The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-05-16

1 OF applause. Mr.. Frost began his sun
port of the minority report by stating
that the majority report attempted to
inaugurate new movement in the
Democratic party. It declared in
favor of an experiment. 1t was not
becoming in state convention to set
ocratic party had gained q great
| victory.
When bimetalism, called, prior
to the law of 1873 is spoken of, we are
under a law at the ratio Of 16 to /,
which is sought to be established If
down to Coxeyism- You say if we do
not adopt this platform of the majority
the people will vote for Populists-
Gentlemen, 1 will never insert popu-
listic principles in the Democratic
platform in order. to gain Populist
votes.
Bland Replies.
AS Mr.. Bland arose in response
to the call the cheers were deafen-
ing. Hats and fans were waved
from every section of the house
at the almost exhausted leader of the
silver forces. Bland was very tired.
His pallid face showed it; his hesitate
ing voice gave evidences of the strug-
gle He spoke in a slow. emphatic
manner, and at times referred sarcas-
tically to the Chicago platform He
was interrupted throughout by enthu-
siastic applause.
He prefaced his address by saving
that his friend, Mr.. Frost, said that
the committee offered an experiment.
1.-The resolution says that we demand
the restoration of the bimetallic
standard that has existed in this coun-
try for more than eighty years Tt is
not an experiment II was an
absolute and accomplished fact in this
country till the hand of contraction
sought to decrease the currency
against the interest of the masses of
the people. NV friends, l have heard
more about that Chicago platform
than 1 ever want to hear again. 1t
was under that platform that the enc
mics of silver repealed the only law
that looked to silver and substituted
nothing You understand, my friends,
that the member of the Missouri
delegation with one exception con-
strued it to mean the unlimited coin
age of silver, and they voted to place
silver back to where it was.
Ex-Governor Francis followed. ST
deny the right of state Democratic
convention to fix the test of our Dem
ocracy on national issues. 1 know
hundreds of thousands of Democrats
who are not in favor of the free coin
age of silver at the ratio of 16 to l. /
speak for a minority, but it is a re-
spectacle and influential minority.
Gold would leave this country and we
would be on a silver basis, which
would create even greater commercial
commissions than we have seen. You
remember the widespread panic of
1898 was caused by the expOrta ton of
gold from this country.
g. Il am a bime ta1liSt myself believe
in the coinage of silver. The issue
was raised in the discussion of the
question as to the ratio that should
be fixed If the gentleman had not
demanded that the ratio as it existed
before 1873 be adopted, then there
would have been an unanimous re-
port of the committee. I want peo-
pie who are competent to say w hat
this ratio should be, and 1 protest
here that this is not the time and
place to determine that question: i
Bell of St Louis spoke for the
minority report NJ E. Benton of
Neosho announced it as a bunco game.
The delegates howled loudly for Gov
ernor Stone, but he would not speak.
Mr.. Bland then closed the debate.
y Governor Francis then took the floor
and offered substitute for the minor
ity report. This is the Francis substi-
tute:
all1sm and demand that both gold and silver
shall be standard money. with the same pur
any discrimination against either metal
ton which has the effect of destr wing silver
money and establishing the single gold stand
CHASING bower Of goid.' and decreasing the
prices Of all commodities while the contracts
between creditors and debtors disre-
garded and the burdens on the latter made
doubly oppressive -
Silas Carr of Montgomery county
moved the previous question as APP
piled to the Francis amendment and
the majority and minority reports.
A ST. Louis delegate moved to ad-
journ. 1t was put to vote and lost |
Then the roll call was demanded on
the previous question. The motion
prevailed by vote of 375 yeas to So |
nays.
j. w. Walker of ST. Joseph, imme-
diately moved that the convention adj
journ until 10 o'clock in the morning.
There was roar of ayes like the
breaking of waves upon the beach
succeeded by another wave of noes.
The chair was in doubt. The roll
call was demanded and taken amid
great confusion, while the gavel beat
tattoo upon the top of the speakers
gaily- declzed stand. The motion pre-
vailed. The vote stood, yeas 297;
nays 236, at 2:15 a. m.