The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-17
SENSATIONAL
CHARGES.
Made By the Chairman Of New
York Democratic Convention.
Says the st. Louis Financial
Plank Was Wired
TO j. P. MORGAN 6 co.
For Their Approval Before Be
ing Adopted.
Speaks of Mark Hanna's Treat
ment of Labor.
TO J. P. MORGAN 6 co.

Buffalo. n. Y, Sept. 17.-Delay in per-
fecting its work by the platform com
Inittee was the reason assigned for the
lapse of an hour after the time set for
the reassembling of the Democratic
state convention before that body was
called to order today. Business then
proceeded with expedition. The report
of the committee on credentials having
been adopted, the committee on per
manent organization reported, naming
ex-COngressman Hosea H. Rockwell of
Chemung for permanent chairman. The
report was adopted without dissent.
MT Rockwell was greeted with much
applause as he appeared upon the plat
form He was introduced by Tenn
porary Chairman Grady.
IN opening his speech on assuming
the chair, Mr.. Rockwell gave his un-
qualified approval to the platform and
candidates of the Chicago convention.
adopting as his own the sarcastic OBJ
6erVatOn of Governor Flower that THE
Platform was just suited to the candi-
dates, and the candidates to the plat
form He attributed the financial
panic of 1893 to "a false and mischieV-
Gus financial system and in that quot
cd the words OF Senator Hill, uttered in
the senate that year as follows:
The paramount remedy for all our
financial evils is return to the sys-
to 1873"
This quotation Mr. Rockwell supple
mented With the words of Senator Hill
spoken in the Chicago convention, we
are Democrats, and not revolutionists. -
Mr. Rockwell defended the bfmetaIlic
system as having the sanction of the
constitution and of the founders of the
Democratic party. In spite of this
the speaker added, "since 1873 anv man
could take gold bullion to the mints and
have it coined, but there has never
been a day that he could do the same
with silver Notwithstanding the make
shifts of the Bland and Sherman laws
silver has been and still is discriminat-
ed against; gold is the sole standard,
and by it silver and all other property
must be measured.
The representatives of monopoIies
and syndicates who controlled the St.
Louis convention realized fully that
their interests were at stake. Two hun
dred and sixty-nine millions of dollars
OF bonded Indebtedness had been Gre
ated, ostensibly to maintain the gold re-
serve. In the sale of these bonds great
scandal had been created, and it was
currently stated and generally believed
that the profits of the Morgan syndicate
on a single issue were about S12, ,OOO, 600.
w lille a senatorial commission was in
session trying to ascertain the truth or
falsity of this statement, the Republi-
can leaders Of the st. Louis conven-
ton prepared the gold plank of their
platform, wired it to J. P Morgan &
Co. for approval, received a reply that
i was elninently satisfactory, and
adopted it.
Tt is the first square declaration in
any platform in favor of the single
standard and in opposition to the use of
silver as money.
The Republican party demands the
maintenance of the sold standard in
violation of all its past teachings and
policy, and in violation of the constitu-
ton
Again I say we are Democrats; we
are not revolutfonists."
Mr.. Rockwell argued that silver had
not deprecated in value; instead of
gold had increased through legislation
hostile to silver
Farmers. he alleged, were the princi-
pal sufferers. and they constitute fully
one-half of those in the United States
following gainful occupations. To do
Justice to them would be to benefit all
He added: Every mOnOpolist, every
OppressOr of labor, is engaged with
Mare Hanna in forwarding your inter
ests by keeping down values and prices
for your benefit
who is Mare Hanna?
Go ask the sailors on the great lakes /
the men whom his organized thugs in
Cleveland shot and beat and starved
into submission.
Go ask the miners of Ohio, Michigan
and West virginia Every dollar of /
the millions which he has accumulated |
IS tainted with the sweat and blood of |
oppressed and downtrodden labor. He
glOries in the fact that his money and
his work secured McKinley's nOmina-
ton and expects them 10 secure his |
election. With him are engaged the |
great trusts and mOnODOlies and rail-
road corporations. It is their boast |
that their money and their power can
not be beaten. These are men who are |
so Jealous for the interests of labor"
Mr. Rockwell held that it is not ne
cessary to wait upon Europe before |
proceeding to establish the bimetal1ic
standard, saying:
Other nations are only waiting for
US to take the lead. It only remains |
for some strong and courageous nation
to take the initiative, and what nation !
is more competent than our own %
In conclusion Mr.. Rockwell said:
IF we shall be true to our principles,
true to our convictions, and go manful-
ly forward in this battle, we shall sue
ceed in making this a government of |
the people by the people and for the |
people, instead of a government of |
trusts and monopOlies, by trusts and |
monopOlies. and for the benefit of trusts |
and mOnOpOlies-"
chairman called for the report of the |
committee on resolutions and it was
read.
The first plank of the platform is as |
follows: The Democratic party of the |
state Of New York, in convention as
sembled, unreserVedly endorses the
platform adopted by the Democratic |
party at the national convention at |
Chicago in July, 1885,, cordially approves
the nomination there made, pledges to |
William J. Bryan and Arthur SewalI its |
hearty and active support, declares as |
its deliberate judgement that never in |
the history Of the Democratic party has |
q platform been written which en- |