Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-06-06
SILVER In ILLINOIS.
The Pacs-Makins Democratic Convention
at Springfield.
FREE COINAGE AT IS TO |.
This Without Awaiting the Action Of
Any Other Country.
NATIONAL CONVENTION CALLED FOR
To Consider the Money Question and 30
Held Not Later Than August.
TROUBLE NARROWLY AvERTED.
A Pro-Aitgeld Platform Plank Drop
ped unceremoniousiy-strong Anti
cleveland FecIing-Bryan's speech
che Feature of the Occasion
fncidcats.
NATIONAL CONVENTION CALLED FOR
TROUBLE NARROWLY AvERTED.

not been for the timely action OF Secre-
tarv.of- State W. X. Hinrichsen, who is-
.ued a call for to-day's Illinois Demo-
cratic silver Convention. the event would
have ended in row II all came about
because OF a plank in the resolutions en-
aorsing Governor Altgeld. II had been
expressly agreed before the convention
was called 10 order that there was to be
no action taken outside Of that for which
the call providcd-the placing Of the seal
Of approval on free-coinage and the cleo
ton OF delegates 10 a national conven-
ton. 70 be held some time in the near
future.
The trouble began i'm the committee
room. where the platform was being pre-
pared. Ten members of the committee
voted for the Altgeld plank and nine
against H. The plank was put In. The
platform had been read by ex-Congress-
man Fithian. chairman Of the Resolu-
tons Committee, and friend of the Alt
geld plank.
a storm Of protests had arisen all over
.he hall. and IL looked If the pace-mak-
ug silver convention OF the West
WOULD end In a schsm which would be
fatal 10 the future Of the white metal
Al this juncture Hnrchsen arose and
waved his hand, and instantly the uproar
was hushod.
gentlemen" he said. Il have a per-
tonal request TO make Of you. do not
believe there is anybody in this hail who
has any more right to make such re-
quest than l have IL Is this: that the
part o. the resolutions endorsing Gov
ernor Algeld be stricken out, and for
this | ask unanimous consent. The mem
bers OF the State administration did not
expect 10 be endorsed by this conven-
ton. either as individuals or as d whole.
II such endorsement were made, the OBJ
iect OF this convention would be nulli-
fed"
Judge Mcconnell. the permanent chair
man. joined his request TO that OF hln-
richsen and Chairman Fithian, without
even waiting for the convention to
ratify the request read the resolutions
over again. this time leaving out the
Objectionable paragraph. Then the dele
gates adopted the platform with yell
IN re was a fun representation and |
abundant enthusiasm.
Ex-Congress Bryans speech was |
the feature OF the day. and he with DIM |
Guilty continued, on account OF the APP
plause. |
PLATFORM
The platform follows:
whereas, silver and gold have been |
tho principal money metals Of the world |
for thousands OF years, and silver money /
has been recognized and used as honest /
money between nations, Notwithstanding
the varying ratios between silver ana
gold ana
whereas. the demonetization of silver |
has deprived the people Of the free use |
and benefit of an Invaluable and original 1
r0uey-fnetal, and has increased debts |
and added 10 tn burdens OF the people
ty lowering the value OF products; ana
Whereas, the Constitution of the |
United States prohibits the use Of any |
tr.nE but gold and silver coin as legal |
tcnier for the payment Of debts, thereby |
recognizing that coin composed OF silver
ana gold Is honest money, and mt 10 be /
used as legal tenuer. therefore, by |
the ID mocracy Of Illinois. in convention |
ass mbled. be II
Resolved. That we are in favor of |
the use Of both gold and silver as the |
standard money OF the United States, and |
demand the free and unlimited coinage |
OF both metals at the ratio OF IS 20 ], |
thout waiting for the action Of any |
other nation; and that such coins shall |
De a legal tender for debt, public and |
private. and that all contracts hereafter |
executed for the payment OF money |
whether in gold. silver, or coin, may |
be- discharged by any money which is |
by law a legal tender.
we hereby endorse the action Of the |
Don 0cratic State Central Committee in |
calling this convention. and ave instruct |
the committee 10 carry out the VIII OF |
this convention, as expressed IN It's plat |
form by inaugurating and carrying on |
campaign OF education In this State. and |
o. thoroughly organize the Democracy OF |
the state on the lines laid down In this |
platform.
Resolved That we require the Demo- |
cratic National Committee TO call ma |
tonal convention 10 consider the money |
question not later than August, 1888.
III the said national committee refuses
% call such a convention. then we invite |
the Democratic State committees or the |
other States 10 take concurrent acton |
with the Democratic State Committee OF |
this state In calling such convention.
Resolved. That the Democratic mem |
hers Of the Congress and members OF the |
Senate from this State be and are hereby |
Instructed 10 use every honorable means |
10 carry out the principles above enun-
C.ated"
GATHERING OF THE CLANS.
This mornings trains visibly AUGMENTED |
the number OF delegates to the convention |
AID the prospects OF its being sue
cess were correspondingly increased. Al |
one time IL looked as II the county were
holding back. and that the representSuon
outside OF the city districts would De 20
small as TO seriously affect the sisndniS
q silver in the state Of Illinois. but all
fear ~ this was al on end when tile
delegates assembled in the commodious
hail Of the House OF Representatives, IN
the Capitol 81 noon.
Every delegate who valued his standing /
with his fellows wore on his coat tadge
shaped like an inverted triangle. the apex
% which WAS small gold nugget, ana
- al lnpqpQ ~ silXcr. /
Besides this. each man carded broad |
blue badge, telling for what he ~as there.
Sscretary-Of-S Hinnchson, by viz |
toe OF his once a. chairman OF :he DINO
cratic state Central COMMITTEES. c9iled the |
meeting TO order. and the Committee on
temporary organization reported the fol-
lowing recommendations. which were
adopted: Chairman. Monroe = Crawford,
o. Union county: Secretary. Arthur Ben
tie Of Pike: Assistant Secretaries. W j.
Cochran. Of Polk; w. j. Mcdowell. of
Nermllion. John u. Breckenridge. Of Fui-
ton; Robert /. Hunt. OF Macon; William
sioen, Of McHenry, and II. +. Ebcrleln;
;efgeani-ai-Arms. 7. J. sparks. OF Nc
Donohue
Temporary Chairman C.swford said he
woeld not delay the proceedings of The
convention By making a speech. He /
"ould' however. say that the eyes OF the 4
whole country were on this convention.
Let its action he no uncer' ain che. Let
u rot beat about The bush. nor Elipce
matters. but deeLare either Internationally
Tor gold or FOR the free ani unlimited
coinage OF silver at i6 10 /.
PROPOSED GAG-LAW
When Chairman Crawford had finished
ms brief speech. a delegate from one OF
me country towns started the movement
70 Keep all abuse OF Cleveland or praise
W Aiiseid out Of the convention by In
uoduciag a resoiuticn that all resolu-
ions OF political nature offered 10 the
convention be received and referred 20
we Committee on Resolutions without
being read.
Fnomas Merriam, Of Marion county.
"4s on his feet in an instant, and strsnu-
10y OBJECTED 10 having what he called
sss-sw applied 10 the convention, lie
a. %e any resolutions introduced 10 be
f" was evident that there was s0ins !