Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-07-30
sILVERITES CONFER.
The Meeting at ST. Louis Indorses
Bryan for President.
Congressman Newlands Made Temporary
and w. p. St John Permanent Chairman
Declaration OF Principles-NationaI
Democratic Ticket Endorsed.

| ST. LOUIS. July 23.-The delegates of
the national silver organization were
slow in assembling in the music hall
| OF the Exposition building, and there
were not nearly enough visitors to fill
the galleries when j. j. Mott, chair
man OF the national committee, called
the convention to order at 1890 o'clock
yesterday. Prayer was offered. after
which Miss Lille B. Pierce, of this
| city. read the declaration of independ-
| ence. This caused an outburst of ap-
| plause.
When the call had been read, Con-
gresham F. G. Newlands, of Nevada,
| was introduced by DIR. Mott as tempo
| rary chairman and proceeded to make
his address
The committee on credentials re-
ported that there were no contests.
The committee on permanent organi-
cation recommended that w. P St.
John. of New York, be selected for
permanent chairman; Charles A.
Towne. of Minnesota, be chosen for
vice chairman, and r. e. Dufendorfer,
of Pennsylvania. for secretary. The
report was received with cheers and
adopted.
the general trend of all the speeches
in debating the question was that the
great object was to secure an indorse-
ment of Bryan and Sewall. At every
mention of the democratic nominees
the delegates cheered.
When the second days session met
Congressman Newlands moved that a
committee on ways and means be APP
pointed to raise funds with which to
defray the expenses of the convention.
The report of the conference commit
tee was read and adopted and then
Senator Jones read the platform, the
chief part being as follows:
First-The paramount issue at this time in
the United States is indisputably the money
question. 1t is between the gold standard
gold bonds and bank currency on the side
and the bimetallic standard. no bonds and gov
ernment currency the other
On this issue declare ourselves to be in
favor of diStinctively American financial
system We are unalterab1y opposed to the
single gold standard and demand the imme-
date return to the constitutional standard of
gold and silver. by the restoration by this gov
eminent, independently of any foreign power.
OF the unrestricted coinage of gold and silver
as the standard money at the ratio OF sixteen
to one. and upon terms of exact equality, as
they existed prior to 1873: the silver coin to be
full legal tender, equally with gold, for all
debts and dues, public and private. and We
favor such legislation as will prevent for the
future the decentralization of any kind of legal
tender money by private contract.
We hold that the power to control and regu-
late paper currency is inSeparable from the
power to coin money: and, hence, that all cur
rency intended to circulate as money should be
issued and its volume controlled by the gen.
era1 government only. and should be legal
tender.
The platform then goes on to say
that it is opposed to the issue of bonds
in time of peace; it is against allowing
syndicate of native and foreign bank
al 81
letting them make a large profit; de-
MES that there can be such an economic
paradox as overproduction; appeals
to the people of the United States to
make one supreme effort to free them
selves from the money power, and rec
commended the convention to nominate
the democratic nominees for president
and vice president.
The platform was adopted after some
debate.
Mr.. E. C. Little, of Kansas, then |
nominated William J. Bryan. of Ne |
braska, for president After a num-
Der of speeches Mr.. Bryan was nomi-
mated by reclamation.
Mr.. Troup. of Connecticut, then |
placed the name OF Arthur Sewa1l, of |
Maine, before the convent ton for vice |
president and the nomination was |
unanimously agreed to.
Col. Pace, of Nebraska, offered a
resolution declaring it to be the sense
of the convention that as the demo-
cratic party had arranged to notify
Bryan and Sewall in New York the
silver party notify them in Bryan's
home at Lincoln. The motion was
agreed to. Thereupon the convention
adjourned sine die.
Silver Mems Address.
ST. LoTus. July 27.-The national
committee of the silver party has is
sued an address TO the public. It is
signed by the committee and is as fol-
lows:
To the American People,
Inasmuch as it has been charged upon the
national silver party assembled in St Louis
that convention Of regulators. reyo-
lutionists and anarchists, We submit the fol-
lowing to the candid judgment OF the people.
In delegates are four veterans of our
Mexican war. 70 ex-confederates and 1876 union
army veterans of the late war. OF the 73I dele
gates attending. nine prohibitionistS, 49
are populistS, li6 are democrats and 2S5 are re-
publicans.
In this composition OF the convention we ap-
peal to all true patriots, without regard to
previous party Affiliations. to vote for Hon
William j. Byran for president and Hon.
Arthur J. SeyaI for vice president OF the
United States. A result OF their election will
be the restoration of the free coinage of silver.
on equal terms with gold, providing thereby |