The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-08
FREE COINAGE OPPOSED.
Twice the White Metal Men
Were Defeated in a Test
of Strength.
PLATFORM OF 1892 INDoRsED.
Judge w. F. Babb, a "Sound Money"
Advocate, Was Nominated for
Governor.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa, Aug. T.
The sense of the delegates in the Demo
cratic State convention. held here to-day,
was twice taken on the silver question,
and the party in this State is on record as
opposed to free coinage at the ratio of 10
to l. The first test was indirect, both the
free-coiDage men and the opposition hav-
ing candidates for permanent chairman.
J. H. Shields of Dubuque, champion of
sound money, was chosen by vote OF 651
10 All.
Later when a direct proposition was
made to substitute free-silver plank for
the reaffirmation of the National financial
plank of 1892 contained in the platform as
it came from the committee on resolutions,
the silver men again suffered defeat by
vote of Col to 400.
Judge w. F. Babb of Mount Pleasant, a
sound-money man, was nominated for
Governor by dcclamation, on motion OF
ex-Congressman Walter 1. Hayes of Clin-
ton. The nomination for Lieutenant
Governor went to S. L. Bestow, ex-Lieu-
tenant Governor of Charlton, an advocate
of free silver and the candidate of free sill
yer men for the permanent Craftsmanship.
The nomination for Railroad Commits
sioner went to Colonel George Jenkins
of Dubuque, and for State Superintendent
OF Schools 10 L. B. Parsham of Maquoketa.
There are two candidates for Supreme
Judge and ballot was required. G. Har-
per. ex-State Senator of Burlington. was
nominated, defeating E. E. Hasner of In
dependence.
The convention was called to order by
II
French was made temporary chairman.
He addressed the convention. Nothing
was done after the conclusion of Chairman
French's speech at the forenoon session,
except routine business. An adjournment
was taken until o'clock.
Upon reassem bling J. H. Shields OF Du-
buque was made permanent chairman.
Mr.. Shields in mis- address avoided refer
ence TO the financial question. After his
speech, as the committee on resolutions
was not ready to report, the time until 3:45
when the committee appeared, was taken
up by speakers, who discussed the two re-
ports which were expected. Henry Vol
mer, Mayor of Davenport, spoke for sound
money and was bitter in his references to
the "free silver-craze."
Cato Sells, United States District Attor-
ney, made conciliatory speech and L. R.
Bolter of Logan and ]. ]. shea of Council
Bluffs spoke for free silver. J. E. E. Mark
ley of Mason City presented the majority
report of the committee on resolutions.
1t was signed by nine members and read
as follows:
The Democratic party of Iowa in convention
assembled reaffirm the National platform of
rrT ado in in
points with satisfaction to the evidences of
wisdom OF that convention, of the results ac-
complished according to its promises, to the
evidences OF returning prosperity, the restora-
ton of wages and the re-establishment of in
dustry upon prosperous basis-conditions
which have extorted congratulations from
even the Republicans of Iowa. We declare the
rescue of the finances of the country from the
baneful effects of the Sherman law, the repeal
OF un-American Federal law and the uprooting
of McKinleyism to be works worthy of the
history and prestige of the great Democratic
party and of a courageous Democratic admin
istration. We reafirm the following portion
of the seventh plank of the last National Dem
oeratic Convention:
1--WE hold to the use of both gold and silver
as the standard money of the country and to
the coinage of both gold and silver without
discrimination against either metal or charge
both metals must be of equal intrinsic and ex-
changeable value, or be adjusted safeguards
of legislation, and shall insure the maintenance
of the parity of the two metals and the equal
power of every dollar at all times in the market
and in the payment of debts, and we demand
that all paper currency shall be kept at par
with and redeemable in such coin.''
s. We insist upon this policy as especially
necessary for the protection OF the farmers and
a1o Gref 6aFo
victims of unstable money and fuctuating
currency. We condemn the cowardice and
trickery of the Republican party of Iowa in
falling to meet in its last State platform any of
the issues important and vital TO the interests
OF our State, and we ask upon it the sober
judgment OF an intelligent people.
We believe that the mulct law fails to meet
the requirements of good excise statute. 1t
is unfair as between communities and imposes
hardship upon property-owners, and it COM
promises the honor of the State in declaring
the sale of liquors crime and condoning the
offense for a money consideration.
=. S. B. Evansof Ottumwa presented mi
nority report signed by himself and S. A.
Brewster of Creston, recommending the
substitution OF a financial plank demand
ing the free coinage of gold and silver at
16 to 1. E. M.iCarr of Manchester, ex-Con-
gressman Fred White of Keokuk County
and c. II. Mactey of Sigourney supported
the minority report.
No speaker was put forward to defend
the majority report. The ballot resulted
in the rejection sf the minority report and
the platform as arranged by the majority
was adopted.
' Judge Babb was introduced and made
Conservative address. He urged that
party platform was no place for legislative
detail, that coinaIe matters were legisla-
tive detail. He declared himself bimet-
ellist, as he thought most Democrats were.
He indorsed the patform and said that to
Congress should le left the work of pro-
viding for the CO mage OF both gold and
silver
W. +: Babb, nominate for Governor, is
an eminent attorrey. He lived in Des
Moines ffty-four Sears. He entered the
Mount Pleasant lTniuersitu in 1899