Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-08
GOLD PLANK GOES OUT
Hill Defeated in the Commit
tee on Platform.
IN ALL-NIGHT SESSION
VOTE OF REJECTION WAS 35
TO Is.
Third Victory for Bryan-Bitterly As
sailed by Senator Daniel-Fight
Over Income Tax.
IN ALL-NIGHT SESSION

ST. LOUIS. July s.-After continuous
session of sixteen hours, the committee on
resolutions perfected the platform and ad-
1ourned just before noon, instructing It's
subcommittee to arrange the draft Tor SUD
mission to the general committee at .
O'Clock this evening for report to the con-
vention two hours later.
The platform is a compromise acceptable
to all of the interests involved and was
adopted unanimously by the committee 1t
may be said in general to have been a
concession to the Bryan wing of the party
without in any way stultfying the declara-
tons of the conservatives. The absence OF
any pronouncement upon the financial ques-
ton is most significant and discloses the
utter impossibility of finding any declara-
ton upon this subject acceptable to all.
During the watches of the long night In
the committee room there were many
dramatic scenes. not the least striking OF
which was the verbal encounter between
Senator Hill and Mr.. Bryan. 1t occurred
while Mr.. Bryan was engaged in making
one of his many attacks upon the gold
standard plank as framed by the sub
committee. He was wrought up to high
tension when, approaching the New York
near the nose of that gentleman he ex-
claimed: You ought to have a gold plat
form to go with the gold candidate you
are forcing upon the country"
Mr.. Hill replied that he knew nothing
as to Mr. Parker's monetary views. DO
you mean to say" demanded the Ne
braskan, that you don't know Judge
Parker's financial views?"
Il mean just that" responded Mr.. Hill.
You have no knowledge on that SUBJ
ject?"
None"
Have never asked him."
Il have not. l have never sought to
secure an expression of his views and he
has never sought to convey them to me.
high minded and patriotic man. and be-
lieve that he can be trusted implicitly on
policy"
when the gold plank had been decided
upon and why 1t had not been incorpor-
ated in the New York platform. Mr. Hill
replied that the matter had first been dis
cussed at the meeting OF the delegation
ABOUT ten days ago and that the declara-
ZION was the result of insistence by other
members of the delegation than himself
Gold Plank Knocked Out.
AT $40 a m the committee voted out the
gold standard plank of the democratic plat
form by a vote of 35 to 10 This was the
third victory for William j. Bryan during
the al-night session of the committee He
had made two successful efforts early in
the evening. and obtained notifications of
the tariff plank on two separate votes
An effort was made to secure recess
AFTER the vote on the gold plank. but it
was voted down. and the committee con-
unued with Its work on other features of
the platform.
The contest was one of the most interest.
ing features of the convention.
Fight on Income Tax
The main fight was upon proposed in
come tax plank, providing for an amend
ment to the Constitution to meet the adj
verse decision of the Supreme Court upon
the Wilson law. 1t was upon this amend
ment and the gold plank. the two PROPOSE
lions having been brought in conjunction,
that Mr.. Bryan made his strong fight
Mr.. Williams of Mississippi first offered
the income tax amendment, and 1t was i'm
medately antagoniZed by former Senator
Hill, who stated that with such plank in
the platform New York could not be car
ried for the democratic nominees. He urg-
ed the adoption of a platform which would
enable the democrats to win in doubtful
states and elect their candidates.
Mr.. Williams withdrew the amendment
saying that he and many other democrats
Were seeking harmony and an adjustment
of all differences, with a view of succeed
ing on democratic platform.
Mr.. Bryan then offered an income tax
amendment, and made n speech in favor of
1t. He asserted that, while votes might be
lost among the very rich, the democratic
party ought TO consider the great mass of
the people, who bear the burdens of taxa
ton and the expenses of the government.
Senator Daniel Vigorously Replies.
Senator Daniel replied to Bryan and was
very vigorous in his denunciation of the
course the Nebraska man was pursuing
He said that he wanted to win, and desired
a platform which would bring back to the
democratic party the voters who had left
1t when pursuing course which Mr.. Bryan
had shaped and advocated. He was tired
of being forever in the minority, and in
sisted that II would be absurd for demo-
Gratis. facing victory, to take any action
which would mean defeat, To lose New
York meant defeat.
Senator Bailey and Senator Tillman
while believing in an income tax, said that
In view of the statement of the New York
member of the committee. 1t would be I'M
wise to insist upon the income tax plank.
Senator Bailey then asked unanimous con-
sent to have both the income-tax amend
ment and the gold-standard plank dropped,
but to this Mr. Hin objected. and there was
prolonged discussion, Mr. Hill taking a
leading part in IT.
Mr.. Hills Plea.
Mr.. Hill began by saying that he was in
this campaign not from personal motives,
but because of his loyalty and enthusiasm
for the democratic party. He hoped the
party could cease its discussion and agree
upon platform in harmony with the views
of the party generally. He opposed to
the insertion of income tax plank be-
cause he saw no necessity for making this
new issue.
Il believe" he said. "it will hurt US. It
will weaken our platform; but If the MEM
bers of this committee think otherwise 1t
should go in; but the question of the gold
standard is of far more Importance"
Mr.. Hill urged that If the gold plank was
omitted the party would be placed in q
false position. II the party was in favor
of the free and unlimited coinage of silver
that was another thing But he said
through no fault of the party. conditions
had changed. and II had been proven that
the gold standard was the solution OF the
question. Although the republican plat
form declared in favor of gold. he pointed
out that the democrats. In their platform
could show that the republicans were no,
responsible for the change in conditions
which made the gold standard desirable.
but the Almighty himself
Speaking directly to the southern MEM
bers of the committee. Mr. Hill recalled