North Park union., 1900-07-20

f~ IN
Kansas City, July Amid scenes Of
tumultous enthusiasm bentting such an
| event and such a day, the Democratic
national convention began Its sessions
to-day. But after sitting until . Late
hour tonight, the expected climax OF
the day-the nomination OF william J.
Bryan as the Democratic candidate for
PresIdent-has failed of realization,
and all OF the large business Of the
| convention awaits the completion OF
| the platform.
As q spectacular event, however. the
| convention has fulfilled the hopes OF
the most fervid party man, for the VAST
assemblage Of spectators and delegates
has twice been swept with whirlwino
| demonstrations, first for the leader who
IL about to be placed In nomination,
and then for that other champion OF
Democracy, David B. Hin. But In &C
tual accomplishment the days work 10
confined to organization, VITA the
speeches of the temporary chairman,
Governor Thomas Of Colorado. and the
permanent chairman, Hon. James u.
Richardson. the appointment OF the va
rious committees and the detailed pre-
R3EutlOhB AOE kuC AA1oAC eSAAOSS
yet in store.
The contest over the question Of the
monetary ratio. which has been brew
ing ever since the delegates to the con-
vention began to assemble, found ex-
preston In the committee on ,resolu-
tions when II assembled to-day. Sen
ator Jones of Arkansas was unehl-
mously chosen chairman and Mr.. Met
calf OF Nebraska secretary.
Mr.. Metcalf presented the draft OF q
platform, covering all questions OF pub
lie Interest, which draft all the men,
bers accepted as Mr.. Bryan's express.
sion upon this question. Mr.. Girard OF
Georgia also presented q platform az
did Mr.. Van Wyck Of New YORK. All
took practically the snme ground on
all questions except that OF the
finances.
Mr., MetcaEs declaration was for the
reafirmation Of the Chicago platform
in letter and spirit, and It emphasized
and reiterated. specifically the declara.
| tion for the free coinage Of silver AZ
| the ratio OF 18 to /. Both the other
drafts simply reafirmed the Chicago
platform, without reference to the IA
ito.
The reading Of Mr.. Van Wyck's doc
ument brought Mr.. Ball Of Texas to
his feet with the suESestion that the
financial question should be immedi-
ately taken up and passed upon. He
said 1t was apparent to all there was
| NO division upon any other platform
| question and that with the financial
plank disposed Of the preparation Of
the remainder Of the platform would
be merely matter Of clerical work.
This suggestion was adopted. and the
committee Immediately entered upon
the effort to settle the question OF ratio.
statement, saying that while In his plat
form he had referred to four issues
a. prominent, namely, those Of imper-
ialism. 1niiitarism. trusts and the d.
nances, he considered that only three
| Of these were OF current consequence,
believing the money question had been
crowded into the background by other
| subjects which had pressed TO the front
during the last four years.
Senator Daniel, OF Virginia, some
what to the surprise Of some members
| Of the committee, followed Mr.. Van
Wyck in support Of his views Of the
| question. The senator said that no man
who knew him would doubt for min
| ute that he now stood where he had
stood on the silver question in '96, and
he entertained precisely the same
views ON this subject which then con-
trolled him. He was, however, anx-
ious to bring back into the fold Of the
party those who had left 1t four years
ago on account OF the position taken
on the silver question: and II this could
be accomplished, as he believed 1t
| whatever to the ratio, he, for one, was
content to ospursue that course, simply
reafhrming the Chicago platform.
Mr.. Fitzgerald Of Colorado followed
In a warm speech. denounclng in most
emphatic language any effort to mini
mixe the financial question. He assert
I'd that the omission Of a declaration
| on ratio of the two metals would be q
mere evasion and cOncealment; that
suci eN9slon would not get any one or
catch any OF the goid-standard people
whom It was meant to entrap. 1t was
only meant to be construed as q silver
plank In one section of the country, and
an anti-silver plank In another. Such
| q course as this would fall to satisfy
the people Of all secttpns. ,s
"If," he said. "Mr. Bryan Is Q good
enough platform. then fAesplatform ap-
proved by him should be COED enough =
He declared II was essential that
there should be q declaration for the
ratio In clear and unmistakabIe terms.
and he followed this up with the asser-
ton that II such declaration was not
made even Colorado could be counted
a. doubtful state, with 3 prospect of
not only casting it, electosal vote for
Mckinley as president, but Of sending
Mr.. Wolcott back to the United States
Senate. q
George Fred Williams Of Massachu-
setts also made spirited argument for
4 specific declaration ON the question
Of ratio.
He asserted that the Democratic par
ty had become new party since 1t had
Incorporated the financial question In
Its declaration Of principles. 1t had be-
come vlrile and live party since 1906,
and this fact was due solely to the cir
cumstances that the money question,
which was the question Of the people,
had been made the paramount Issue.
Representative Newlauds of Nevada
declared in favor OF 4 specific declAra-
ton for 16 to /. Ex-Governor Stone of
Missouri Indicated that his judgment
Was opposed to q specific declaration
fer 16 to 1.Sbut he said II was evident
fkat NJ. Bryan was favorable to such
Asdecaarasion ard be would, therefore;,
supooxts de psOposltion. Nj. Bald.