The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-03
ONE TOPIC UPPERhOSR
Specific Mention of Silver the ALL
Engrossing Thought.
other Pian;.s in the PIntfcrm in the
RacLEre @.en the Vice PreSi-
dents:'i 49,. Observation-Disclosures
tor Hin Defer. Making u Statement
Concerning His Trip to Lincoln.

KANSAS CITY, July 2.-As yet every
thing hero has been put into the back
ground save the one question, Shall the
platform contain a specific declaration in
favor of the free coinage of silver at the
ratio of Is 10 l?'' Until that is settled
other planks and even Vice Presidential
booms sink into insignifcance. 1t all rests
with Mr.. Bryan. That everyone admits.
No one can force upon this Convention
anything In opposition to Mr.. Bryan's wish
but what that wish is no one here can say.
1t is felt generally that he will insist on a
declaration in favor of silver at 16 to l.
No man tonight can foresee what is g.
! ing to be the outcome of these feelings
David b. Hill returned from his trip to
Lincoln at 1:30 this afternoon. Everybody
| knew just how Mr.. Hill stood before lie
went to Lincoln, and everybody knows just
where he stands tonight. He and all OF the
other New York Democrats stand upon tee
platform which was adopted by the Demo-
cratic State Convention nearly month ago
That called for reaffirmation OF the Chi
cago platform of 1896, and nothing more
Mr. Hill said this afternoon on his return
from Lincoln:
MIR. Bryan and ! made solemn COM
pact that we would not disclose what oc-
CURED between US. You know i am not
accustomed to breaking my word in my
dealings with public men. / have moth
ing to say at the moment. Yet l may say
something for publication tonight
MIR. Hill said at o'clock tonight that
he would defer any proposed publication
mil ton, h., .;.,t,, If,
not say anything. He wished to discuss
matters with some of the prominent Demo-
Gratis here before taking any step. 1t is
understood that Mr.. Bryan would not re-
cede one step from his demand for a spe-
cific mention of free silver at 16 to l in
the present platform, Just as 1t was in the
Chicago platform OF 1896
The first man to call on ex-senator Hill
after his return from Lincoln, was ex-
Governor Altgeld. Mr.. Altgeld Is not a
delegate, but he is a powerful factor in
Democratic politics of the Middle Western
States. Mr.. Altgeld had long talk with
Mr.. Hill and when he left Mr.. Hill his
face was -ather solemn. Mr.. Altgeld later
said:
81 have had very pleasant interview
with my friend, Mr. Hill. You know be.
lieve that the money plank in this platform
must be strong and explicit, or we will all
be destroyed. This is a very delicate sit
uation. We do not want to go to pieces in
| our own ranks. and we must not do any
| thing which will excite the ridlcule Of the
opposition. Again l say the money planl
| must be clear ard explicit"
do you mean that there II ust be a spe.
! eific declaration in favor of free silver al
| 16 to II"
WELL" replied Governor Altgeld, "tha
| Is a pretty direct question, OF course.
will say In answer TO that, yes, We shoult
have an explicit declaration for free silve
at 16 to IL by no other words or by
no other expression We can make oul
meaning clear and explicit
No sooner had Altgeld left Hill thai
Eliot Danforth of New York came in
There has been quite boom for Danforti
today for Vice President. All the South
erners and great many of the Western
ers believe the nomination should go t.
New York, but they are not all agreed
| that ex-senator Hill is the man. A grea
many individual delegates are friendly t.
Hill, but there is no cohesion to his boom
and 1t is doubtful IL single delegation
could be obtained for Hill.
| 1t is very apparent that Hill desires tc
enter this Convention End make a fight
against Bryan If Bryan continues to In
sist upon the specific declaration for free
!
say a word as to his Intentions. He
merely said he wished to see Mayor Carter
| Harrison, OF Chicago, and Democrats OF
that kind before taking any steps.
He was debarred from any labors to-
night because Daniel J. Campau. of Michi-
gan, gave a dinner to the members OF the
Democratic National Committee Others
declared there should be & fight made
against Bryan in the Committee on Reso-
lutions and that already good strong
working majority OF the committee could
be obtained to insist on a plank merely
reafirming the Chicago platform.
Immediately after Mr. Danforth left in
marched the Indiana delegation, headed
by Major Menzies, a delegate Large.
Mr.. Hill discussed the situation with them
and preliminary understanding was
reached by which the New York State and
the Indiana delegations shall work in
harmony.
Very late tonight there is little doubt
but that Mr. Hill is to be New YOrk's
members of the Committee on Resolutions.
The Indianians said that Benjamin +.
Shiveley was out of the race entirely for
Vice President, and that the Hoosier State
had no candidate.
This suggestion seemed to meet general
approval. Then came brisk lot of Ohio
ians, who declare that they are for the
reaffirmation of the Chicago platform and
do not care to go step further Dele
gates from Kansas. Arkansas, Missouri,
and Iowa, also called upon Mr.. Hill.
In the mean time Silver Republicans had
sent delegation headed by Senator Teller.
Senator Pettigrew, and ex-senator Dubois,
down to see Richard Croker at the Midland
Hotel to discuss with Mr.. Croker the possi-
bility of the New York delegation taking
up Charles A. Towne as Vice Presiden-
tial candidate. AS matter of fact, Mr.,
Croker, Mr.. Hill, nor anybody else is in
terested in a Vice Presidential boom here
tonight They are all talking about
whether or not they shall make a fight for
q mere reaflrmation of the Chicago pat
form of 1896.
II was regarded as very significant here
tonight when the Nebraska delegation.
headed by w. j. Oldham. who is to pre-
sent Bryan's name for denomination in
the Convention, met and decided that the
delegation would stand fast for the Chi
csgo platform of 1896 in every particular
and in every detail. Still il should be said
that most Of the prominent Democrats be-
lieve that at the last moment they may
be able to influence Mr.. Bryan to allow
this Convention to make the platform upon
which he is to stand.