Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-08-15
BABB FOR GOVERNOR.
IOWA DEMOCRATS CHOOSE
THEIR CANDIDATE.
State Convention at Marshaiitown
Reaffirms the National Democratic
Platform OF 1892 Lively Contest
Over Silver.



Governor. Walter /. Babb
Lieutenant Governor. .S. l.. Bestow
Supt. of instruction. 49,. Il. b. Parshall
Railroad Commissioner. 80. g. Jenkins
Judge Supreme Court. -. IT. q. Harper
The Iowa Democratic State convention
was called to order by Chairman Howard
at 1870 o'clock Wednesday morning in
Marshalltown. The convention was held
at the Odeon Theater, and the handsome
auditorium had been prettily decorated
with bunting. The delegates left little
room for spectators. Prayer was offered
by Rev. Father Lehman. f. q. Pierce,
the youthful Mayor of Marshalltown,
made a brief speech of welcome and put
the convention in good humor by saying
he extended the freedom of the city, espe-
cially to the Scott County delegation.
Temporary Chairman French. who was
received with applause, attributed the
special invitation of the Mayor to the
known modesty of the Davenport dele
gates. and then launched upon his speech.
He dwelt fully upon the prohibition ques-
ton and scored the mulct law unmerciful-
ly. He then took up the several vital
State issues in detail. together with ma
tional questions strongly approving Presi-
dent Cleveland's course during the panic.
Mr.. French thought silver monometallism
would cut wages worse than during the
war and demonstrated how free coinage
would decrease the value of the working
mans earnings in savings banks fully 30
per cent. The volume of money, he de-
clared, was sufficient for business de-
mands. Low prices. including the decline
i'm wheat, were next considered. and Mr..
French closed with the hope that neither
the gold nor silver monometalism would
drive the other coin from circulation.
The convention reafiirmed the financial
plank Of the Democratic national conven
ton of 1892 The silver men made a
strong fight, but they were beaten. They
had been claiming from 700 to 800 of the
Ito delegates. but when ii came to the
test they were able to muster few more
than half the number claimed. They
fought for the permanent chairman and
were beaten by II vote of 660 to Al They
fought for a silver plank in the platform
and went down under an adverse vote
of 652 to 400
Ex-Judge Walter |. Babb. of Mount
Pleasant. was nominated for Governor
without opposition. Mr. Babb is bimet-
allist and indicated his position in short
speech before the convention. There was
no candiate for Lieutenant Governor.
Mayor Vollmer was too young and Joseph
Eiboeck, of Des Moines. would not permit
the use Of his name. W. A. Groneweg of
Council Bluffs. ex-State Senator. had
been mentioned, but without consultation
with him, as he was not present 1t had
been designed by the old party leaders to
name representative German for the
place, but when the silver men, smarting
under their defeat, sprung the name Of
ex-Lieut. Gov. ;. l.. Bestow, of Charlton.
the opposition saw good opportunity to
soften the asperities of the fight and
heartily Joined in nominating the man
who had been beaten few minutes be.
fore for permanent chairman of the con.
vention.
Thomas G. Harper, of Burlington. was
named for judge of the Supreme Court
in a contest with K. T.. Hasner an old
lawyer of independence but Lyman Il.
Parshall, of Maquoketa. for superintend-
ent of public instruction, and George
jenkins, of Dubuque, were nominated
without opposition. 1t was large and
enthusiastic convention, with bitter
tight on the silver question. but the result
was accepted with a show of grace.
The Platform.
The Democratic party of Iowa. in conyen-
ton assembled, reaffrms the national pIot-
form OF the party adopted I'm Chicago In iS92
points with satisfaction to evidences of the
wisdom OF that convention. In results ac-
70 atx.l..