The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-03-02
SILVER DEMOCRATS ACT
Mr. Bryan Calling For a Confer
enCe OF Free Silver Men.
THE MAJORITY MUST RULE
A Petition Setting Forth the Need
OF the Silver Men Taking Action
to Control the Party Being
Circulated in the House
of Representatives.
DY Southern Associated Press.

WAslGINGTON, March I.-Repro-
sentative Bryan, of Nebraska, aband.
oned at O late hour this afternoon
his intention of securing Il confer
ence of the free silver Republicans
and Senators with n view of issuing
call to the Democrats of the coun :
try. laying down the proposition
that majority of the Democrats
favor the tree aud unlimited coinage
OF silver, and calling upon this
majority to take control OF the party
organization. He decided instead
to circulate tho call among such of
the House Democrats rs favor the
free coinage OF silver with view to
securing the Endorsement.
About twenty gentlemen Ind sign
eli at the hour of adjournment.
These were representatives of fifteen
States, Dlr. BrYan's purpose being
to widen III the call as much as pos
sib!e. A number of Democrats de-
clined to sign for ono reason or an
other, but Mr.. Bryan believes that
IN the end very considerable mum
Der will ailix their signatures to the
paper. y copy Of tho call will be
circulated in the Senate to morrow.
1t is presented only to Democrats
and not TO Popullsts or free silver
Republicans. Nlr. Bryan believes
that II this matter be squarely pre-.
sented to the Democratic voters of
the country the effect will be seen
IL the pnrty organizations in future
campaigns, and that it will result IN
giving the control of the party ma
chinery to the men who really rep
resent the majority mainly the free
silver element.
The call Is addressed "To the
Democrats oi the United States, ."
and reads ms follows:
1--WE, theundersigned Democrats,
present for our consideration the
statement
1--WE believe that the establish.
ment OF gold AS the only monetary
standard and the elimination of sill
yer as full legal tender money will
iluaiiy reduce the majority OF the
people to financial bondage.
1--WE believe that no party can
nope for enduring success III the
| United States so long rs it advocates
single gold standard.
eve believe that the money aues-
tion will DO the paramount issue In
1896.
"We believe that large majority
of the Democrats Of the United
states favor hi metalllsm aud realize
that 1t can only be secured by the
restoration OF the free ana uulimit.
ed coinage Of gold and silver at the
present ratio.
| I'VE believe that it is the duty of
the majority and within their power
to take charge OF the party organi
2atlon and make the Democratic
party an effective instrument III the
ACCOMPLISHMENT of needed reforms.
I'VE believe that tue rank and
Tile of the Democratic narty should
| at once assert themselves In the
Democratic party and place the
| party on record in favor OF the i'm.
denlate restoration of the free aud
unlimited coinage OF gold aud silver
at The present ratio OF 16 to /, as
such coin existed prior to 1878,
without waiting for tho nid or con.
sent OF any other nation, such gold
and silver coin to be full legal
tender for ell debts, public and pri-
vate.