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Show I Specific Declaration For a 16 to I Plank Decided 1 Upon After Protracted AII-Night Session j . of Platform Committee-Proceedings I of the Democratic Convention. . ? (Special to The Jntermountain Catholic from a Staff Correspondent.) 1 Kansas City, July 5, 8:39 p. m. The roll of the states has been ordered i for vote. The roll is proceeding rapidly. The states are casting their 1 full vote for Wm. Jennings Bryan j 8:11 p. m. Bryan was nominated for president of the United States. ; Ohio has been reached and her vote gives Bryan more than the necessary l two-thirds and he is nominated. j 8:49 p. m. The call of states and territories is completed. The vote was unanimous and Bryan was declared the nominee' of the convention, j Convention Hall, 8:53 p. m The convention adjourned until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning. ' w Kansas City, July 4. The contest over the question of the monetary ra- ! tio, which has been brewing ever since ' " the delegates to the convention began to assemble, found expression in the committee on resolutions when it assembled as-sembled today. The committee was called together soon after the first au-i au-i " journment of the convention, but then only e'ected its officers, adjourning to meet a.?ain at 3:30 p. m. Senator Jones : of Arkansas was unanimously chosen I chairman, and Mr. Metcalf of Nebras ka secret a r:'. When the committee assembled Mr.' Metcalf presented the draft of a platform, plat-form, covering all questions of public interest, which draft all the members 1 accepted as Mr. Bryan's expression i upon this question. Jlr. Girard of Georgia also presented a platform, as did Mr. Van Wysk of New York. All these documents took , practically the same ground on all I questions except that of the finances. Mr. Metcalf's declaration was for the . reaffirmation of the Chicago platform in letter and spirit, and it emphasized and reiterated specifically the declara-: declara-: j tioru for free coinage of silver at the f ratio of 16 to 1. Both the other drafts simply reaffirmed the Chicago platform without reference to the ratio. I ' The reading of Van Wycks document I brought Mr. Ball of Texas to his feet 1 with the suggestion that the financial i question should be immediately taken j up and passed upon. He said it was- ; apparent to all that there was no di- vision upon any other platform ques- t lion, and that with the financial plank t disposed of, the preparation of the I remainder of the platform would be merely a matter of clerical work. This suggestion was adopted, and the I committee immediately entered upon f the effort to settle the question of ratio. The session proved a very interesting interest-ing one, and many speeches were made. Mr. Van YVyck led off with a brief statement, saying that while in his platform he had referred to four is- sues as prominent, namely, those of I Imperialism, militarism, trusts and the I finances, he considered that only three I . f these were of current consequence, believing that the money question had I been crowded into the background by I other subjects which had pressed to the front during the past four years. I Senator Daniel of Virginia, some- f what to the surprise of some of the I ' members f the committee, followed Mr. Van YVyck in support of his views on the question. The senator said that n man who knew him would doubt ! for a minute that he now stood where j he stood on the silver question in 1S9G, j and he entertained precisely the same ; views on this subject which then controlled, con-trolled, him. He was, however, anxious to oring back into the fold of the party those who had left it four years ago on account of the position taken on the silver question, and if this could be accomplished, ac-complished, as he believed it could by omitting all reference to the ratio, he, for one. was content to pursue that course, simply reaffirming the Chicago platform. Mr. Fitzgerald of Colorado followed in a warm speech denouncing in most emphatic language any effort to mini- mize the financial question. He asserted as-serted that the omission of a declaration declara-tion on ratio of the two metals would be a mre evasion and concealment: That such evasion would not get any one or catch any of the gold standard people whom it was meant to entrap. It was only meant to be construed as a silver plank in one section of, the country and as anti-silver plank in another. an-other. Such a course as this would fail to satisfy the people of all sections. ,-If," he said, referring to the platform plat-form presented by Mr. Metcalf. "Mr. Bryan is a good enough platform, then the' platform approved by him should be good enough." He declared it was essential that there should be a declaration declar-ation for the ratio in clear and unmistakable unmis-takable terms, and he followed this up with the assertion that if such declaration declara-tion was not made, even Colorado-could be counted a doubtful state, with a prospect of not only casting its electoral elec-toral vote for McKinley as president, j but of sending Mr. Wolcott back to the j United States senate. I George Fred Williams of Massachusetts Massachu-setts also made a spirited argument for a specific declaration on the question ques-tion of ratio. He asserted that the Democratic party had become a new party since it had incorporated the financial question in its declaration of principles. It had become a virile and live party since 1896. and this fact was due solely to the circumstance that the money question, which was the j question of the people, had been made the paramount issue. He eulogized Mr. j i Bryan in high terms, spoke of his self- I abnegation and patriotism, and said I that it would be cowardly to ask that I gentleman to recant what he had been I ' preaching throughout the country for j the past four years. Mr. Bryan had I gone un and down the nation preach- j 1 ing bimetallism at the ratio of 16 to 1. j j and no Democrat had presumed for a , I moment to question his authority for ' i such declaration, or to pretend that he I 1 in any wise misrepresented the senti- j i ment of his party. It was, in his opln- 1 ion, too late now to condemn Mr. Bry- I I an's course, and a failure to make posi- ! ! tive pronouncement on this question j would amount to this. j "While not pretending to say what I ; Mr. rn"" ; : -:v.rrs 1 " .' " I serted emphatically and significantly that if placed in Mr. Bryan's position ! he would decline a nomination upon an I equivocal platform. As for himself, he j did not believe in deserting those people peo-ple who had left their own parties to I support the Democratic policy of lour j years ago for the purpose of egain-ing egain-ing the support of the traitors and trimmers who had left the Democratic party because of its financial position. "There is no reason," he exclaimed, "for making any concession to treason." trea-son." Continuing, he asked: "Are we going to drive the Populists into the middle of the road in order to get back the traitors? Are we going to sell out our principles to the Tories of the Democratic Dem-ocratic party and desert our real friends?" He predicted that if this course was to be pursued the trusts would take complete possession of the ' Democratic i party as they had already taken possession pos-session of the Republican party, and ! in that event there would no longer be j any ark of refuge .for the plain peo- j pie. Mr. Williams was frequently ap- j plauded duiing the course of his le-marks. le-marks. Ke was followed by Mr. Daly I of New Jersey, who made a plea for ! conservatism and for Concessions to the moderate wing of the party. He said that he had cheerfully supported the platform and ticket of four years ago. and had stumped the country for Mr. Bryan, but he felt convinced that the time had come when the jnonev question was no longer paramount, and he implored the committee and the convention to put it somewhat in the background and make the fight of 1900 upon other issues. He contended that to reaffirm the Chicago platform was sufficient for all legitimate purposes, pur-poses, and said that this should meet j the demands of the silver element. In reality, a declaration upon the ratio was immaterial, and the silver men should be satisfied with a reaffirmation of the principles of 3896. At the conclusion of Mr. Daly's speech the committee concluded to take a recess until 8 o'clock, in order to allow Its members to get their dinners. It had become evident to all present that it would be impossible to conclude the preparation of the resolutions in time for presentation to the convention upon reassembling at -8:30. When the committee on resolutions reassembled at 8:20 o'clock Chairman Jones was of the opinion that the fight over the platform would be carried into the convention, as two reports would be presented. The first speaker was G. Irving Handy Han-dy of Delaware, who took the position, in favor of a reiteration of the platform, plat-form, instead of reaffirmation. "If you reaffirm the platform." said Mr. Handy, "you will have to include in it the attack on the supreme court and the Chicago riots which caused that declaration are a thing of the past. If you reaffirm the platform you still declare de-clare for silver. You cannot silence that great voice in Nebraska. In tones that will be heard from ocean to ocean will the man you are going to nominate nomi-nate declare that the Democratic party is for the free and unlimited coinage of silver at the ratio of sixteen to one, without the consent of any other nation na-tion on earth. Instead of taking silver out of the platform, you will serve to j emphasize interest in it. Do you think j he will make the silver issue subordinate subordi-nate to others of the Chicago platform which you propose to reaffirm? No, never, and all over this land will he proclaim that silver is still a dominant domi-nant issue." Great interest was manifested in the speech of Carter Harrison of Chicago. He went over the many arguments that have been made since the convention con-vention began, and declared that the proper action of this convention .was to reaffirm the Chicago platform. "Give us the platform we ' have adopted in Illinois," he said, "and we will win back some of the votes that have been lost to the Democratic party since 1S92. Many of these are in Chicago. Offer them a chance to vote for the Democratic party. We must have recruits or we cannot win. and we must get them in Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin, states which are ready to leave the Republican party on other issues. If we depend upon the states carried by Bryan in 1896 we are beaten. Standing firmly and flatly upon the Chicago platform of 1896, we give sufficient indorsement for silver, and this is all that is asked. We believe be-lieve we can win on that Platform if reaffirmed by this convention." Representative Ball of Texas said he; came from a state whicn gave Bryan'' .'04.000 majority on the Chicago platform plat-form in 1896, and was ready to repeat the operation this year. "What is the use," he asked, "of making an issue for the purpose of getting whipped? If the states of the middle west and those of the east thought they could give the Democratic party electoral votes on the Chicago platform reaffirmed, why not give it to them? Silver was not an .issue in this campaign," he continued. "Every marl here knows that there can be no silver legislation during the next presidential term, because the complexion com-plexion of the senate cannot be changed in that time. We must secure 600,000 votes this year that we did not have in 1896 to win. We must get those votes i on the issues of trusts, imperialism and militarism. Why should we require the men ai the east and the middle west to 4- 4- 4- 4 4 4 4 '"t-'t- : . raited : : mk - - ' wra : accept reiteration? Why do you insist upon a specific declaration for free silver sil-ver at 16 to 1? Why do you want to cram it down their throats in order to be vindicated? The gentleman from Massachusetts, George Fred Williams, is one of the advocates of this vindication, vindica-tion, yet he comes from a state that cannot and will not send a single man to congress who will vote for 16 to 1. He had to hold his convention two years in advance of the national convention con-vention in order to hold his organization. organiza-tion. Does any man believe that Illinois, Illi-nois, West Virginia', . Maryland, New-York New-York and New Jersey, states which have elected Democratic orasidents, can be carried on a specific declaration of 16 to 1? The men who are advocating advocat-ing this declaration are either unwise or stubborn. If the advocates or 16 to 1 had presented any sound argument why it should be specifically reiterated, it would be well to do so, but none has been presented." Mr. Ball said Texas had instructed him to oppose a specific declaration of 16 to 1 in the Kansas City platform. F. AV. McGettrick of Vermont was the next speaker. He said he was a gold Democrat. He did not follow 16 to 1 in 1S96, and did not want to follow it now, but as it was a question of either a specific declaration of 16 to 1 or a reaffirmation of the Chicago platform, he favored the former plan, which seemed to be one of principle. Representative Francis G. Newlands of Nevada declared in favor of a specific spe-cific declaration of 16 to 1. While it would be logically true that the principle prin-ciple would be maintained if the Chicago Chi-cago platform were reaffirmed, it would be best to make a new declaration, he said. Ex-Governor Stone of Missouri indicated indi-cated that he was opposed to a specific declaration of the 16 to 1, but he said it was evident that-Bryan was favorable favora-ble to such a declaration. He would therefore support the proposition, as he thought the .candidate should, under the circumstances, be allowed to suggest sug-gest the platform on this question. Mr. Bald, representative of Senator Gorman of Maryland, espoused the silver sil-ver cause. He said he hoped Maryland would be found in the Democratic column col-umn this fall under cny circumstances, but that with 16 to 1 -eliminated he was sure it would be there. Senator Rawlins of Utah was favorable favor-able to the 16 to 1 pronouncement, but did not contend for it absolutely. Messrs. Gibbons of Florida and Blackman of Louisiana, supported the conservative view. Mr. Morse, Indiana, espoused conservatism, con-servatism, saying that with the declaration declar-ation of 16 to 1 eliminated Indiana was practically certain for Bryan, while with that declaration retained the state would be at best doubtful. - Senator Jones, chairman of the committee, com-mittee, made an earnest appeal for the retention of the ratio provision. He said that not a vote would be gained by omission, while the retention of the provision would greatly strengthen the ticket in Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana and other Mississippi valley states-He also appealed for the granting of Mr. Bryan's wish in the matter, saying that his impressions came from " close contact con-tact with people, and were apt to be right. Judge Van Wyck of New York first read the platform he had prepared, and then said that in order to win the Democratic Dem-ocratic party must get back the bulk of those who left in 1896. He was glad to see the south ready to come back to the old alliance with New York and Indiana. These states had carried elections elec-tions for the Democrats before and by conservative action these states could elect Bryan this year. George Fred Williams of Massachusetts Massachu-setts charged Van Wyck with being a representative of Wall street, and that his counsel was not for the interest of the people. Van Wyck replied, saying that New England' and the constituency which Williams represented could not return a single electoral vote for the Democratic Demo-cratic candidate. ' Senator Money of Mississippi antagonized antago-nized the 16 to 1 proposition,, and said Bryan had no right to dictate to the convention, but should be satisfied with i a reaffirmation of the Chicago platform if the convention deemed that the course to pursue. ,jj ' 1 Senator Money's speech was somewhat some-what sensational. He ?-.Wi ihat while he yielded tono one in' his admiration of Mr. Bryan, neither he-nor any otner man was big enough to coerce the conscience con-science of the whole Democratic arty. Senator Tillman took the lloor at 1 o'clock Thursday morning and made ja vigorous plea for a specific declaration for 16 to 1. He said the party could not afford to retreat one step in its allegiance al-legiance to silver, and the convention should accede to the demands of the northwest In this matter. . ' At 2 o'clock Judge ,Van Wyck took the floor to reply to the speeches made in favor of 16 to 1, reiterating his argument ar-gument for a concession to the east. There were then several other members who . claimed the privilege of being heard There is little doubt that the committee com-mittee now stands favorable to mere reaffimation of the Chicago platform. Senator Blackburn of Kentucky followed fol-lowed Mr. Van Wyck with a strong speech for 16 to 1. Senator Blackburn, referred in somewhat uneomplimentary terms to the members of the committee tion for the free coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1. The vote stood as follows on a resolution resolu-tion to substitute a 16 to 1 declaration for a simple reaffirmation of the Chicago Chi-cago platform: Ayes Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, 'Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Ken-tucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, Wyoming, Arizona, Oklahoma, Indian Territory, New Mexico, Hawaii 26. Noes California, Connecticut, Florida, Flor-ida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Louis-iana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wiscon-sin, Alaska 22. The plank agreed upon is as follows: "We reiterate the demand of the platform of 1896- for an American financial system made by the Ameri-who, Ameri-who, he said, wrere deserting the historic his-toric ratio. He was replied to in spir- ited language by Senator Daniel of Virginia. Vir-ginia. Br a vote of 27 to 25 tht committee decided in favor of an explicit declara-can declara-can people for themselves, which shall restore and maintain a bimetallic price level: and as part of such system the immediate restoration of the free and unlimited coinage of silver and gold at the present legal ratio of 16 to 1 without with-out waiting for the aid or consent of any other nation." A sub-committee, consisting of Jones, Blackburn, Metcalf, Gerrard, Van Wyck, Stone, Williams, McGettrick and Tillman was appointed,, to draft a platform. The advocates of reaffirmation say they will not decide as to whether there shall be a minority report until tomorrow. Hauser of Montana did not vote, and the District of Columbia was absent, journs without any sleep, if necessary. Messrs. Dunbar and McCune continue indefatigable in their efforts to see that the Utahns get all that is coming to them, and more, too. They spend the major portion of their time at headquarters head-quarters looking after the needs of the visitors. Utah was not overlooked in the dis-'tribution dis-'tribution of seats. The delegates were assigned not more than sixty feet from the chairman's platform. The acoustic properties of the hall are poor, and even at this distance the Utah contingent contin-gent had difficulty in hearing all that went on. By. listening intently, however, how-ever, they managed not to overlook anything. The Utahns are ,much more fortunate than Idaho larid Nevada. Idaho is jammed over m-' the northwest north-west corner, where it is practically impossible im-possible to see or. hear, anything. Nevada Ne-vada is only a trifle better off.. Judge Mack, chairman of that delegation, told me this afternoon. that he and his people were decidedly up against it so far as catching. .the proceedings went. They had tried card, he said, through all the sessions to hear the speeches, but unless the man on the platform had an unusually loud and clear voice their efforts were in vain. Nearly all the chairmen of the vnH-i vnH-i ous .jioe-;.'Hot. -!Jlod: on. Utah, toady, j .!: . , ' " ; r's ". '"'',' especially for the purpose of paying their respects tofMrs. Cohen. She had hardly taken her place with the delegation del-egation when visitors began dropping in, and then continued to do so throughout the clay and night. The Kansas City Times this morning had a three column story about Mrs. Cohen, with her picture. |