Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-09
FIGHT ON RESOLUTIONS.
Usual SquabbIe to Agree on Anything
by Democratic Convention.

day morning, the committee on resolu-
tons voted the gold standard plank out
of the Democratic platform by vote
of So to Is. This was the third victory
for William j. Bryan during the all
night session of the committee. lie
had made two successful efforts early
! in the evening and secured modltlca-
lions of the tariff plank on two separate
votes.
An effort was made to secure a recess
after the vote on the gold plank, but 1t
| was voted down and the committee con-
tinued with it's work on other fea-
lures of the platform.
The contest was one of the most IN
teresting features of the convention.
The main fight was upon a proposed
income tax plank providing for an
amendment to the constitution to meet
the adverse decision of the supreme
court upon the Wilson law. 1t was up
on this amendment and the gold plank,
the two propositions having been
brought in conjunction that Mr.. Bryan
made his strong fight.
Mr.. Williams of Mississippi, first Of
fered the income tax amendment and 1t
was Immediately antagOniZed by For
mer Senator Hill, who stated that with
such plank in the platform, New York
could not be carried for the Democratic
nominees. He urged the adoption of
platform which would enable the Dem
ocrats to win III doubtful states and
elect their candidates. Mr.. Williams
withdrew the amendment, saying that
he, with many other Democrats, were
seeking harmony and an adjustment of
all differences with a view of succeed
ing on a Democratic platform. Mr..
Bryan then offered an income tax
amendment and made speech in favor
of it. 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 taxation and the expense of
the government.
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 platform which would
bring back to the Democratic party the
voters who had left it when pursuing
a course which Mr.. Bryan had shaped
and advocated. He was tired of being
forever Ill TIE ttIlu llSlSltu
that it would be absurd for Democrats,
facing victory, to take 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 it
| would be unwise to insist upon the in
come tax plank.
Senator Bailey then asked unanimous
consent to have both the income tax
and the gold standard plank dropped,
but to this Mr. Hill objected and there
was a prolonged discussion, Mr.. Hill
taking a leading part in it.
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 would cease its dis
cuSSion and agree upon a platform in
harmony with the views of the party
generally. He was opposed to the in
sertion of an income tax plank because
he saw no necessity for making this
new issue.
II believe" he said, at will hurt us;
members of this committee think other
wise it should go in; but the question
of the gold standard is of far more i'm
portance."
Mr.. Hill urged that If the gold plank
was omitted the party would be placed
in a false position. If that party was
in favor of the free and unlimited coin
age of silver that was another thing.
But he said through no fault of the
party, conditions had changed and it
had been proven that the gold standard
was the solution of the question. AL
though the Republican platform de-
clared in favor of gold. he pointed out
that the Democrats in their platform
could show that the Republicans We're
not responsible for the change in con-
ditions which made the gold standard
desirab BILE. but the Almighty Himself.
Speaking directly to the Southern
members of the committee. Mr.. Hill re-
called the time of reconstruction and
! said he had always worked for Demo-
cratic principles along Democratic
lines: that he had been the friend of
the South in that trying period and
since that time.
Mr. Hill in the course of his speech
talked eloquently of the personality of
Judge Parker. He said that in the
course of conversation about ten
days ago with the New York jurist,
the latter said in reply to a question
about the kind of platform the Demo-
Gratis should adopt:
II am entirely willing to leave that
to the wisdom Of the Democratic par
ty.'
But while Mr. Hill did not assume
| at any time to speak for Judge Parker
the committee interpreted the inference
| of his speech to be that Judge Parker
favored the insertion of n gold plank
| Mr.. Hill declared that the Demo-
Gratis could not possibly nominate a
| better man than Judge Parker and
spoke at some length upon his peculiar
qualifications for the office. He en-
| phasized the fact that Judge Parker
was in no sense an active candidate
for the nomination and that he had not
n