The Meeker herald., 1900-07-07
DEMOCRATIC HOSTS
AT KANSAS CITY.
The Exact Wording of the Silver Plank
Not Yet Agreed Upon.

importance, 8u0 says NC IeelA cOuuueut
that the New England delegates are
practically solid In that position. ''The
free coinage of silver at the ratio of
10 to ! was the tOuchstOne of the coll
vention In 1896" he said to-day, "and
it's Federation will add strength to the
cause In the coming campaign"
James Kerr, delegate-at-larHe from
Pennsylvania and secretary Of the
congressional campaign committee.
takes Q somewhat different view, but
he would not stop at q mere DECLARE
ton for the Chicago platform. He
necessary to add something to what
was said on trusts In 1895, and he says
to make an additional plank on that
subject and not to make 1t on the H.
nances would be considered as lnvid-
GUS, and would result inJuriously. He
would, however, not use the phrase 10
to 1, but would declare for free coin.
age at "the legal ratio"
1t IL expected that the Silver Reppl,-
lican party will ask to be consulted up
on the question Of the financial plank.
The representatives OF that party al
ready here express a strong preference
for . positive declaration for the old
ratio. 1--WE want 10 to l." said former
Senator Dubois of Idaho to-day, but
II they will put Towne on the ticket
with Bryan we will be willing to make
concessions on the money plank.
II, however, such q man a. Hill Is
to be nominated, we want an lron-clad
silver platform. "Thus you see," the
ex-senator added, 1.-THE personality OF
the vice presidential candidate may
have a decided influence upon the plat.
form and vice persa- Bryan and
Towne would be a platform 10 them
selves"
Mr.. Bryan's position as outlined by
those close in touch with him is this:
He holds that the popularity of the
Democratic ticket In 1896 was due
largely to the positive position taken OH
the silver question, and that to take II
backward step at this time would be
an eveidence Of fsltering and would
weaken the ticket in its own strong
holds without strengthening 1t where
there is no hope of winning. He even
goes SO far as to say that he regards
the platform as of more Importance
than the ticket.
He thinks also II he should take any
other position, he would be accused OF
vaccilation, and that, In short, every
things is to be lost by making change
while nothing Is to be gained BY it.
Those who agree with Mr.. Bryan on
this point contend that there Is 10 pos
sibility of his changing front before
the time arrives for the party's official
declaration, and they consider pre-
posterous that the convention SHOULD
disregard his wishes on this loini.
Hence they contend with great fonfi-
dence that whether the Chicago lplat-
form 10 reaffirmed or not there viii he
an unequiv0cal pronouncement for the
old ratio.
For the rest, the resolutions will de-
nounce the gold standard and the Porto
Rican' Legislation of the last session OF
Congress. 1t will condemn trusts in
unmeasured terms and at the same
time accuse the Republican party OF
fostering and maintaining them. The
administration will come in for strong
censure for its policy in the Philip
pines, and 1t will recommend that the
Philippine archipelago be placed on the
same footing as Cuba. In the same
connection there Will be planks de-
nouncing milltarism and Imperialism.
and there will also be planks on the In
come tax, good roads, civil service.
pensions. ETC., and a strong resolution
of sympathy with the Beers. a