The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-06-20
VICTORIOUS SILVER.
How the Free Silver Movement Within
the Democratic Parft Has Been
Systematically Dtfelsped.

F.s,a ne Lst1le ReeE Gaze1ts.
The Democratic free silver managers
now claim with great confidence thai
they VIII b. able 70 muster Al chicago
a clear two thirds majority for free
silver. thus dging AWAY with any
necessity for the change q the TINE
hoDored two thirds rule for the
nomination q the Presidential canh !
dates.
II il understood that the Territories
and the District q Columbia viii each
+ D. allowed six delegates n the eonFen=
lion. thus making its total membership
ele, OF whom 80 viii Be majority
and sf2 4 rwo-t thirds majority. The
free silver leaders claim thai there viii
( be breaks Ia the ranks Of the Eastern
sound money delegations for the free
silver candidates. just a. In the
Republican party there viii De breaks
in the anti Mckinley ranks Ii favor OF
the Ohio statesman.
II NAV be Of interest 20 say some
thing Of the organization and methods
! By which the Democratic party has been
/ whipped from ius sound money moor
! ings on 70 the free silver quicksands.
The following statement. prepared by
one Of the principals thereto. gives a
graphic history Of the movement:
The present organization Of the
silver Democracy was started In wash
ingtOn In August. 1895, by convention
I In which about thirty states had
delegations Of free silver Democrats.
/ The call for this assembly was issued
by Senator Harris, Of Tennessee
Senator James z. Jones. of Arkansas
and Senator David Turpie, Of Indiana.
This convention appointed the following
central executive committee, which
opened headquarters in Senator Harris
house, No y First street, Northeast,
Washington, d. C: Senator lEham
q. Harris. Senator James K. Jones
Senator David Turpie. Gov William ]
Stone, Of Missouri: ex Speaker Charles
F. Crisp. William II. Hinrichson, OF
Illinois. and Casey Young. Of Tennes-
see.
OF this executive committee Senator
Harris was made chairman. Senator
Jones, treasurer and T. o. Towles,
of Missouri, secretary. While Senators
Harris and Jones have been the
organizing and directing brains Of the
/ free silver movement, Col. Towles
attended 70 infinite details Of CORE
spondence and selecting proper repre-
sentatiyes and workers.
This central executive COMMITTEES
was given power t1extend and perfect
the organization Of silver Democrat
always within party lines throughout
| the Union.
The central executive committee a
once began its labor by selecting
energetic, active workers in over rhirt.
states and territories, who should act al
| National committee and have chargs
of the organization Of silver sentiment
in the counties. municipalities AM
subordinate divisions of their respective
fields.
The Democratic sentiment in man,
of the states, especially those reliabl.
Democratic, was 50 overwhelmingly II
favor of silver that it was unnecessary
TO perfect in them detailed organization
In other states where Federal patronage
was of strong influence, or where ;
considerable sentiment existed agains
free silver, ii became necessary TO com
plete perfect organization. Alabam;
was an excellent example. There tn
administration was confident that tn
gold standard would win. But the fire.
silver organization extended into ever
precinct in the state. from six 70 fifteei
workers being detailed to ever,
precinct The result at the primaries
was proof of the thoroughness ans
value Of this organization.
Having once effected this kind d
organization the hardest and mos
I llI Is
accomplished. A vast correspondence
running up as high as 800 letters day
was promptly attended TO. Hundred
of thousands Of documents were shipped
to every section Of the country and care
fully distributed This whole move
ment was conducted so quietly that th'
gold wing of the Democracy and ths
Administration did not fairly realize
what was being done until it was fal
too late for them TO organize effective
opposition.
80 fully have the estimates made il
January of the way the delegation would
stand in Chicago been borne ont thai
change of ten votes from the silver
column to the gold column would cover
the difference, excepting, of course, tbs
State Of Michigan. where we claimed
twenty votes and were manipulated ou
Of the delegation.
1T must be understood, however
that the silver sentiment already existed
and did not have to be created.
merely required organization to maxi
the sentiment manifest itself at tn
primaries and county conventions
Very naturally when this began to b.
done, other Democrats who had no
been so prominent outspoken an,
decided in their silver sentiments, saw
the movement in the hands of true an
tried Democrats of National reputation
these men, Disguised with the presen
administration and antagonistic to Mr.
Cleveland and his financial ideas
doubling also the loyalty TO the Demo
cratic party of the President and hi
chief advisers, at once sought fellow
ship with the free silver leaders an
helped swell the party vote for the FIRE
silver triumph which is now about to b
realized in the Chicago convention.
when the convention meets candi
dates will be nominated who will com
mand the confidence, respect and heart
support of the free silver masses OF tn
country.
Mr.. James Adams, son of Mr.. Fran
Adams, who formerly lived in Val
=.