The record-union., 1894-09-07
MATTERS POLITICAL.
Wisconsin Democrats Renominate
Peck for Governor.
Villas DELIVERS AN ADDRESS BE-
FORE THE CONVENTION.
The Inside of Municipal Politics in
Max Pepper Summoned Before the
Grand Jury to Testify as to the
Charges That Money Was Paid for
Street-Sweeping Contracts.
Special to the REcoRD-UNIoS.

promptly at noon to-day by Chairman
Waller, who announced Senator W. f.
Villas as temporary Chairman.
Mr.. Villas delivered long address, in
which he attempted to show that the
panic was the result of Republican mis-
rule. Tariff reform. he said, was delayed
but not defeated.
Mr.. Villas reviewed the financial his
tory of the country from the beginning of
President Cleveland's first term. He
made special mention of the efforts DUR
ing Arthur's Presidency TO avert disaster
to the Treasury, and related that Hugh
McCulloch was induced to take charge of
the Treasury, and that Mr.. McCulloch
stated that the most he could do was to
postpone disaster until after the close of
the Arthur Administration. Then fol-
lowed statement of how Mr.. McCul-
loch's successor, Daniel Manning, had
SacrIhced his health III successful effort
to straighten out the finances, and handed
to the Harrison Administration large
cash balance, and how the Republicans
then returned to power and dissipated
the wealth.
The evils that had fallen upon the
country Senator Villas attributed to three
SohoSoh Liz ElILY-HTSI, or So
called "billion-dollar" Congress, with all
its misdeeds, its silver purchasing laws,
It's Mckinney projections Act and its un-
eXampled extravaganza, not only in di-
rect appropriations, but entailing future
obligations yet to be discharged.
The Sherman law was next taken up
The National Democratic Convention of
1892 had accepted the designation given it
by the Democrats of Wisconsin, and de-
clared 1t cowardiy max eshift to ward off
the loss or the electoral votes OF the West
ern silver States. The latter had first
made demand for free coinage of silver
at the rate OF sixteen grains of silver to
equal one OF gold, while excessive pro-
duction and other causes had continually
decreased the value OF the white metal.
until in 1889 1t required twenty-five grains
OF silver to buy one of gold. with a further
tall IN prospect. The proposition that the
Government should coin dollars at I6 to |,
and give them to the mine owner who
furnished the bullion, implied that the
value OF the dollar should fall TO the value
of the silver in it, or, ii the Governments
credit was to support it, that the Govern
ment should give the silver producers the
gains of coming - per cent. or more.
The tltty-First Congress, equally fearing
to grant or refuse this demand, devised a
compromise. equally pernicious, by
which the Government was compelled TO
DuICAd lIIl6G1 LOIlS Oh SllNGf DuIllOD
mouth which 1t had no use for, thus fore
ing the issue of Federal promissory notes
at-he rate OF S4.000,000 a month. By this
means the Western Republican silver
States were furnished customer at the
expense OF the people of the whole
country.
The inevitable consequences followed.
The Government was set to work inflat-
ing and impairing the currency of the
country. Distrust crept into the chan
nels of business, capitalists abroad
quietly pushed their American securities
upon the market, and the gold began
making its way to foreign lands. 1t
was, in another form, the triumphs of
enbackism. The silver dollar was
made legal tender, yet silver contin-
ned to decline in the market. A thou
sand million dollars OF silver certificates
had been issued, which the Government
practically bound itself to redeem in
gold. because if it redeemed them in
silver it dropped the currency at once
to a basis of silver monometallism, while
their redemption in gold would not
only impose a ruinous loss, but 1t was
practically impossible.
Mr.. Cleveland, on his return to the
Presidency, was confronted with treas
ury with $50, 600 less money il; with
deferred and accumulated demands to
be met, and appropriations to be paid
during the ensuing sixteen months S75,-
000,000 greater in all than there was
revenue to meet them, in place of the
fair prosperity and universal confidence
he had left behind him; rising distruSt,
a dlsordered currency with law COM
manding monthly increase of its risks;
gold disappearing from the country;
fnanciers taking alarm, and the storm
already gathered and ready to burst.
The President and the Democratic party
entering their trusts under such circum-
stances should have had the support of
all patriotic citizens.
Senator Villas then reviewed at length
the difficulties that have been placed in
the way of repeating the pernicious
causes of the disasters by the Republican
minority In Congress, beginning with the
Sherman Act down to the Mckinley law.
The Wilson bill would have required but
moderate amendment to have made it an
efficient measure of reform. There was
much in 1t, however, to give rejoicing
that 1t has become a law. notWithstand-
ing the successful assaults that had been
made upon it by the protectionists
On the third ballot Governor George
Peck was renoninated, receiving 1856
votes to % for John Hummer and ll9 for
John Winans. Treasurer Hummer and
Secretary Cunningham and Attorney
General O'Connor were also renomi-
mated. III. j. Schmidt of Manitowoc was
hOllihabS0 lOE
William IL. Schultz for superintendent
OF instruction, and George i. Prescott for
Railroad Commissioner.
Ihe platform reaffirms the principles
OF the Democratic National platform of
1872, attributes the financial distress to
the Republican legislation; says the new
taritflaw affords substantial reduction and
is step in the direction of accomplish
ing results SO contemplated: for by the
repeal of the Sherman law, the money of
the country is restored to a sound basis
and no proposed legislation should be
every dollar issued by the Government
should be of equal intrinsic and inter
changeabAs value; denounces the Ameri-
can Protective Association and kindred
societies; approves the income tax of the
tariff bill and commends Cleveland's ad-
ministration.
MONTANA REPUBLICANS,
HELENA, Sept. 6. = The Republican
State Convention met here to-day. 1t was
largely attended and very harmonious
throughout. There was no opposition to
the denomination of Congressman Hart
man, and his selection was greeted with
great applause. For Associate Justice OF
the Supreme Court. Judge W. Ii. Hunt
of Helena was nominated on the first
ballot.
The platform declared for the free coin
age of silver, is to l, independent of the
action of other nations. Protection and
reciprocity are Endorsed, and the new
tariff law denounced as destructive in
particular to the wool-growing industry