The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-10
PLATFORM PRESENTED.
The Minority Report Also Laid he
fore the Convention.

fore the Convention.
Convention Hall, Chicago. July 9.-The
third day Of the great democratic conven-
ton opened with clear skies and bright
sunshine. The usual delay was experienced
in getting the proceedings under way. They
should have started at II o'clock, but an
hour after that time most Of the seats of
the delegates were still vacant The spec
tators, however, were present in masses
and those of them who may have been low
ers of Irish music were entertained by the
band, stationed at the back Of the plat
form. which played a succession Of Irish
airs. beginning with minstrel Boy" and
closing with 1.-The Harp That Once Thro
Tara's Halls
While the band was playing a troop of
delegates from Iowa entered, with the red
and blue purple banner of their candidate,
Horace Boies. The Incident was merely
noted by the crowd, but evoked no enthu-
siasm.
At five minutes before II O'clock Senator
White of California, the permanent presi-
dent of the convention, called the assembly
to order and stated that the days proceed
ings would be. opened with prayer by the
Rev. Thomas E. Greene of Grace Episco-
pal church of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the
same clergyman who offered prayer yes
terday.
Representative Richardson of Tennessee
was called to the chair
Senator Jones of Arkansas, chairman of
the committee on resolutions, read the
platform, as finally adoPted by the com
mittee. The applause called out by the
opening passages was of very perfume
tory character, being thrown in whenever
the speaker paused at the end of a sent
ence, without much regard to the senti-
ment expressed. The difficulties of hear
ing in the vast hall were made plainly ap-
parent, and Mr.. Jones voice was in very
bad condition. AT the mention of free
coinage there was cheer-not very loud
or long, however. A delegate in the rear
asked that this plank be read over again.
and Mr. Jones complied
Even the denunciation Of government
by injunction" supposed to be peculiarly
a Chicago issue, failed to elicit a response
from the galleries, probably for the rea-
son that Senator Jones voice had become
so indistinct that the allusion may not
have been heard. When the Cuban plank
was reached some one in the front aisle
unfurled a Cuban flag and waved 1t, but
this effort at theatrical effect was
promptly suppressed by the chairman
the sergeant-at-arms to haul down that
flag. This was Immediately done, and the
incident was thus brought to an ignomin-
ious close.
As he finished the platform, Senator
Jones said that at the request of the mi
nority of the committee on resolutions he
would now present certain amendments
that were proposed by the minority; al
so two amendments that would be pro-
posed by Senator Hill OF New York. All
of them would be now read, after which,
by agreement, two hours and forty min
utes would be allowed for debate, one
hour and twenty minutes on each side
He hoped that the convention would lis
ten patiently to what was TO be read and
said.
The minority report was thereupon read
by one of the secretaries of the conven-
ton as follows: ITO the Democratic Ma
tional Convention-Sixteen delegates,
constituting the minority of the commit
tee on resolutions, ind many declarations
in the report of the majority to which
they cannot give their assent. Some of
these are wholly unnecessary; some are
ill-considered and abiguously phrased,
while others are extreme and revolution
ary of the well recognized principles of
'@Fhe minority content themselves with
this general expression OF their dissent
without going into a specific stStement of
these Objectionable features Of the report
but upon the financial question, which
| engages at THIS time the cnleI share of
public opinion, the views Of the majority
| differ so fundamentally from what the
| minority regard as vital democratic doc
| trine as to demand a distinct statement
| of what they hold to as the only Just
| and true expression of democratic faith
| upon this important issue as follows.
| which is offered a substitute for the
| financial report Of the majority: We de-
| clare our belief that the experiment on
| the part of the United States alone OF
| free silver coinage and a coinage in the
| existing standard Of value, independently
| of the action Of other great nations.
| would not only imperil our finances. but
/ would retard or entirely prevent the es-
| tablisment of international bimetallis-n.
| to which the efforts of the government
| should be steadily directed 1t would
| Mace this country at once upon a silver
| basis, Impair contracts, disturb business
| diminish the purchasing power Of the
wages of labor and infiict irreparable
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