The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-01
SOME LOOK FOR CONTEST
Towne, Shively and Sulzer Have Ar.
rived in Kansas City.
sHlvELY SAYS HE is NOT A CANDIDATE
His Friend Says His Name Will be Presented
by Indiana. Talk Of Nominating Bryan
on The Fourth Renewed. Rush.
Ct Preparation.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press.)
Kansas City, No. June 30.-There is a
constant bang, bang of hammer rasping
of saws, shouting of orders and rushing
of feet, day and night, at the big hall
where the Democratic National Conven-
tion is to lie held. AS fast as one por-
tion of the structure is finished, the dec
orators pounce upon it with bolts of
bunting; flags and pictures of Democratic
leaders. set in the nationa! coats OF
arms, cover up the walls and spaces so
that the delegates who assemble on the
Fourth will see all the colors and en-
blems of the holiday, coupled with evil
dences of a Democratic celebration. Some
fears are expressed by new arrivals re-
garding the possible failure to have the
hall ready in time, but the genuine West
ern push and energy, characteristic Of
Kansas City, encourage the belief that
everything will be ready when Chairman
Jones of the National Committee calls the
convention to order next Wednesday at
noon.
Delegates are dropping in from differ
ent sections and the meeting Of the Sub
Committee on Convention Arrangements
attracted quite knot of men about the
National Committee headquarters. AS on
Friday the most interestins topic, and
that which gives the Democrats, = the
most concern, is the promised con- st
over the is to / plank of the platform.
The utterances of men like National
Chairman Jones, William j. Stone and
other Western and Southern leaders, to-
gether with the action of Western and
Southern Democratic State Conventions
in their platforms, would seem to indicate
that a simple reaffirmation of the Chi
cago platform is all that would be neces-
sary Such action under ordinary cir
cumstances would be apt to be accepted
as the probable action of the National
Convention, but the representatives from
Lincoln indicate that 16 to 1 must be
specifically declared, if the views of Mr..
Bryan are to be followed. There are so
many delegates who desire to carry cut
the wishes of the coming nominee that
the clash between them and those holding
different views is likely to be spirited,
and the result somewhat doubtful
Chairman Jones said that the declaration
on silver should not vary the breadth OF
hair from that contained in the Chicago
platform, and he thinks a reaffirmation
is sufficient. The breadth of hair, how
ever, is still too wide for some and they
favor splitting the hair, especially If the
Chicago platform is to be the test. The
extreme silver men say that ''reaffirma-
tion will be a concession" Gold men and
others who have returned to the party
say such a concession is sufficient. So
the hair that Senator Jones spoke about
seems to be wide enough to cause a
lively contest when the platform is under
consideration.
There are some other features of the
platform that may not be agreed upon
at once-expansion, the present Chinese
situation and the Occur dAlene riots.
But the differences over these can be
readily adjusted. as they are either fore
ordained or susceptible of manipulation
by the platform experts.
Three Vice Presidential possibilities
! came in today--the Chairman of the Sill
yer Republican Committee, who was
named by the Populists for Vice. Presi-
dent, Charles A. Towne: BENJAMIN r.
Shively, ex-member of Congress from In
diana. and William Sulzer. member of
Congress from New York.
The latter arrived late in the evening,
after spending a day or two at Lincoln,
where he had been comforting with Mr..
Bryan. Mr.. Towne modestly outlined the
reasons which prompted him to be can
didate. Mr.. Shively said he was not a
candidate, while his friends declared that
he would be presented by Indiana.
No one is yet ready to hazard predic-
tion that anyone of these men will be
selected.
The arrival of these candidates created
talk and speculation. but neither they
nor anyone else can now guess how
many votes any one of them will receive.
There has been a renewal of the talk
about nominating Mr.. BRYAN on the
Fourth of July, and night session of the
convention has been suggested in order
20 accomplish this. 1t is even said that
he may be nominated before the plat
form is adopted, but many are doing
what they can to discourage the proceed
ing, declaring that it will be crowding
sentiment too far to depart from the
regular and orderly procedure of the con-
vention.
There is yet uncertainty as to whether
Mr. Bryan will come to Kansas City
after the convention makes the nomina-
ti0n. No one now here is authorized to
speak for him. 1t has been said that
the convention can conclude all it's BUSH