The state herald., 1895-08-23
IOWA DEMOCRATS.
Many of Them VIII Bolt the Ticket BE-
oause of the Currency Plank.

Many OF Them VIII Bolt the Ticket Re.
oause of the Currency Plank.
Council Bluffs, Iowa, Aug. 19.-There
IL without doubt a very serious revolt
among the free-sllver Democrats of Iowa
over the passage of the platform of the
state convention. 1t Is difficult to tell
how great will be this revolt, but there
Is little doubt that 1t will result in tn a
loss of several thousand Democratic
votes. The Iowa silver men assert that
the convention was dominated by federal
officeholders and influences. They rs
sert that there were postmasters and
marshals without end and district attor-
neys and other federal appolntees who
came there for the deliberate purpose If
preventing the passage of free-silyer
platform by the convention. The silver
men say that they were conspired
against from the first. the chairman of
the convention being Nathaniel French
or Davenport, strong gold man.
French's speech was from first to last
denunciatlon of free silver and was
received by mingled Kisses and groans.
This sentiment was increased by the
speech Of Henry Vollmer, the young and
very voluble mayor of Davenport, who
had no words Of compromise for the sill
yer men. and dashed them without
mercy. The leaders Of the silver men IN
the convention were Captain Sam r..
Evans Of Ottumwa, Congressman
Fred White of Keokuk county, and ]. ].
Shea Of this city. They all made fiery
speeches. They We're greatly angered
by the speech of Cato Sells, United
States district attorney for the northern
dlstlict, who rather prided hIntself oil
being an ofiiceholder and delegate to
the convention. The silver men We're
confident on the day before the conyen-
tion that they would carry It, but they
were beaten almost In the ratio Of 3 to 9
Since the delegates came home they
have been besieged by their friends as
10 what they would now do So far as
y known none of them have left the par.
y, but 1t Is certain that they will do
nothing to aid the party In this cam
paign. The feeling in this part of the
state and In this city may be more bit
ter than In other parts of the state. II
1t Is not so 1t Is predicted that the Dem
ocrats will lose Iowa by 100000 votes
this fall. This county has been for years
for the silver movement. but 1t has re-
Gently grown very much stronger.
The revolt began here few days ago.
w. ii. Ware and w. II. Knepher. men,
bers of the county committee, resigned,
and 1t is said that others will follow. Mr..
Ware Is one of the most prominent
Democrats In this county. He was a
member Of the Legislature preceding the
last from this county, and stands very
high here. knepher Is local politician
OF note. This means that they will take
no part In the campaign.
j. j. Shea, who was last year candi-
date for clerk Of the Supreme court on
the Democratic ticket and indorsed by
the Populists, and who made the most
violent of the free silver speeches, has
issued card In regard to the situation.
He declares that the federal oiiiceholders
We're in charge and he urges all honest
Democrats to remain In the party and
get ready for 1896. In that year they
can by work gain control Of the con.
ventiOn.
Lesrand Bylngton, an aged Democrat
or Iowa City, one of the most noted and
unique figures In the state, has issued
an open letter 10 the president and his
representatives in this state. declaring
That II spit upon your platform and re-
fuse TO vote your ticket" The Dubu.
que Telegraph, the leading silver paper
In the state. says that the party will be
badly defeated this year. The Creston
Advertiser. whose editor Is a member
OF the state central committee and was
one OF the two OF the committee OF reso.
lutions who presented the minority re-
port. says. "'rhe money platform will
not win n vote for Democracy, but will
drive thousands out Of the party this
year. Free coinage Democrats will not
swallow Republican gold-standas,i
plank and Will not vote at all or will
vote the Populist ticket. rx.LIeutenan:
Governor =. l.. Bestow OF Charlton, who
was nominated for lieutenant governor
by this convention after he had lett the
hall. when asked what he would do. an.
swered that he would accept the nomIn.
alton. but rs he was In direct opposi.
ton to the platform on the money ques.
tion, being In favor OF free silver at the
ratio OF III to |, he would not make any
canvass for the ticket. This Is certainly
u remarkable statement as coming from
the second man on the ticket.