The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-27
DEMOCRATS RATIFY.
A Hall Full of People Cheer
Bryan's Picture.
Speeches By Democrats, POpu-
lists, Free Silver Republicans.
Flambeau Club Parades Before the
Meeting and Gormley's Band
Furnishes Music for It.

Hamilton hall was crowded Saturday
night. Topeka Democrats had an
nounced that they were going to rati-
fy. The F1ambeau club and Gormley's
band paraded and then led the crowd
to the hall. The meeting was as en-
thusiastic as it was large.
When Chairman J. J. Hit called the
meeting to order the only lights in the
hall were the few gas jets on the stage.
He held up Bryan's picture in the
darkened room but no one could see it.
When they finally found out what the
chairman was trying to do and the face
of the young western candidate was re-
Vealed by being moved back under the
chandler the building echoed with
w. F. Rightmfre was the first speak
er introduced and he told how the
nomination of Bryan pleased the Pop
ulists.
J. A. Davis, a Republican free silver
travelling man from Clyde, was the next
speaker. He said that he believed that
50 per cent of the Republicans endorsed
the nomination of Bryan.
J. G. Johnson, chairman of the Dem
ocratic state central committee was
next introduced. The emancipation Of
the American people is almost in sight
said he. THE allied forces intend to
take this government into their hands.
We give notice that we are tired of
running this country on the European
plan. There is but one question before
US now and the people must choose be
tween the American system of finance
and the European system which has
been forced upon US.
THE Chicago platform was made bv
the western and southern Democrats
without any interference from the east
Some Democrats seemed to think that
there is only one section in the Bible of
any Importance and that is the one
that speaks of the wise men coming
out OF the east" This raised a big
laugh.
The speaker predicted that Kansas
would roll up one of the largest ma
jOrities in the sisterhood of states for
the free silver cause. Some one shout
ed: 100, 600. -
one of the most pronounced free silver
men in the United States" continued
Mr.. Johnson. I hope he will have a
congress which is of his way of think
ing. We want to elect none of these
bye and bye metallists, none of these
coinage of the American product no
international agreement advocates. Let
US elect strafghtout Is to 1 congress
men and senators; and while we are
about it we may as well clean up the
whole thing and nominate a state tick
ct from top to bottom" Mr.. Johnson
is an enthusiastic speaker and he was
frequently interrupted by applause.
VIM X. Hazen, Topeka free silver
Republican was the next speaker.
Ocrat, that 1 am POpulist, a mug
wump and an anarchist. In 1888 when
the Republican, central committee re-
quested me to go out and make
speeches told the people that bimetal-
lism was right. 1 talked about the
crime of 1873 and thought I was max
ing Republican speeches. In 1892 I did
the same thing again. Now since the
St. Louis convention they would ask me
to go out to the same school houses and
tell the people that what 1 said in
1888 and in 1892 was false and because
viii not do it they say I am not Re
publican.
The people might ask me if did go
out to make speeches why, If free coin
age was right in 1892, it is wrong now.
l could only say now that it is wrong
only since the time of the St. Louis
convention. They might ask me why it
is wrong and 1 would be compelled to
say because Hanna says So
Mr.. Hazen said it was evident to eV-
cry one that there is something wrong
He showed that if prices Of products
were raised the natural result would be
d raise in the wages of wOrhngmen
It was the logical result of prosperity
said he, and it was foolish to talk about
any other result.
1T is not true" continued the speak
er, that this new Napoleon will hear
the waves dash on the rocks of st. Hell
ena. 1t Will be such a wave that it will
sweep Napoleon, island and all into OBJ
liviOn-"
tin was next introduced. He said the
Chicago convention was the first in
which chosen representatives of the
party had been ignored, but" he con-
tinued, 1T was because they were not
true to the trust reposed in t4em. No
sooner had they reaped the reward of
our toll than they betrayed US into the
hands of our enemies"
Senator Martin said he honored the
Populist and Free Silver conventions
because they dared to put principles
above men. THE Populist party was a
protest against existing conditions .
said he, and believe that these re-
forms would never have been accom-
pIished if it had not been for the Popu-
list party"
The Chicago convention gave US a
new original Democracy purged of Wall
street the Ickelheimers, the Clevelands
and the trusts All these were thrown
out and it came 70 you purified and re-
generated. This is a fight of eastern
greed against the people and the people
will win"
The speaker called the present po1iti-
cal combination the triple alliance, the