The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-06
A SPECIFIC DECLARATION
Radicals Carry the Day in the
Resolutions Committee.
of 10 to 1 Win Only After
MIR. bryan Announces by Tele-
Ratio He Cannot Accept the Nomi-
nation - Senator TiIlman's Part.

KANSAS CITY, July 5.-For twenty-fou,
hours. beginning at O'Clock yesterda,
afternoon. with but two intermissions ths
Committee on Resolutions fought the plat
form battle and when it was over the field
was in the possession of Bryan men, who
| put through in the face of determined
opposition plank declaring anew the ad-
| herence of the Democratic party to the
cause of the free coinage of silver at the
ratio of 16 to /. The financial plank was
the only one that was discussed for more
| than five minutes at any one time during
the protracted sessions Of the platform
committee, and the 16 to 1 men won only
| after Mr.. Bryan had told the committee
| c.7- the telephone from Lincoln that with
| out the declaration he could not stand as
the Democratic nominee
Then after making the free silver plank
the paramount subject Of discussion and
in fact the only subject OF controversy or
debate, the committee adopted a plank to
the effect that Imperialism should be the
paramount issue Of the campaign. Till
IN. Of South Carolina, the most radical
advocate in Kansas City for free silver
coinage. came to the front as sponsor fo,-
this and not only in the committee. but in
the Convention he read the platform with
great effect for the purpose of emphasizing.
to the country that Imperialism is to be
the paramount issue of the campaign.
Without declaration in favor Of
16 to 1 Bryan would not accept the NOM
iuation, and although there was a clear
majority OF the committee opposed to such
plank he forced its adoption. and the over
whelming Bryan sentiment of the Conven-
tion prevented the opposition presenting a
minority report and making fight on the
floor of the Convention under the leader
ship of David B. Hill. There were fifty
two members of the Committee on Reso-
lutions which drafted the platform, one
from each State and Territory of the
United States. Only fifty votes were cast,
however. Mr.. Norris. the member from the
District of Columbia. not being present and
Ex-Governor Hauser. the member from the
State of Montana. not voting. Both Of
these members were opposed to the 16 to
1 declaration. but Mr.. Hauser refrained
from voting against it because he is a
Bryan man and free silver man and op-
posed the declaration only because he
thinks it bad politics. Had Mr.. Norris been
present he would have voted against the
declaration. The vote was finally an
nounced Just before o'clock this
morning
The States which voted for IS to are as
follows:
Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado. Delaware. Idaho,
Iowa. Kansas, Kentucky. Maine: Massachusetts,,
Missouri. Nebraska, Nevada. New Hampshire,
North Dakota. South Carolina. Tennessee, Utah.
Vermont Washington Wyoming. Arizona InGian
Territory, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Hawaii. Total,
70.
The States voting against 16 to 1 were:
California. Connecticut, Florida. Georgia. Illi-
nois Indiana. Louisiana. Maryland, Michigan,
Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey New York.
Rhode Island. South Dakota. Texas. Virginia
West Virginia, Wisconsin, Alaska. Total, "a.
In the first bitterness of their defeat |
the opposition announced their determna
ton to present a minority report and |
make the fight against Bryan upon the |
floor of the Convention. st. Clair. OF West
Virginia was the leader OF this move
ment. but it was promptly nipped in the
bud by Van Wyck, of New York, who said
they should abide by tine decision of the
iz;:iittee and sign the majority re-
port. So the opposition frittered away in
the face Of sure defeat and the platform
went before the Convention by the unani-
nous vote OF the Committee on Resolu-
tions. AS read to the Convention there
were very few changes from the draft |
brought from Lincoln by Mr.. Metcaif. and
those chiefly typographical.
One paragraph was stricken out of the
platform at the very last minute before
i was read to the Convention as follows:
I'VE favor the expansion Of trade and
commerce by peaceable methods rather
than by force Of arms, and, therefore, !
the PanAmerican Exposition to
be held at the Niagara frontier in 1901. |
md the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in
1908 as practical means to increase trade |
1t home and 10 enlarge the markets
abroad"
Ex-senator Hill was displeased over the
'ote OF the Committee on Resolutions He
said at the Coates House before the Con-
'ention met:
''The fight on the platform will be car
led to the floor OF the Convention. TIE
,ction of the Resolutions Committee is not
conclusive. Why. just look at the list of
States that voted for is to 1 plank. 1t
includes States that never did bring an
electoral vote to the Democratic party. and
states with small delegations in the Con-
'ention.
Look at the list of States that voted
TO- Is not nearly every doubtful State |
n that column? Doesn't it include nearly
very State that is battle-ground. and the
|
here's Indiana for instance. and Michigan
nd New York. and Maryland and Ohio.
why. do you know. he continued, in
rather excited manner, that we car
led the conservative proposition by five ,
otes one time. and then they put UP the I
ry that Mr.. Bryan would not accept the
omination and then carried it by two
otes? Think of it. two votes, probably ,
laval and Oklahoma. two Territories
hat cannot give US an electoral vote de-
eat the will of the East and the entire
democracy. 1t is appalling The strong
st silver men are with US. Even Jones
with us. and has so declared but he is
ominated by Mr.. Bryan. Just as | am
pposed to Imperialism in a nation, so /
IN opposed to it in an individual. This is
Imperialism of the worst sort
Judge Van Wyck said:
II have made my fight for a conservative
latform in the committee and | have been
eaten. / do not intend to go back of the |
ommittee's decision
Ex-senator Murphy, Chairman OF the
lew York delegation. said
New York will vote as a unit for the
lajority report. The delegations from
reater New York. Erie Rensselaer,, AL
any, and Monroe are for 1t. That Is
Majority and We must abide by their de- |
ision."
When the Convention assembled Mr..
lurphy directed the secretary of the dele
alton, John N. Carlisle to take vote.
he vote was 80 to is in favor OF sustain
lg the majority report for specific dec :
.ration for free silver at 16 to l. Fifteen
I the delegates did not vote. r
Michigan's vote was unanimous in favor r
the majority report. National Commit y
,eman James NJ. Guffey of Pennsylvania
brogated the unit rule for the delegation
ON the keystone State and declared by