The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-08-22
Ratification Meeting at Union Bridge.
Reported for the Democratic Advocated
UNION BRIpcg. Auenst 18Th. lsee

USIoN BRIDGE, August 18th, 1896
The irst ratification of the National Demo-
cratic Presidential Ticket in Carroll took
place this evening in this place and was at
tended by some four or FIVE hundred earnest
and substantial citizens, in addition to num-
Der OF ladies and score or more OF very APP
preciative young Americans.
The local committee, consisting of Z. C.
Leeds, DIR. j. Watts, Geo. P. Buckley and j.
Frank Baker had erected a stand for the
Union Bridge Band" under the leadership
of J. W. Little, that discoursed most delightful
music. and the speakers, Thos. c. Weeks
and VIM. J. Ogden, of Baltimore. Mr.. Chas
c. Rhodes who had also been advertised to
speak, telegraphed Chairman Leeds the dis
tressing apology for his absence that he had
had the misfortune today of losing his mother
At half-past seven the meeting was called to
order and Geo. p. Buckley nominated Mr.. Z.
z. Leeds for President, DIR. Watts and Mr..
Baker for ice-presidents, and your cores
pondent as Secretary, all of whom were unan-
imously elected. President Leeds then intro
duced Mr.. Weeks as the first speaker, who
entertained the audience for nearly an hour in
a most interesting and able speech, in which
he graphically pictured the personnel of the
late Chicago Democratic Convention as the
legal representatives of our party; drew
life-like picture of Whitney's and Depew's
efforts to control by purchase its members.
their utter failure and subsequent sullen atten-
dance and later treason to the party. He
further painted to the perfect appreciation OF
his hearers, the likeness of that conventions
nominee, William j. Bryan, as the prototype
of Jefferson, and champion of the people.
In concluding he SAID he was no prophet like
the gold-bugs were, who prophesied that the
country would be eternally ruined If Whitney,
tla,r. nr.tnr raI
date of the great monied syndicate was not
elected, but that he had an opinion that Bryan
would sweep the country as the will not only
of the people but of God. Mr.. Weeks
speech, so badly reported here, was frequently
interrupted by applause and made great i'm
preston upon all who heard him. In con-
Guiding he said: leave the question of the
discussion of silver and gold to Mr.. Ogden,
who is better able to discuss it. He has more
silver than | have, and gold have none, and
| do not believe that any of you, my friends,
have much, unless it is hidden in your stock
ings, drawers or chimneys, and then not very
much.
Mr.. Ogden was the next speaker, and he
spoke for over an hour, combining himself
strictly to the question of currency, and he
held the entire audience throughout, without
hardly any applause whatever, in their eager
ness TO drink in his very lucid and exhaustive
argument in favor OF the free coinage of silver
at ratio of l6 to l.. He very clearly showed
both the necessity and value Of the double
standard and how necessary 1t was for silver
reconciliation, in order to protect the people
against the further appreciation OF the single
standard of gold In reference to Mexico's
silver bugaboo, he stated that its entire stock
of silver money was only $50, 200, 900 and that,
if even half of it, SIS, 000, 900, reached this
country, that its advent would absolutely be
unknown. He further declared that the idea
that this country would be overrun by foreign
silver if recoinage became the law, was tanta-
MONT to radical rot These are not the
exact words but are more in brief and sub
stantialy the same. Mr.. Ogden, before he
concluded, paid his respects to National Banks,
Trusts, Corporation Combines of all character,
and made it very plain that a man, an Anierf,
can citizen lat least, had the right TO control
himself, and, his rote, independently and by
authority of the Declaration of Independence,
notwithstanding dietation implied, or other
wise, of any combinations of putocrats or
monopolists in this or any other country. At
the conclusion of his speech only was he APP
plauded, yet he was most attentively listened
to.
Our District Elector, Mr.. Geo. w. AL
baugh. occupied a seat upon the platform,
and was most warmly received by the speak
ers. He was accompanied by Mr.. James Z.
Smith, former supervisor of elections of your
city, and Mr. John Martin, deputy clerk of
your court. Mr.. Jones, secretary OF the
Canned Goods Association, of Baltimore, and
DIR. Burlington, of New Windsor. together
with delegation, were present and enjoyed
the demonstration, that had for its purpose
the ratification of the nomination of our next
President.
A resolution was adopted thanking the New
York Journal for the 500 posters it sent our
Democrats to advertise the meeting, also the
Baltimore Herald, WESTMINSTER DEMOCRATIC
ADVOCATE for their notices of the meeting.
At the conclusion of the meeting a negro
and "a poor white trash, . as the negroes term
them, hurrahed for Mckinley in most inso-
lent way and they were chased out of town by
the people. y RAYS.