The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-06-06
Democrats AND Silver
Large Representation Of the Illinois
Party Meet at Springfield.
BRYAN DENOUNCES CLEVELAND
As Modest as Saul Until Seeking Conn
sci from the Familiar Spirits" OF
Wall Street - Now Gun.
Ing for DaVids.

Springfield, ILL.,, June 5.-This morn
lng's trains visibly augmented the num-
ber of delegates to the Democratic sill
yer convention, and the prospects of 1t
being a success were correspondingly
increased.
A. one time 1t looked as II the coun-
try was holding back. and that the rep
resentation outside of the city districts
would be 50 small az to seriously affect
the standing of silver In the state OF
Illinois, but all fear of this was at an
end when the delegates assembled IN
the commodious hall of representatives
in the capitol at noon today. Secretary
of State Hinrichsen, by virtue of his Of
flee as chairman of the Democratic
State Central committee, called the
meeting to order.
The committee on temporary organi-
cation reported.
In opening the convention Mr.. Hin
richsen stated the object of the conven-
tion.
Roast for MIR. Cleveland.
Ex-Congressman w. ]. Bryan ad-
dressed the convention and stated MS
well known views In favor of free Sill
yer. In speaking of Mr.. Cleveland, Mr..
Bryan said:
ut is to be regretted that the first
Democratic president since the war
should become the trusted instrument
in the hands of concentrated wealth,
the official head of the Communism of
pelf.' When he was found he was as
modest as Saul. and as conspicuous
among his fellows for his good con-
duct, but since he has sought counsel
Of the Familiar spirits Of Wall street
he has tried to take the political life
Of every David whom the people trust
ed. Grover Cleveland is not the Demo-
cratic party-Democracy Is greater
than any man. 1t will exalt him who
rightly interprets its truth, but it will
cast him down who seeks to wear its
livery and yet serve plutocracy.
Gag Rule Introduced.
When Temporary Chairman Craw-
ford had finished his brief speech, a
delegate from one of the country towns
started the movement to keep all abuse
Of Cleveland or praise of Altgeld out
Of the convention, by introducing a
resolution that all resolutions of a po-
litical nature offered to the convention
he received and referred to committee
on resolutions without being read.
Merritt. of Marion county, was on his
feet in an instant, and strenuously OBJ
jected to having what he called the gag
law applied 70 the convention. He
wanted any solutions introduced to
he duly read. 1t was evident this was
going to be a hot fight by the enemies
Of the administration to get in their
attacks. The original introducer of the
motion withdrew 1t and the point re-
mained unsettled, as the convention ad-
journed until o'clock to allow the COM
mittees to prepare their reports.
Arrow Narrowly Avcrtcd.
Had 1t not been for the timely action
Of the secretary of state, w. II. Hin
richsen, the Democratic silver conven-
ton would have ended in row. 1t all
came about because of plank in the
resolutions endorsing Governor Alt
geld. 1t had been expressly agreed be-
fore the convention was called to order
that there was to be no action taken
outside of that for which the call pro-
vided-the placing of the seal of ap-
proval on free coinage and the cleo
ton of delegates to national conven-
ton to be held some time in the near
future.
The trouble began when the platform
had been read by ex-Congressman
Fithian, chairman of the resolutions
committee, firm friend of the Altgeld
plank. A storm of protests arose all
over the hall. At this juncture Hin
richsen arose and waved his hand, and
Instantly the uproar was hushed.
Gentlemen, he said, II have a personal
request to make Of you. 1t is this:
That the part of the resolutions endors-
Ing Governor Altgeld be stricken out,
and for this I ask unanimous consent.
The members of the state administra-
ton did not expect to be endorsed by
this convention either as individuals or
as whole. If such endorsements were
made, the object of this convention
would be mullined."
Chairman Fithian, without even
waiting for the convention to ratify the
request, read the resolutions over
again, this time leaving out the obiec
tionable paragraph. Then the delegates
adopted the platform with a yell.
The Platform.
The platform consisted of a preamble
and a single plank declaring for the
free and unlimited coinage of silver at
16 to I. 1t also requested the Dem
ocratic national committee to call a
Democratic national convention to con-
slider the money question not later than
August, 1895. "If the national commit
tee refuses to call such a convention.
then we invite the Democratic state
committees of the other states to take
concurrent action with the Democratic
state committee of this state in calling
such convention" was the way the plat
form concluded.
Governor Altgeld was brought before
the convention and addressed 1t in ia
vor of silver. His speech was void Of
sensationalism and was confined to the
usual arguments In favor of free coin
age. The convention. after electing
delegates to the national convention,
adjourned.