The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-08-07
Silver Dick" Seems to Control the
Missouri Democracy.
WAS ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE
STATE CONVENTION.
Adopted by the Commit
tee Strongly in Favor of Free
Debate Between Horr and Harvey
ON the Silver Question.

PERTLE SPRINGS (Mo.). Aug. 6.-In
the presence of 1000 people, 514 of whom
were delegates, the Democratic party OF
the State of Missouri. in convention as
sembled to-day, committed itself to the
principle of the free coinage of silver at
the ratio of 16 to /, and reorganized the
State Central Committee 80 as to place
the party machinery out of the control OF
the gold men. silver Dick" Bland
dominated the gathering completely. He
was tenn porary and permanent Chair
man, and in opening the contest de-
liberately stated that he hao come to Sc
cure control of the party machinery.
Bland's idea of reorganization is looked
upon as bad politics, as it was terrible
slash at the old State Central Committee,
the Maf1it- Francis Administration ma
chine. The relations between the turned
down committee and the party colleagues
are so strained that in the coming cam
paign, if conducted on a free silver basis.
they will practically be without party al
lance. Bland's fight was won after a
bitter caucus with Senator OockrelI,
leaders, who counseled compromise.
The delegates were with him, and his
programme was enthusiastically carried
out.
The convention was noticeable for the
lack OF speech-maklng, considering the
weighty nature OF the business trans
acted. There were no tights on the floor.
The most interesting part OF the proceed
ings WAS tho fight over the platform IN
81. /,
tions. several members were in favor OF
resolution requesting the resignation Of
Chairman Mattlt and other gold bugs.
Others argued in favor OF resolution
providing for the election of the CHAIR
man of the committee by the State Con-
yention. 4 few were deSirOus OF adopt
ing resolutions censurlng the committee
for it's alleged antlpathy toward the con-
vention, and some wanted resolutions
indorsing Bland for President and Stone
Tor United States Senator to succeed Sem
ator Vest. The conventions coDserva-
tive element finally succeeded In de-
teatlng each OF these resolutions.
Ii was about 1890 when Vice-Chairp1an
John ii. Carroll, III the absence of Chair
man Matfit, called the convention to or
der. He stated the purpose OF the con-
ference, and introduced Hon. K. Z.
Bland, who was yociterOusly received.
p
ing to discuss the financial question, and
he hoped its proceedings would be void
OF personalities and that nothing but har-
mony would characterize lis dellbera-
tons He stated that it was the desire of
the delegates that the State Committee
should be enlarged, and he hoped that
this enlargement would be made in such
way as TO leave no bitter feeling or dis
appointed hopes.
At the conclusion of Mr.. BANDS re-
marks the delegates named their repre-
sentative on each committee.
After the committees had been selected
the convention took recess until 80 p. NJ.
The convention re-assem bled at 2 p. NJ,
and after the Committee on Credentials
had recommended that all credentials be
filed with the Chairman the Committee
on Permanent Organization reported. Ii
was recommended that the present State
committee be enlarged by addition of one
committeeman from each Congressional
District and by the election by the con-
vention of four committeeman at large,
making the total committee thirty four
instead Of fifteen, as at present con-
structed. The proposition was carried
420 to 81.
There was another recess to allow the
Committee on Resolutions time to report,
and the convention came to order at 4
P. Nj. After a wait OF thirty minutes,
which was beguiled with speeches and
music, the committee reported. The pre-
amble and resolutions are as follows:
"The first coinage bill passed by Con-
gress under the legislation made the sill
yer dollar the unit OF value and admitted
gold to tree coinage at a ratio measured
by the silver dollar unit. From the be-
ginning of the Government, following
the policy formulated by Thomas Jeffer-
son and firmly established by Jackson,
the Democratic party has been the party
OF bimetallism, favoring the free coinage
OF both silver and gold at the national
mints. and opposing the farming out to
banking corporations the Governments
sovereign power OF issuing the money of
the people.
The act of 1873 was surreptitously
passed, without the approval or consid-
GRAFTON OF the American people. The
Democratic party has consistently urged
that the grlevouS wrong be righted. EX-
perience has shown that while under the
single gold standard there may be an oc-
casIonal revival of business activity,
by enhanced prices OF linn
tied numb Der or commodities, such revival
is due to artificial and temporary causes
and cannot permanently alleviate the suf-
terings due to falling prices, brought
about by the appreciation of gold and an
inadequate supply Of primary or redemp-
ton money. Duty to the people requires
that the party OF the people continue the
battle for bimetallism until its forces are
crowned with success. Therefore, be it
"ReSOiUed, That we, the Democratic
party of Missouri, in convention as
sem Dled, demand the free and uniim-
tied coinage OF silver and gold into pri-
mary or redemption money at the ratio
of 16 to l, without waiting for the ac-
ton or approval of any nation: and sec
ond,
"ReSoiUed, That we are irrevocably op-
posed to the substitution for metallic
money of panic breeding, corporation
credit currency based on a single metal,
tha snnulY of which is SO liIuitad that il