Birmingham state herald., 1895-11-14
It's vicious legislation

put one party. It's vicious legislation that hurts.
 eats up these eagles of Wall street 1t wla be better for the country. My democrat ic friends, we will have to get together and wipe out this kind of leaders I don't know how it's going to come, but it's com ing. My friends, we are going to have a great time in 1896. You may divide into three or four parties, but there will be but two. One will combine the good and true, the other the plutocrats. I will be in the party that goes back to the, old democratic faith. I said in congress that I would go where the good old dem ocratic doctrine is to be found. will go with the republicans if necessary or the pops, who have always been true on thi9 money question. That's my position. l hope it will be the democratic party. If the democracy sells itself to the gold power in 96 they'll do 1t without me.
 Two of the greatest panics we ever had were under low tariffs One in 1887 or in 1857, under 25 per cent tariff, and then another in 1873 under the Morrill, tar if, which was about AS per cent. They say the tariff will be the issue again No such thing. This is the only country that makes a political question of the tariff. But it's on the money question we must get together Against the free silver army will be John Sherman and Grover Cleveland and William MeKin- ley ana lnOn1aS B. fteeu. ONtF LII HVdu of this procession will float the flag of England, and the band will play God Save the Queen" Side by side with that will march another procession composed of the good and the true, over whom will float the stars and stripes and the band will play Yankee Doodle"
 In closing his speech MT. Sibley said he would not be candidate for any office, but would work in the ranks for the cause of free silver.
 State Senator Goodwin thanked MT. Sibley for his speech.
 In response to a question of delegate Mr Sibley said should the democrats nominate a good free silver man on free silver platform he would support their nominee.
 He said the coinage of all silver bullion in the United States would not increase the circulating medium over $2.5O per capita.
 P. G. Bowman said MT. Sibley had said free coinage of silver was the great ques- tion, and in the nation that was proba- bly, the case, but in Alabama there was question far above that. He has heard shouts in response to his speech from thousand people from thousand sec tions of Alabama who are disfranchised. There are people here today, perhaps un- der the sound of my voice, who were anx- ious for this conference today to split, but we ain't going to do it.
 Mir Bowman offered a resolution which declared honest elections paramount to all other issues in Alabama. The resolu- tion did not meet the approval of num- Der of delegates present and Judge Mo- ragne moved to amend the resolution so it would read: We will not cooperate or fuse with any party who will in any way support the gold standard, and we will cooperate only with men who advo- cate the free and independent coinage of ell a n
 The amendment was accepted by MT. Bowman and on motion the resolutions as amended we're adopted.
 Several gentlemen objected to the vote being taken without discussion, and sew eral calls for organization were made.
 A delegate moved that i've will not fuse with any man or set of men who will vote for a gold standard candidate for any office"
 The split anticipated seemed inevitable at this point and to avoid further wrang- ling MT. Bowman withdrew his resolu- tions.
 Capt. R. F. Kolb nominated s. M. Adams for temporary chairman.
 It had not been the intention of the leaders to effect any organization of the conference but the factional discussions arising a hurried consultation of the leaders was held and an organization agreed upon.
 Chairman Adams took the chair and explained why the conference had been called. He said the callers of this con- ference had not contemplated fusion with any party, but they did want to stand with every man whether he has white or black eyes, against the disfranchisement of the voters of the state While the sill yer question Is an important question, yet the greatest question In Alabama Is honest elections. I heartily indorse the words of the late Colonel Troy, when he said "the right to have your vote counted should be defended at whatever cost"
 McMullen and Gus Hobson were elect ed temporary secretaries of the confer ence.
 All members of the press were invited to take seats on the stage
 N. B. Spear moved the appointment of a committee of five on credentials and permanent organization.
 The chair appointed on the committee N B. Spear of St. Clair Judge Moragne of Etowah, P. G. Bowman of Jefferson, Reynolds of Shelby and Powell of Gull man.
 A motion to adjourn until 2;3O pre- vailed.
 Afternoon Session.
 At 8 o'clock Chairman Adams called the conference to order. and while await ing for the comittee on credentials to re- port pr. P. T. Johnston of Frankfort ad- dressed the conference, stating his req sons for his recent conversion to popu- lsm. He said he had not changed his pol itics, nor did he have better feeling for his fellow men, but he saw he was wrong and wanted to set himself right He had eight specifications against Pres ident Cleveland, some of which he stated, and then closed his remarks by denounc- ing Cleveland, Carlisle, Hoke Smith, Banker Morgan and Josiah Patterson as damnable traitors.
 The credentials committee came in and reported on the delegations present. The secretary began to read the names, but on motion the report was adopted.
 They reported as follows on perma- nept organizations:
 A P. Longshore of Shelby. chairman.
 c. A. Hobson of Hale and J. R. McMul- len secretaries.
 F. G. Bowman submitted minority report substituting the name of Frank Baltzell as chairman. In making his re- port MT. Bowman said movement had been started on foot by MT. Adams friends to make him temporary chairman and friends of Frank Baltzell did the same. He said the enemies of the move noent (this conference) caught onto this