Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-07-05

Sonth Carolina, Fen nessee, 'ah, YER
mont, Washington, Wyoming, Hawaii,
Oklahoma Territory, Inr,An Territory.
Nsys-Californis, Delaware, Florida,
Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, LOuisians,
Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mis-
sssippi, New Hampshire, New York.
New Jersey, North Carolina, Ooio,
Pennsy lvania, Rhode Island, South
d ,kots, Texas, Virginia, West Vir-
s,nia, Wis consiU and Alaska.
There will be minority report to
the convention against specific decla'
ration for 16 to and it ia expected the
debate on the question will occupy
yearly, if not quite, all of t0day's ses-
sion. After the announcement tele'
gram was sent to Bryan announcing the
outcome.
The fight which will 60 down In the
history OF national democracy as one o.
the most interesting and exciting ever
carried on, began at 3 p. m. Wednes
day. A platform with q defined silver
plank was read ss having been pre-
pared by Bryan himself. Gerard, Of
Georgia, offered a substitute simply re-
affirming the Chicago platform, and thu
struggle was on, which resulted al
| mentioned above.
There is no doubt that there will be
. minority report against 16 to l spe
cific plank and one of the most bittel
fights il the history of national conven
tions in this country is expected on the
floor of the convention.
Delegates who favor simple real
frmation of the Chicago platform with
| out specific Is to plank are wrought
up over the fact that the victory of the
radio Il free silverites in the resolutions
committee was won with the aid OF the
votes OF territories. All the southern
states, with the exception of South
Carolina, warmly favored conservative
course. Delegates by the score said
this morning that the result in commit
zee was made possible by the union o.
forces that cannot furnish electoral
votes. The territories have none and
he democrats do net figure upon carry
ing any of the New England states
Most of the members of the committee
from the New England states are az
rabid silver advocates as those from
Colorado, Montana, Idaho, and Wyom-
ing.
All the last mentioned states put to-
gether have not as many ELECTORAL votes
as Indiana. AS delegate from Texas
expressed it this morning: "The CON-
mittee In order to ride a hobby seems to
be trying to please few small states
and the territories, aud throw away
every chance the party has in Indiana,
Illinois, Ohio and New jersey" The
general opinion ia that there 10 bound
to be a fight in the convention over the
platform.
Richard Croker sent word to Sena-
tor Jones, chairman of the resolutions
committee, this morning that New
Yerk's u votes In the event of fight
would stand by the 16 to plank.
The conservatives are threatening
dire vengeance on Jones. They say
thew will beat him for chair man of the
national committee If they can. "We'll
give them Tom Taggart. of 1ndiaDapo-
lis, if possible" said Congressman Daily,
of New Jersey.
The committee on resolutions mt
again at 1890 a. m. and the sub-com-
mittee reported the platform. At noon
number Of changes had been made.
A fierce fight led by Dsly of New Jer-
Esey was made to force declaration on
the main issue. This was done. Impe-
rialism was declared to be the main is
sue. This has done much to encourage
the conservatives and practically assures
that there will be no minority report.
"While the other Issues are VITAL" the
edited platform will say, in effect, "the
issue of imperialism strikes at the very
existence OF the republic" DAILY, Of
of Jersey, is jubilant. He says Is to
has been lost. At 12:45 the committee
recessed until $3.50 when the platform
committee will report.
Congressman Ball, who represented
Texas on the committee on resolutions,
was called upon at a caucus OF the lone
star state delegation this morning to
state Bryan's position on the silver
question as it was disclosed to the COM
mlttee.
His personal preference" said Mr..
Ball, sis for specific silver plank in ad-
dition to reaffirmatlon of tho Chicago
platform. The only official statement,
however, that was made to the commit
tee on behalf of Mr.. Bryan, was that
we should go ahead and make plat
form of our consciences."
D .ly of New Jersey is jubilsnt. He
says 16 10 has lost its force aud that
imperialism beyond a doubt has been
declared the paramount issue. The
new platform reaffirms the principles of
the Chicago platform, but beyond that
is rewritten in every plank, including,
of course, the 16 to plank.