The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-07-05
MEMBERS OF THE RESOLUTIONS
COMMITTEE CANNOT AGREE
UPON FINANCIAL PLANK
CONSERVATIVES ARE STRONG
Surprise Sixteen to One Advocates,
Who Are Anxious to Settle
Controversy Of Con-
ventiOn Floor.


semble, found expression in the COM
m1ttee on resolutions when it assembled
To-Day. The committee was called to-
gether soon after the first adjournment
or the convention, but then only elected
ITS ofncers, adjourning to meet again at
5'30 p. m. Senator Jones, of Arkansas,
was unanimously chosen chairman, and
Mr.. Metcalf, of Nebraska, secretary.
When the committee reassembled Mr..
Metcalt presented the draft of a plat
form covering all questions Of public in
terest, which draft all the members ac-
cepted as Mr.. Bryan's expression upon
this question.
Mr.. Girard, of Georgia, also presented a
platform, as did Mr.. Van Wyck, of New
York All these documents took practi-
cally the same ground upon all questions
except that Of the finances. Mr.. Met
calf's declaration was for the reaffirma-
ton of the Chicago platform in letter
and spirit, and it emphasized and reiter-
ated specifically the declaration for the
free coinage of silver at the ratio of
16 to l. Both the other drafts simply
reaffirmed the Chicago platform without
reference to the ratio.
The reading of Mr.. Van Wyck's docu-
ment brought Mr.. Ball, of Texas, to his
feet with the suggestion that the finan-
cial question should be Immediately taken
up and passed upon. He said it was
apparent to all that there was no divi-
sion upon any other platform question,
and that with the financial plank dis
posed Of, the preparation of the remain
der of the platform would be merely a
matter of clerical work.
This suggestion was adopted and the
committee Immediately entered upon the
effort to settle the financial question. The
session proved a Very interesting one,
and many speeches were made. Mr.. Van
Wyck led off with q brief statement, de-
claring that while in his platform he had
referred TO four issues as prominent,
namely, those. of imperialism, militariSm,
trusts and the finances, he considered
that only three of these were of current
| consequence, believing that the money
question had been crowded into the back
ground by other subjects which had
pressed to the front during the past four
years.
SOMEWHAT. A SURPRISE.
Senator Daniel, of Virginia, somewhat
to the surprise of some of the members
of the committee, followed Mr.. Van
Wyck in support Of his view of the ques-
tion. The senate said that no man who
knew him would doubt for a minute that
he now stood where he had stood on the
financial question in 1896, and that he en-
tertained precisely the same views on
| this subject which then controlled him.
He was anxious to bring back into the
fold of the party those who had left it
four, years ago on account Of the position
taken on the silver question, and If this
could be accomplished, as he believed it
could be, by emitting all reference to the
ratio, he for one was content to pursue
that course, simply reaffirming the Chi
cago platform.
Mr.. FITZGERALD, Of Colorado, followed in
a firm speech, denouncing in most en-
phatic1 language any effort ito, minimize
the financial question. He asserted that
the omission of a declaration ON ratio of
the two metals would be a mere evasion
and concealment; that such evasion
would fool no one, nor catch any of the
gold standard people, whom it was
meant to entrap. It was only meant to
be construed as a silver plank in one sec
ton of the country and as an anti-silver
plank in another. Such course as this
would fail to satisfy the people of all
sections
If he said referring to the platform,
presented by Mr.. Metcalf, "Mr Bryan is
a good enough platform, then the plat
form approved by him should be good
enough
He declared it was essential that there
should be a declaration for the ratio in
clear and unmistakable terms, and he
followed this up with the assertion that if
such declaration was not made even
Colorado could be counted a doubtful
state with a prospect of not only casting
its electoral vote for Mckinley as presi-
dent, but of sending Mr.. Wolcott back to
the United States senate.
SPIRITED ARGUMENT.
George Fred Williams, of Massachu-
sets, also made spirited argument for
specific declaration on the question Of
ratio. He asserted that the Democratic
party had become a new party since it
had incorporated the financial question
into its declaration Of principles. 1t had
become a Virile and live party since 1886,
and this fact was due solely to the cir
cumstances that the money question had
been made the paramount issue He
eulogized Mr.. Bryan in high terms, spoke
of his self-abnegation and patriotism,
and said that it would be coWardly to
ask that gentleman to recant what he
had beeh preaching throughout the coun-
try for the past four years. Mr.. Bryan
had gone up and down the nation preach
ing bimetallism at the ratio of 16 to 1,
and no Democrat had presumed for a
moment to question his authority for
such declaration or to pretend that he
was in any wise disappearing the
sentiment of his party. 1t was in his
Bryans course, and a failure to make
positive the pronouncement on this ques-
ton would amount to this. While not
pretending to say what Mr. Bryan would
do, Mr.. Williams asserted significantly
and plainly that if placed In Mr. Bryan's
position he would decline nomination
upon an equivocal platform. AS for him
self he did not believe in deserving those
people who had left their own parties to
10 Of fo11y
years ago for the purpose of regaining
the support of the traitors and trimmers
who had left the Democratic party be-
cause of It's financial position.
There is no reason he exclaimed,
for making any concession to treason"
Continuing, he asked: Are we going
to drive the Populists into the middle
of-the-road in order to get back these
traitors? Are we going to sell out our
principles to the tories of the Democratic
party and desertt=our real friends?'
He predicted that If this course was
to be pursued tbs trusts would take COM
plete possession of the Democratic party
as thev had already taken possession of
the Republican party, and in that event
there would no longer be any means Of
redress for the plain people.
PLEA FOR CONSERVATISM
Mr.. Williams. was frequently applauded
during his remarks. He was followed by
Mr.. DAILY, of New Jersey, who made a
plea for conservatism, and for conces-
sions to the moderate wing of the party
He said that he had cheerfully supported
the platform andh ticket of four years ago
and had StuInped the country for Mr..
Bryan, but he felt convinced that the
time had come. when the money question
was no longer paramount, and he i'm
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