The herald., 1895-08-07
FREE SILVER IN MISSOURI
Sound Money Advocates Over.
whelmed by Silverites
WHO WERE MORE NUMEROUS
Democrats Who Want Free and Unlim.
tied Silver Coinage
The natters Having Been All Cut and Dried
In Advance Are Carried With
Hurrah
Associated Press speciol Wire

Associated Press Special Wire.
PERTLE SPRINGS. Mo-, Aug. 6.-Free
silver has conquered IN Missouri as it did
in Illinois, and the fears expressed late
last night and early this morning that
there would be strife and turmoil in to-
days convention we're not borne out.
The so-called gold or sound money ad.
vocates were so overwhelmed by the supe-
rior generalship and numerical strength
OF the free silver leaders and forces that
they made but very faint effort to stay
the onslaught of the white metal adher-
ents. Bland said, in opening the conven-
ton, that the Democrats of Missouri had
assem- bled to adopt resolutions for the
free coinage of silver, to select stat,
committee which would be in sympathy
with the popular will. aud how we'll his
prophecy was carried out the result of
to-day convention tells. The report of the
committee on permanent organization
which practically SHOWS under the old
committee, was adopted with but one or
two dissenting voices. That of the reso-
luton calling for free and unlimited coin
age of silver at 16 to l regardless OF any
foreign nations was carried with q hurrah
and expedition seldom seen in any con-
vention, and, furthermore, men were se-
lected to nominate delegates favorable to
silver to the national Democratic conven-
ton of 1895. AS whole. the friends of
silver are feeling happy tonight and con-
gratulations are in order.
The state central committee met at Gals
a. m. and selected "Silver Dick :" Bland
as temporary chairman.
Lew Love of Springfie was made sec
retary. These nominations were ratified
and the committee mmediately ad-
journed. This move of adjourning with
out taking action on the rumored COM
mittee changes is taken to be the plan of
the sound money" men to throw the
onus of whatever trouble may arise in
the Democratic ranks onto the silver
men.
United States Senator Cockrell had an
all-nignt session with leading members of
the state central committe in an endeavor
to close the breach which seemed to be
widening with each hour. Cockrell is on
the conservative side. working for har.
mony. He sugg sted q resolution be
in the convention giving the
state central committee iron-clad instr uc-
tions as to their duties during the state
campaign in 1896. Mem pers Of the com.
mittee present. however. were opposed to
such action, and when the meeting ad-
journed no progress had been made
tiunss.
Tho convention was 70. mally called to
order at noon by John p Carroll After
prayer by Rev. Dr. Berry, Mr.. Carroll
made few remarks, which had ten
dency to hafmonize the contending fac
tions. He then introduced r. p Bland as
temporary chairman. Bland congratu-
lated the Democratic party upon the
gathering of the Democratic
hosts for action upon the free silver ques-
tion. He said the Democrats of Missouri
had met to renew their pledges for biz
metallism. The Democrats OF Missouri,
he said. sent greetings to the Democrats
of illinois with regard to the declarations
already made upon this subject. 1--WE
have met to declare for the free coinage
of silver at the ratio of 16 to !. and we
will DO what our constituents have sent
US here to do"
After the committees were selected the
free silver jubilee silgers Of Warrens-
burg. entertained the convention with
free silver songs.
Colonl W. r. Switzer of Bonneville, rep
resenting the free silver Democratic edit
ors of Missouri. who met at Sedalia re-
Gently. then addressed the convention.
Iledging the support of the editors in
the fight tor the white metal. After
Conel Switzcr had concluded his remarks
the convention adjourned until O'Clock
state central committee having made its
appearance. The convention will probably
work tonight
After the convention adjourned the
on permanent organization
decided to make the temporary organiza-
tion permanent. Then the wedge which
may end in dividing the party in Mis-
souri, was inserted in the way Of a resolu-
tion providing for increasing the num-
Der OF state committeeman. The resolu-
tion adds one member from each con-
gressional district and four at large. The
chairman is to be hereafter selected by
the regular state nominating convention.
The resolution was unanimously adopted
in committee. The temper of the con.
vention was tried on this question
when 1T met this afternoon. Nothing
was done by the committee On resolu-
tions during the rscess.
The convention opened promptly at
0 clock. and the temporary organization
was made permanent. The resolutions
to increase the state central committee
were read. Objections we're quickly made
from two or three quarters and call for
A division was demanded. The question
was finally decided, and the vote on the
proposition to increase the committee
was ordered. The vote resulted in an
overwhelming majority in favor of the
increase. The free silver men had such
III c"cN ViStoiys VIC IcpOIt uS WuOie
was then adopted. The committee on
resolutions not being ready to report, the
convention took a short recess.
While waiting for the committee on
resolutions to report, the time was taken
up in speecn-making. ex-Congressman
Hatch and Hon. M. 4. Benton address,
ing the convention. The most remark
lble portion of Mr.. Benton's address was
his reference to the gold advocates. He
said:
Every gold advocate in the state of
Missouri is either usurer an office
holder, or man with prospects for
)ffice.
At 4:40 tha committee on resolutions
'eported the platform as foilows::
The Democrats of Missoui. in state con-
1ention assembled. make the tollo wing
declaration OH the monetary question
which has been forced into the leading
place among the issues of the day. Ths
ederal constitution names silver and gold
ogether as the money metals of the
United States. The first coinage law
passed by congress under the constitu
ion made the silver dollar the unit of
'alue and admitted gold to free coinage
It ratio measured by the silver dollar
nit.
From the beginning OF the government.
ollowing the policy formulated by
Thomas Jefferson and firmly established
~ Jackson. the Democratic party has
,een the party of bimetallism, favoring
he free coinage of both silver and gold