The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-18
SILVER VS.. GOLD MEN
Iowa Democrats in the Usual Annual
Scrap-State Politics. .v

Scrap-State Politics.
DES MONIES, 5IOWA-There is little
Question but that the democrat tic state
convention on Sept. 3 will witness repe-
tition of the bitter struggle of year ago
between the friends and the opponents
Of the Kansas City platform. The sill
YER men are looking for a determined eff
fort on the part of the conservatives to
capture the organization and they are.
making every effort to prevent such a
contingency. That the silver wing OF the
party will be just as completely opposed
to compromise as w. ]. Bryan is to the
harmony program of eastern leaders was
made clear at the Polk county convention,
just held in Des Moines. ExCongress-
man Walter H. Butler, republican sill
yer man. was chosen as permanent chair
man, the resolutions Endorsed the Kansas
City platform in whole and in detail, and
all the proceedings were SO hopelessly
one-sided that several gold democrats
left the meeting in disgust. Later, they
expressed their sentiments on the situa-
tion in no uncertain terms. '--
Mr.. Butler is being advanced for men,
ber of the resolutions committee from
the seventh district. He says he expects
the gold democrats will make hard
fight for control. 1t is expected the lead
ers in the attempt to get the organization
away from the silver men will, be the
tricts. In both these districts, there will
be strenuous congressional campaigns,
with some, prospect of democratic victory
should the state convention omit refer
ence to the Kansas City platform. Hence
the democrats in those districts will try
to have a platform adopted that will not
be calculated to antagonize republican
voters.
| In this they will be backed by the
Woodbury. county democrats and by dele
! cations from other counties. AS things
| stand now, however, it would seem to be
| impossible for the conservative faction
to control. If it does not, it is conceded
that the congressional contests made by
the democrats will receive serious set
| back.
| Second district democrats believe they
can win with Judge NJ J. Wade on the
| ticket for congress, providing the state
convention does not go hopelessly Bry-
anwards. The third district democrats
are also stremely sanguine. Their plan
| is to adopt platform in which free sill
yer plays no part and then TO draw all
possible from the anti Henderson element
in the republican party in the district
Late reports from the district are that
| the preachers and religious element in
the district are likely to go to Boies. IT
is known this element is opposed to Hen
derson on account of his personal habits
|
of a teetotaler and prohibitionist.
Senator Claude Porter has consented tc
run for congress in the eighth district
The adoption Of a silver platform will be
less detrimental to him, however, or tc
John P. Hess, the nominee against Lacey
than it would be to the nominees in the
second and third districts. >-''
The republican congressional conven
tion in the second district will be- helt
at Clinton, Aug. 20. There will probabl.
be four candidates. William Hoffman o
Muscatine, w. H. Wilson of Davenport
W. G. Gregory of Jackson county, and F
W. Ellis of Clinton. :. ..~... .-,.
The prohibition state convention will
be held the same date, Aug. 20, at Water
loo. A full state ticket will be put in tn
field. State Chairman J. H. Campbell will
not be a candidate for another term OF
the committee.
At the democratic state convention, J
, G. Likes Of Des Moines will probably b.
7 chosen committeeman from the seventl
) district to succeed C. A. Huffman of De
Moines, long chairman of the committee
Mr.. Likes was Endorsed at the recen
Polk county convention. 1T is not i'm
Iprobable he will be the next chairman o
the state central committee.