The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-08-07
SILVER men. GOT ALL
).
MissOuriDemocratic Convention
Declares for Free Coinage.
Silver Men Got Control of State
Committee. -
APLATFORM ADOPTED.
Senator COckreu Addressed the
Convention at Night.

out equlvOcatlon Tor the Tree and IN"
limited coinage of silver at the ratio of
16 to 1. The strongest resolutions
looking to that end were passed by the
state convention amid a storm of
cheers, and practically without dis
senting voice. Further yet, the con-
veation, by an overwhelming major
ity, voted to reorganize the state COM
mittee, and nineteen new members
have been added to it, all considered
TO be heart and soul for the
white metal The fifteen old
members whom, whether right
ly or wrongly the silver men
had considered committed to the sound
money doctrine, 13 to 2, now finds
itself purely an ornamental appen-
dage to a soaring majority There
are rumors that possibly thirteen of
the old committee will decline to
serve longer, but it is scarcely likely
that they will resign, as that action
would merely fix the silver men still
more firmly in the saddle. In spite of
these revolutionary proceedings the
work of the convention has been char
Rcterized by most remarkable har-
mOny. If the convention faithfully
represents the Democratic party of
the state, then beyond question IS per
cent of the party are out and out silver
men.
The convention began its business
with ''Silver Dick Bland at the helm.
The organization was perfected with
out friction and silver resolutions were
drawn and adopted and the reOrgani-
zatiOn of the state central committee
was decided upon by a vote of 493 to
93. The plan of reorganization agreed
upon was that suggested by the con-
servatives, which called for the doub-
Of he or
additional committeeman elected from
the state at large by the convention
were added. This makes the new COM
mittee certainly for silver, but as if
this were not enough, the convention
went further and so bound the rev
central organization by resolutions as
to the conventions to be held next
year, that even were it as hostile as
possible to the white metal, its hostil-
ity would be futile.
In the evening the convention sent
greetings to the Democratic state con-
ventions in session in Mississippi and
Iowa, exhorting them to stand firmly
for free silver and 16 to 1. 1t also sent
a personal tribute to Senator Joe
Black burn of Kentucky complimenting
him on his fight for silver against over
Whelming odds.
The convention was called to order
bv Vice-Chairman John II. Carroll of
UniOnville, who announced that the
state committee had chosen as tempo
rary chairman ex-COngressman Bland.
The announcement was received with
wild cheers. Mr.. Bland made short
speech on taking the chair. After the
usual committees had been named the
convention adjourned until o'clock,
when the temporary organization was
made permanent The report of the
committee on credentials recommended
that the present state committee be in
creased by the addition of one commit
teeman from each congressional dis
trict and four committeeman a large,
making the total number of the COM
mittee thirtyfour.
The report caused quite lively de-
bate, but was adopted by vote of 493
to %.
through Chairman DeArmond, reported
the following PLATFORM:
The Democrats of Missouri in state
convention assem- bled, make the fol-
lowing declaration on the monetary
question which has been forced into
the leading place among the issues of
the day: The Federal constitution
names silver and gold together as the
money metal of the United States.
The first coinage law passed by con-
gress under the constitution made the
silver dollar the unit of value and adj
mitted gold to free coinage at a ratio
measured by the silver dollar unit.
From the beginning of the govern
ment, following a policy formulated
by Thomas Jefferson and firmly esta b.
lished by Jackson, the Democratic
party has been the party of bimetal-
ism, favoring the free coinage of both
silver and gold at the national minis,
and opposed to farming out to banking
corporations, the governments sover-
eign power of issuing and controlling
the money of the people.
The act of 1878, demonetizing silver,
was surreptiously passed, without the
approval or knowledge of the Ameri-
can people and from the time when
the effect of this act, in fastening upon
the country the single gold standard,
was understood. the Democratic party
has consistently and persistently urged
that the grievous wrong be righted.
Failure to accomplish this object has
resulted in the steady appreciation OF
gold, a corresponding fall in the price
of commodities produced by the people,
a heavy increase in the burden of all
debts, public and private, the enrich
ment of the money lending class,
paralysis of industry and impoverish.
ment of the people, and unexampled
distress in all gold standard countries.
Experience has shown that while,
under the single gold standard, there
may be an occasional revival of bust
ness ACTIVITY, accompanied by en-
HANGED prices of a limited number OF
commodities. such revival is due tc
artificial and temporary causes, and
can not permanently alleviate .he sui
ferings due to falling of prices brought
about by the appreciation of gold and
an inadequate supply of primary OIL
redemption money.
Duty to the people requires that the
party OF the people continue the battle