The Savannah morning news., 1904-07-09
LONG AND HARD WAS THE
FIGHT ON PLATFORM.
Bryan Was n Figure of Importance
in the Committee.

ii'Oi lihS inc committee on Resolutions
voted the gold standard plank out of
the Democratic platform by a vote of
IS to Is.
This was the third victory for Will
liam j. Bryan during the al-night
session of the committee. He had
made two successful efforts early in
the evening and secured notifications
of the tariff plank on two separate
votes.
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
amendment to the constitution to
meet the adverse decision of the Su-
preme Court upon the Wilson law. 1t
was upon this amendment and the
gold plank, the two propositions hav-
ing Deen brought in conjunction that
MI. Bryan made his strong fight.
Income Tax Ont.
Mr. Williams of Mississippi first Of
Tered the income tax amendment and
1t was Immediately antagonized by
former 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 a platform which would
enable the Democrats to win in doubt
ful states and elect their candidates.
Mr.. Williams withdrew the amend
ment, saying that he. with many other
Democrats, were seeking harmony and
an adjustment of all differences with
a view of succeeding on Democratic
platform.
Mr. Bryan then offered an income tax
amendment and made a speech in ia
vor 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 expenses 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 a 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 in the minority
and insisted that it would be absurd
Tor Democrats. facing victory, to take
any action which would mean defeat
To lose New York meant defeat
HiIPs Effort for Gold Plank.
Senator Bailey and Senator Tillnan.
while believing in an income tax, said
that in view of the statement of the
New York member of the committee 1t
would be unwise to insist upon the in
come tax plank.
Senator Bailey then asked unanimous
consent to have both the income tax
amendment and the gold standard
plank dropped, but to this Mr.. Hill
objected. and there was a prolonged
discussion Mr.. Hill taking leading
part in It.
Mr.. Hill was opposed to the insertion
of an income tax plank, because he
sa4T=Iao necessity fer making this new
issue.
81 believe" he said, ''it will hurt us.
1t will weaken our platform, but If the
members of this committee think 9TH
erwise it should go in: but the ques-
ton of the gold standard is of far more
Importance. -.-
Speaking directly to the Southern
members of the committee. Mr.. Hill
recalled the time of reconstruction and
said he had always worked for Dem
ocratic 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 a conversation about ten
days ago with the New York jurist, the
latter said, in reply to a question about
the kind of platform the Democrats
should adopt: II am entirely willing
to leave that to the wisdom of the
Democratic party"
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 gold plank.
Would Alternate Thousands.
Mr.. Bryan replied at length to the
argument of Mr.. Hill, and insisted
that, in face of past declarations of
the party, a gold plank would now
ALLEVIATE many thousands of Demo-
cratic voters.
Senator Carmack of Tennessee made
a plea especially for the South, and
said that Democratic success was nee
essary in the face of the Republican
policy of imperialism. Its recent plat
form was dangerous to the South. He
hoped some agreement could be reach
ed which would bring to the support
of the Democratic South the Demo-
cratic party of the East. AS to the
money question, that was for the time
settled and he urged that matter be
not injected into the coming campaign
as a disturbing element.
Shortly before o'clock Senator Dan
lei created a sensation in the commit
tee by an attack upon Mr.. Bryan,
which soon evoked cries for order from
several members. Senator Daniel, who,
some time before, called Senator Till
man to the chair, began by saying he
questioned the propriety of a man
whom the Democrats had twice hon
ored with the presidential nomination,
and under whose leadership the party
had twice been defeated. attempting to
force his leadership upon the party
again. Growing more impassioned,
Senator Daniel said regarding Mr..
BRYAN:
Daniel Scored Bryan.
1.-THE silver question was a question
in Virginia ten years before the gen.
tleman from Nebraska discovered II.
But conditions have changed In the
last few years, and heroic changes
demand heroic remedies. We must
consider New England, New York and
that section of the country"
Again facing Mr.. Bryan, Senator
Daniel said: He has reviled every
man whom any state has recommend
ed for the presidency and, so far as
have been able to learn. has as yet |
presented no candidate OF his own"
At this point Senator Daniel was in
terrupted with cries Of order" SEN
ator ,riilman, who was acting chair |
man. demanded order and said: well, |
let's have order before this meeting |
- e