The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-06-05
THE HOSTS OF SILVER.
Illinois Democrats Gather in
State Convention.
Attendance Immense in Spite of
Adverse Reports.
ALL ARE FOR SILVER.
Nearly Every One is Wearing a
16 to 1 Badge.
Little Doubt That Free Coinage
Will Triumph.

SPRINGFIELD, Ills, June 5. = With
every train that came into Springfield to-
day came large delegations of delegates
to the Democratic state convention. The
fear of the leaders last night that the
/ attendance would be small were allayed
More people came than any one had ex-
pected and today the streets were
thronged with siIverites from all parts of
the state.
Blue badges bearing the inscription:
''Free silver 16 to ~ f1uttered from the
lapels of coats of incomers and many
delegations carried banners proclaiming
their belief in free coinage of silver on a
! basis of 16 to 1 of gold.
During the night the weather became
cool and today light summer coats were
not heavy enough for comfort 1t is the
first time in the memory of the
oldest politician of the state
that the weather has been
anything but sweltering hot during a
convention in this city. The delegations
that came in yesterday and last night
! were up almost with the sun this morn
! ing and enthusiastic silver speeches by
enthusiastic believers in free coinage
could be heard in the lobbies of all the
hotels.
Every delegate seemed to be for the
| free coinage of silver and If
there were any opposed to it,
they were SO few, or SO quiet as not
to be noticeable. There is no doubt
in the mind of any one that radical free
silver platform will be adopted and that
the Democratic party of this state will be
committed to that policy.
During the morning the different con-
gressional delegations held sessions in
the rooms of the capitol building for
! the purpose of selecting members of
the committees on credentials, resolutions,
permanent organization and rules. In
many cases resolutions were adopted
upholding the Democratic state central
committee in its action in calling the sill
yer convention. These resolutions were
distributed through the congressional
committee meetings by representatives
of the central committe
When the committees concluded
their work a stampede was made
| to get desirable seats in the sem
ate which was to be the convention
! hall. Secretary of State Heinrichsen
had arranged the hall in gala attire with
bunting and flags in profusiOn. The gal
leries filled rapidly.
Many members of the Legislature were
delegates and occupied places with their
delegations. When ". H. Hinrichsen,
chairman of the Democratic state
central committee walked upon the
stage there was loud cheering which
continued for some minutes. After it
subsided Mr.. Hinrichsen said Rev. F. W.
Taylor would lead in prayer.
At the conclusion of prayer, Mr.. Hin
richsen spoke.
Mr.. Henrichsen said: "Before stating
the object of this convention, it is proper
that should give briefly the reasons of
the state central committee for calling
you together.
"When the present committee was or
ganized last January it found the Dem
ocratic party of the state in deplorable
condition.
"At the November election thousands
of its members had voted the Re-
publican ticket, thousands had
voted the PopuIist ticket, while
others sulked and refused to vote any
ticket In fact, with the exception of II
few old bourbons and us otficeholders,
there seemed to be little left of a party
which had carried the state by over
twenty thousand plurality two years be-
fore.
"It was found that the most general
cause of a complaint. was that congress
had failed to establish a permanent cur
reucy system for our country The
president and each member of congress
had interpreted the currency plank of
the platform of 1892 to suit himself
"The currency question was found to
be the most common subject of discus
sion among the people, and it was easy
to see that that would be the gseat issue
in the next campaign. Silver clubs were
being formed all over the country, mass
conventions of silver Democrats were
being called in the counties and the or
gaGization of the national silver party at
Washington, threatened to take from US
the last forlorn remnant of our demoral-
lied party.
"The situation was a grave one The
president and other Democrats in high
| places seemed determined on a line of
policy to which the rank and file of the
party were opposed; the administration
could not or would not believe that it was
not in accord with the people in its inan-
| cial policy. In this dilemma the COM
mittee determined upon the Democratic
plan of asking the people for instruc-
tions. and SO this convention was called.
"The question has been asked, why
was the convention called so early. 1t
, is easily answered, for there were two
good reasons, one was to forestall the
action of the national silver party which
, was preparing to launch a boom that
would have carried away good many
good Democrats in this and other states.
, and the other was for the purpose of
opening up the question for discussion
long enough before the meeting of the
national convention in 1896 to prevent q
hopeless split in the party
"Gentlemen you have responded to
the call OF the committee in coming here
today and it is my hope that your further
action will not only mark out line OF