The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-06-06

SPRINGFIELD. ILL.,, June 5.-With
every train arriving in Springfield TO-
day, came large delegations to the Dem
ocrstic State convention. The fear of
leaders last night that the attendance
would be small are allayed. More
people came than any one had expected,
and to-day the streets were thronged
with silverites from all parts of the
State. Blue badges bearing the inscrip.
ton: Free silver 16 to l." fiuttered
from the lapels Of coats OF incomers, and
many delegations carried banners pro-
claiming their belief In free coinage of
silver on basis of IS to 1, OF gold.
During the morning the different Con-
gressional delegations held sessions in
rooms in the capitol building for the
purpose OF selecting members OF COM
mittees on credentials, rules, perman-
emit organization and resolutions. In
many cases resolutions we're adopted
upholding the Democratic State central
committee in it's action in calling the
convention. When the comm itteeB con-
cluded their work stampede was made
to get desirable seats In the senste
chamber, which served ae the conven-
ton hall. The galleries filled rapidly.
When w. Ii. Hinrichsen. chairman Of
the State central com mittee, walked
upon the stage there was loud cheering,
which continued for some minutes.
After prayer by Rev. f. w. Taylor,
Mr.. Hinrichsen addressed the conven-
ton. He alluded to the deplorable
condition In which the last November
election had left the Democ ratio party
OF Illinois, and said there seemed but
little left of the party which had car
ried the State by over 10000 plurality
two years before. He alluded in strong
terms to the inaction and misrepre-
sentation of their constituents by NOM
bers OF Congress on the currency uues-
ton and the failure OF that body to
establish permanent financial system
The President and each member of
Congress, he said, had interpreted
the currency plan OF the platform of
1892 to suit himself, and had not carried
out the wishes of the majority, but
Democrats in high places seemed deter
mined on line OF policy to which the
rank and file of the party WE'RE opposed.
The committee found that in this cam
paign OF education one side or the other
must be taken, and as il had no right TO
make platform or to outline policy,
30 In it's trouble Il determined upon the
Democratic plan of asking the people
for instructions and thus the convention
was called.
The committee has been severely
criticised for calling this convention,
but 1t has little to say in reply and
has avoided any person slities that
might drive any good Democrats out of
the party. He said the party had req
sponded to the call and he hoped the
convention would mark out line OF
policy for the committee to follow that
would unite the Democratic party on
one common object and enable it to
again write tsel' the majority party in
the State and in the nation.
The temporary chairman named was
Judge Monroe Crawford, of Union
county, and the secretary, Arthur w.
Bentley, of Pike county. Districts were
called for the purpose of receiving the
names OF the different committeeman,
and the fact developed that full list of
district delegates had been selected In
caucus this morning to attend a ma
tional monetary convention, should one
be called.
John P. Hopkins, of Chicago, W. d.
Hinrichsen, Hon. George B. Fithian and
Gen. Lewis B. Parsons were unani-
mously selected as delegates at large to
national silver convention. John
Warner, John Watson. Gen. Alfred
Orondorff and L. 0. White were chosen
alternates.
When the convention re-assembled at
p. m. the reports of committees on
credentials we're received and adopted.
The committee on permanent organiza-
sion elected vigorous applause by nam
Ing as permanent chairman Judge S. B.
Mcconnell, of Chicago. who made a
vigorous speech, which was enthusiasts.
tically applauded. He said in part:
This convention has most peculiar
and OF most important Significance.
Heretofore managers OF political parties
have so arranged that party politics
should be declared only at the time can.
didates were chosen. The result had
been often that our platforms have put
forth mere assertion of general prin-
ciples or have on live issues expressed
themselves in meaningless compro-
misses. Colorless candidates have been
presented to the people or candidates
with little sympathy for the real pur-
pose of party. This convention marks
q departure, and is intended not only TO
allow free discussion before the next
political engagement, but to define our
party position with distinctness and
deinitepess.
"Csn anyone say that because great
nation OF 100000 OF people decides to
coir silver into money, and all they get
Of it, the result will be to make gold
more valuable? II corn, by an inyen.
ton could be made to serve all the pur-
poses OF wheat, the tendency certainly
would be to make corn dearer and wheat