The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-05-01
The BgTTLE RgGES.
The Democratic lroquois Club. of
Chicago, Torn to Pieces by the
Free Silver, Question.
To Declare for a Gold Standard the
Majority is Obliged to Repudiate
the Democratic National and
State Platforms,

ings in its history the Iroquois Club last
night repudiated the Democratic ma
tioanl platform Of 1892, the state Demo-
cratic platform of 1894 and adopted
single gold standard resolution which
several of the members boldly declared
would result in the disruption of the ia
nous Democratic club of Chicago. At
times the meeting resembled a ward
convention. Charges of "bolters' and
traitors" to Democratic principles were
frequently INDUCED in, several resolu-
tions to postpone and adjourn were made
and defeated, and President Mcconnell
was frequently compelled to beg the
members to preserve order. The soand
| money men won the day; but at the OK
pense of Democratic platforms, which
| their opponents forced them to either
swallow or cast into the gutter. They
chose the latter alternative and the meet
| ing broke up in a state bordering on
| tumult. This is the original resolution,
which was adopted after three hours
| hot discussion, by vote of 48 yeas to
| % nays:
Resolved, BY the members of the
Iroquois Club, That it is inexpedient and
unwise to open the minis of the United
| States to the free coinage of silver; that
it would be most unfortunate if at this
time, when signs of returning confidence
| and renewed prosperity are multiplying,
such an unwise and disastrous step
! should be taken. The necessary effect
would be to aggravate those industrial,
commercial and financial ills from which
we have but lately suffered and to post
pone Indefinitely the advent OF normal
| and prosperous cOnditiOns.'
| ONE-THIRD ARE SILVER MEN.
The above resolution was introduced
in the beginning of the meeting by S. S..
Gregory Then the fun began. The
silver faction was led by Joseph B. Mann,
Charles Shackelford. ex-Mayor Hopkins,
G.. S. barrow, Louis Hornstein, Il. B.
Talman, Lawrence P. Boyle and others,
who soon made it apparent that at least
third of the rs members present
were opposed to the gold standard. Mr..
Shackelford began the fight by Offering
as substitute the silver plank In the
national Democratic platform Of 1892.
The sound money men voted it down.
Then Joseph B. Mann submitted In
irony a gold monometallist substitute.
This was defeated. Ex-MayOr Hopkins
offered as substitute the free silver
plank in the Illinois platform Of 1894.
This suffered the fate of it's predecessors.
Other substitute motions and points OF
order followed fast and furious, and it
was not until nearly midnight that the
| In, Acnrdor
EARLY SIGNS OF CONFLICT.
President Mcconnell stated the object
of the meeting and S. Gregory started
the ball rolling by presenting the reso-
luton which appears above. Charles
Shackelford submitted as substitute the
money plank of the Democratic national
platform of 1892, which favors free coin
age of both gold and silver upon a proper
basis. The club INDUCED in a half hours
debate upon rules. The silver men want
ed unlimited time, while the sound mon.
ey members wanted the speeches lin.
tied to. ten minutes. The meeting was
threatened with disruption over this
proposition, but the sound money peo-
pie won their point. Mr.. Shackeford be-
gan the debate in favor of free coinage
He said the meaning of the Gregory res
olution was gold monometallism. Il
meant that there should be no coinage Of
silver in the future If that was the
policy of the Democratic party, 1t hat
been practicing an Infamous fraud upor
the people of the country. The constitu
ton provides for the coinage Of both COLE
and silver and delegated that power tt
congress. The doctrine laid down in the
resolution was inspired by the Roths
childs, and that the Iroquois Club, thu
heart of Illinois Democracy, should
adopt such policy was reflection up
on the honesty of the party. The secre
meaning of the resolution was singl,
gold recommendation. The speaker reat
the national platform of 1892, which de
clared for the coinage of both gold ant
silver upon such basis as would preserv
the parity of the two metals. This res
olution, he declared, meant the perma
nent abandonment of the coinage Of sill
yer. When the states surrendered tn
right of coinage to the general govern
, ment it was never contemplated that tn
government should discriminate between
the two metals. Had such thing beel
dreamed of the constitution would reve
, have been adopted. Why was silver de
, monetized? Because the men who de
manded it held the bonds of the nation
[ | and wanted to be paid in enhances
/ | money.
| NOT DEMANDED BY THE PEOPLE
t Was 1t demanded by the common peo
) pie, who compose the great body Of tn
: Democratic party? No, but by the bond
: holders, bankers and creditors of the ma
ton. 1t was an attempt to do the bust
ness of the country with one-half of tn
t money. 1t was a proposition which tn
E speaker believed the Iroquois Club wa
1 not ready to adopt. Mr.. Shackelfor
5 then substituted as substitute for tn
4 resolution the money plank of the ma
+ tional Democratic platform of 1892.
John c. Richburg objected to the sub
: stitute, declaring that it was not in or
s der, although he believed the club coul
| adopt both resolution and substitute.
t Mr.. Shackelford read the resolutio
: and declared it meant the absolut
;. abandonment Of silver as a money.
4 "You have left out 16 to l." interpose
S a member.
t at lis not in the resolution" reptile
}, Mr.. Shackelford. Nothing is said abou
e 16 to 1 or any other ratio"
George w. Brandt declared that tn
: coinage of silver was discretionary wit
: congress. 1--WE know a great deal NOR
e about these things than our ancestor
e did," he said. Eve are confronted wit
i a condition. If you issue money wort
: only 50 cents o nthe dollar you are goin
to drive out all other money. This
D not a question of Democracy per se
r is a passing question and requires in
o mediate settlement. They are trying I