Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-10
JUST AN EFFoRr FOR oFF1cE.


the State Herald the platform adopted
by the republican state conventions at
Montgomery on the 18th of April. This
platform was adopted by the Mckinley
convention and the other republican con-
vention held in Montgomery on the same
date and presided over by Frank Bait
zell. The third, or Moseley, republican
convention did not adopt any platform
at all. We publish the platform adopted
in order that the public may see just ex-
actly what the opposition promises or
believes in. When sanded to the bottom
it will be seen that they want office
worse than anything else, and that that
is what they are fighting for, and
not for the relief of the peo-
pie. The reader can see at a glance
that there is really no principle being
contended for by the republican party in
the state. 1t is nothing more nor less
than greedy scramble for office and
power, and therefore cannot meet the
appreciation or command the support of
the average voter, who is far more inter-
ested in the success of certain principles
than he could possibly be in the tempo
rary success of any fellow who wants
office.
1t will be observed by reading of the
two that one of them declares for the
single gold standard practically True
1t Is somewhat of a straddle, patterned
after the declaration of the republicans
of Ohio recently on the financial ques-
ton, but straddles on that question have
come to be known to mean gold standard
declarations The other platform, the
one made by the Baltzell wing of the re-
publican party, declares unequivocally
for the free coinage of gold and silver.
Both of these conventions nominated the
ticket headed by Goodwin. The Baltzell
convention nominated the entire ticket
with the exception of Tom Grimmett and
w. II. Smith, Jr., first, and while that
convention was thus engaged the McKin-
ley wing were making their platform
and nominating Grimmett and Smith.
Having proceeded that far, each conyen-
ton then Endorsed what the other con-
yention had done, and thus the full ticket
and the combined platforms became
really the action of both of the conyen-
tons. SO it will be seen that that which,
on its face appears to be two platforms
is really but one platform made by two
branches of the republican party and in
dorsed by the third or Moseey, branch,
Now what have we when we boil the
thing down? 1t is about this: The re-
publican party has made it's ticket and
gone to the country on platform which
declares both for the single gold stand
ard, the free coinage of gold and silver
and a straddle. That is exactly what is
declared for on the financial question in
ha tup fo NIB iu
compelled to admit constituteq the repub-
lican platform this year. Following Is
one of the platform declarations:
I'VE pledge our hearty and undivided
support to the nominees of the state tick
ct. whoever they may be. they pledging
themselves to support the foregoing prin-
ciples.'
Now we have it. The members of the
convention, by the above declaration,
make their individual support and the
individual support of their constituency
conditional, and that condition is that
every nominee upon the ticket in order
to command the support of the members
of the convention and the voters who
sent then to the conventions, must upon
the financial question indorse the free
coinage of gold and silver at is to 1. the
single gold standard and a straddle. Has
a grosser insult in a political way ever
been offered the people of Alabama?
Does any man believe for a moment that
the honest white men of this state who
went out of the democratic party in the
pursuit of relief will fail to
promptly resent the effort on
the part of the manipulating
leaders to demonstrate to the country
that they. the common people. have not
sense enough to get in out of shower
of rain? The idea of appealing to men
who favor financial reform and honesty
and fairness in elections and govern
mental affairs to support ticket pledged
to such platform and in the control of
Lou Parsons and Bob Moseley is simply
ridiculous In the first degree. 1t
Is adding insult to injury. 1t
is amply sufficient to make every
white man who is not seeking office or
leadership indignant. And IL any doubt
that it will have that effect they have
only to wait until the polls close and then
they will see. There is very small
sprinkle of the white people of Alabama
whom designing leaders can fool all the