Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-07-04
IRIPARTITE CONFERENcE.
The Fusionists Decide That Platform Shall
Declare Tor Is 10 I.

Kansas City. July "a conference Of
Kansas City Club, today From the Dem
ocratic party there were Jones of Arkan-
sas. Tillman of South Carolina, Croker
the Populists there were Edmonston OF
Nebraska. Weaver OF Iowa. Pettigrew OF
South Dakota. Allen of Nebraska. and
Heitfeld of idaho; and of the Silver Re
publicans there were Teller of Colorado,
Dubois of Idaho. Newland of Nevada.
There were other representatives of the
different parties present. The object OF
the meeting was to form the basis of an
agreement between the three allied par
ties as to Vice Presidential candidate.
The conference settled as definitely as
it was possible for few representative
men to settle anything in advance, that
the platform should contain positive
and specific declaration for free coinage
at is to /. but there was no equally posi-
tive development in the settlement of the
Vice Presidential situation. The meeting
lasted from II O'Clock until 1.i5 and was
marked with great earnestness. the en-
tire exchange of views was upon the two
questions of the financial plank of the
platform and the selection of man for
second place on the ticket. the latter
question receiving the greatest share Of
attention because it offered the most OBJ
stacles.
The Silver Republicans and Populists
were quite agreed in pressing the candi-
dacy of Mr.. Towne for the Vice Presi-
dency and also in urging the necessity
for a positive declaration on ratio. Some
Of the Democrats placed themselves in
the attitude of men whom 1t was neces-
sary to win over. All proved good listen
crS and some of them Volube takers.
ON the question of platform. Mr. Gro
ker of New York. said that he was also
willing that the declaration for IL to l
should be made specific Mr.. Croker eX-
pressed the opinion that the New York
Democrats would vote for Bryan regard
less of the platform declarations. Asked
if he considered that there was any
Il til
platform. he replied that there was no
certainty: that the probabilities We're in
the opposite direction but that it was I'M
possible to say at this date what effect
tine injection of the new ISSUES OF the past
few years would have upon the result
There was It very spirited talk over the
Vice Presidency. in which all participated
more or less. Mr. Clayton of Alabama
held out Strenuously for a Democrat, "a
man who had the Democratic brand upon
him" He said that Mr.. Bryan himself
represented sufficiently the Populistic or
Northwestern idea and he thought no
concession should be made in the Vice
Presidential nomination. Senator Petit
grew and others of the non-Democratic
conferees replied tartly to this speech.
Former Senator Dubois asserted sarcas-
tically that the Democrats were raking
the earth to ind man with whom TO
beat Bryan. III that speech were made
to Mr.. Clayton's remarks, lit would mean
"a loss of 5000 votes to the ticket He
proceeded to say that if the Popuists had
not unselfshly united with the Democrats
in 1896 the latter would have been over
whelmed. and he added that If their aid
was not secured in 1890 there would be a
still greater disaster.
Senator Tillman of South Carolina also
made a spirited speech in TOwne's behalf.
sa wing that he would add strength to the
ticket where votes were needed. and that
it was time to have done with the non
sense that man had to be branded be-
,re he could be accepted. He said the
Silver Republicans had left the feast of
heir own party when the table was
81 read. and added that he believed the
Democrats owed them every considera-
ton.
Mr.. Croker said he had no candidate
for the Vice Presidency and that he did
not consider that the concession OF this
point to New York would insure the state.