The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-08-08
AGAINST FREE SILVER
THE IOWA STATE DEMOCRACY
DECLARES FOR A SOUND
CURRENCY.
BaBB NOMINATED FOR GOVERNOR.

|
The Convention has Been In Session
Since Monday, and it has Been One
Ofthe Most Notable in the History of
the State--The Fight on the Financial
Question was Bitter and Prolonged
National Platform of 1892 Re-
afirmed--Some Silver Delegates Bolt.
MARsHALLTowN, Iowa, Aug. 7.--One
of the most notable State conventions in
the history of the Iowa Democracy,
closed in this city this evening.
Since Monday, there has been a bitter
strife between the two opposing elements
Of the party--one coutendiDg for ticket
and platform on a sound money basis;
the other clamoring for free coinage Of
silver without waiting for an interna
tional agreement. From start to finish
the white metal contingency did nearly
all the talking on the street, in hotel lob
| bies, at various headquarters, in commit
|
| floor of the convention room.
By an apparently fortuit0us incident
the silver men had fine chance to ex-
| plot their views in convention hall
| during the afternoon, from the fact that
| the resolutions committee got into a
wrangle on the financial plank that kept
| them in the committee room till nearly
| 4 o'clock, the currency resolutions be-
| ing oyerhauled and reconstructed two or
three times before an agreement was
reached, and the majority making per
| sistent efforts to avert the introduction
of the minority report.
During this interval the convention
| did nothing but listen to free silver
| speeches by radical silver men. The op-
ponents of silver preserved silence, ex-
cept that Cato Sells made short talk of
a conciliatory character. The controversy
grew warm and bitter and when
| the minority report favoring free
silver coinage was introduced another
| prolonged silver discussion was pre-
| cipitated, and for awhile the pro-
ceedings were tumultuous. The final
| roll-call on the resolutions showed the
white metal advocates defeated by a vote
of 651 1-2 to 420 12. a mighty shout
mingled with groans, Kisses and anathe-
mas followed the announcement of the
result. A number Of free silver dele
gates Immediately left the hall, not
waiting for nominations.
The State ticket was then nominated
as follows:
For Governor, Judge W. l. Babb,
pIaacanf.
| Ex-Governor s. L. Bestow, Oharitan;
Superintendent Public Instruction, Ly-
man B. Parshall. Maquokota; Railroad
Commission, George James, Dubuque;
Supreme Judge, Senator Thomas G.
Harper, Des Moines.
Judge Babb made brief speech Of
acceptance, in which he said he only ac-
cepted because of the repeated urging
and his devotion to the party and his in-
terest in the State in which he was born
and raised. He said the differences ex-
isting in the party as developed in this
convention were IN regard to details
rather than to great principles
involved in financial and other leading
| issues, which should be left to legisla-
tion. 1t is understood to night that
Bestow will not accept the Lieutenant
| Governorship nomination. He is q
strong free coinage man, and it is said
was chosen IN hope of conciliating the
silver people, but says he cannot con-
sistently run on the money platform
| adopted.
The platform in part says
"The Democratic party of Iowa, in
convention assembled reafirms the ma
tional platform of the party adopted in
Chicago in 1899; points with satisfaction
| to the evidences of the wisdom of that
convention, in results accomplished ac-
cording to promises; to evidences of re-
turning prosperity; restoration of wages
| and establishment of industries upon
a prosperous basls-cOnditions which
have extorted congratulations from
even the Republicans of Iowa. We
| declare the rescue of the finances of
the country from baleful effects Of the
Sherman law; the repeal of the I'M
| American federal election law, and up
roofing of McKinleyism to be works
worthy of the history and prestige of tie
great Democratic party, and of a cour-
ageous Democratic administration. We
re-affir1n the following portion OF the
seventh plank of the last National Dem
ocratic Convention
"We hold to the use of both gold and
silver as the standard money Of the
country and to coin both gold and silver
without discrimination against either
metal or charge. for minage, but the dollar
Of coinage of both metals must beequal IN
intrinsic and exchaugeable value or be ad-
justed by international agreement or by
such safeguards of legislation as shall
insure the maintenance of the parity Of
the two metals and the equal
power of every dollar at all
times in the payment of debts, and
we demand that the paper currency
shall be kept at par with aud redeemable
in such coin. We insist upon this policy
as especially necessary for the protection
Of farmers and laborers; the first and
most defenseless victims of unstable
money and fiuctuating currency"
Continuing, the platform denounces
the mulct law, demands local option
high license, and fay0rs election Of