wide
enough to cause a lively contest when
the platform is under consideration.
There are some other features OF the
platform that may not be agreed upon at
h. -4k
uation and the Coeur d'Alene riots. But
the differences over these can be readily
adjusted as they are either foreordained
or susceptible of manipulation by the
platform experts.
Thr vice presidential possibilities came
In to-day-the chairman of the silver Re
publican committee. who was named by
the Populists for Vice President, Charles
A. Towne; BENJAMIN r. Shtvely, ex-Con-
gressman from Indiana, and William
Sulzer. member of Congress from New
York. The latter arrived late in the even
ing after spending day or two at Lin
coln where he had been comforting with
Mr. Bryan Mr.. Towne modestly outlined
the rea sons which prompted him to be
a candida e. Mr.. Shively said he was not
a candidate, while his friends declared
that he would be presented by Indiana.
No one is yet ready to hazard a pre-
diction that any one OF these men will he
selected. The arrival OF these candi-
dates created talk and speculation, but
neither they nor any one else can now
even guess how many votes any one of
them Will receive.
There has been renewal of the talk about
nominating Mr.. Bryan on the Fourth Il
July and a night session Of the convention
has been suggested In order 40 accomplish
this. 1t is even said that he may be NOM
mated before the pia form is adopted, but
many are doing what they can to discour-
age the proceeding. declaring that 1t will
be crowding sentiment too far to depart
from the regular and orderly procedure
Of the convention.
want a speech From Bryan.
There is yet uncertainty as to whether
Mr.. Bryan will come TO Kansas City after
the convention makes the nomination. No
one now here Is authorized TO speak for
him. 1t has been said that the convention
can conclude all its business in two days,
and that the third day can be devoted to
giving q reception 10 Mr.. Bryan and lis
tening to a speech from him. This would
be an attractive programme, especially
for Kansas City. as the appearance OF
Mr.. Bryan would doubtless attract as
many people as the opening day.
Although the National Committee has
taken no action, there has been a great
deal Of correspondence and consultation
among lfscers everywhere on the subject
OF presiding officers, and the understand
ing is that Mayor Rose OF Mlwaukes will
4. ~ &c. cb