The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-08-21
BRICE BEATEN.
The Bolting Delegation of Brice
Men
Elected by Cuyahoga County
Rump Convention
VOTED OUT OF SEATS.
They Give Up Among Mingled
Cheers and Kisses.
First Victory for the Free Silver
Element.

SPRINGFIELD, Aug. 21.-The demo
crotic state convention Assem- bled here
today under peculiar circumstances.
Usually the contests are for the nomina-
tions. At this convention the contests
were between rival delegations for seats,
between fighting factions for platform
planks and between other elements for
almost everything except the places on
the ticket. The silver men realized yes
terdaY they were in the minority but
when the committee on credentials dur
ing the nj ght reduced their number SO
materially by seating what were known
as the "Brice boilers" from Cleveland.
the silver men resolved to make trouble
on the reports of the credentials, resolu-
tions and everything else As the del
gates crowded into the city hall, there
were no favorites for the ticket and the
interest centered in the extent of the
trouble that the limited minority of un-
limited silver men might make.
The silver mon INST and resolved to
have free coinage men on the ticket if
they could.
their only consideration was that of
avoiding further trouble. They were
conciliatory, but the minority insisted
that they had offered the olive branch
and that it had been refused. This spell
was broken temporily when Senator
Brice entered the hall on time and re-
ceived an ovation.
1t was 1920 when the chairman of
state committee, NJ. A. Smalley, called
the convention to order. Prayer was
offered by Prof. s. F. Breckinridge,
after which Senator c. S. Brice was intro
duced as presiding officer of the conven-
tion, and after glowing tribute to the
president and a defense of congress,
coming to the silver question, spoke as
follows:
But, gentlemen, there is another ques-
tion in which great interest is felt about
which there is great difference of opinion
and concerning which we may hear more
in this convention. 1t will perhaps not
be regarded as out of place or improper
for me as an individual Democrat some
what familiar O.with the discussion
and the conditions, to make some sug-
gestions in this convention, which may
be taken for what they are worth. l
have a deep interest in the fortunes of
the Democratic party in this state and in
this county. l attended my state con-
vention in 1858, in the heat of the war,
when we nominated Clement l. Van
Ii. L
ticipated in the discussions from 1869
to 1876 on another branch of this money
question, constantly endeavoring through
these years to have my fellow Democrats
come where we all finally did come to
sound money platform, under the wise
and able leadership of Samuel J.
Tilden in 1875 and when l see
today efforts being made to divide
the great Democratic party just on
power. on a theoretical and academcal
question, in which no practical result is
possible, l come to this convention to ask
full consideration before taking passion
ate action.
come to urge the party in Ohio to
stand on the platform of 1892, on the
money question:; to let the currency re-
main as it now is, and not to change our
ground without full dsllberation at
national convention and a deliverance
from that body. 1 come to urge that
declaration for free coinage would be
foolish, because it would be an i'm
potent, an idle declaration. It would
separate US from the national democracy.
1t would drive from our support thou
sands, hundreds of thousands of men,
who otherwise would act with us.
A declaration in favor of free and un-
limited coinage of silver, is to l, made
by this convention would have no practi-
cal effect and it would mean an abandon
ment and disclaimer of the splendid re-
suits of your Democratic administration.
You and | have possibly differed from
BIr. Cleveland at some time and in some
things, as it was our right, our privilege,
our duty to do if we were conscientious
in doing so. but taking him by small and
large, he is the greatest statesman and
party leader OF his time. His Democracy,
his honesty, his integrity and his con-
tinued attention to business which con-
stitutes genius, have never been excelled
and in my opinion, Democratic success in
1892 was largely due, as Democratic sue
cess in 1896 will also be largely due to
the character of our Democratic presi-
dent and to the high plane upon which
he has sought to place his party and his
administration.
Do not understand me as suggesting
the candidacy of President Cleveland for
reelection. No such question is now
before US. You have heard the Repub-
Hcan war cry. Their statement that
while both the tariff and silver question
will be discussed, neither will be the is
sue in the sense of obscuring other ques-
tions; that the great paramount issue
upon which the battles of both this year
and next will be fought will be the
record of the Democratic party under
President Cleveland: that the question
whether it is to be endorsed and It's poll
cy continued, or whether it shall be re-
pudiated and its policy ended.
We accept this and on it will make
our contest and of the final judgment of
the American people there can be no
doubt The American people will in
the end stand by as for home rule: that
Is to say no interference by the national