Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1896-06-23
Second District Convention.

Vi
The Second District Democratic
Convention to elect delegates to the
National Democratic Convention at
Chicago met in Tools Opera House
at Davis, Wednesday last, at IL
o'clock. Hon. John T. McGraw,
chairman of the Congressional Ex-
ecutiye Committee, called the con-
vention to order and announced Hon.
W. ii. Travers, of Jefferson county,
as temporary chairman, whom he
introduced to the convention. ii.
Clay Hyde, of KiDgwood, was made
secretary, after which the convention
adjourned to meet at o'clock.
AT that hour the convention reas-
sembled, and Hon. Sam v. Woods,
of Philippi, was made chairman.
r. W. Morrow, of jefferson county,
and j. Slidell Brown, of Preston
county, were made secretaries. Mr.
Wood made short speech, after
which the reports of the several COM
mittees were read. There was
wrangle as to how the delegates
should be elected, but the report of
the committee was finally adopted.
which recommended that the district
delegates be first elected.
The committee on resolutions then
reported as follows:
I'ReSotued Iy The representatives of The Demo
cratic party In convention assembled
"First-We reannounce and reaffirm our
devotion to the time-honored principles of the
Democratic party
HSecond-We are in favor of bimetallism
and to this end demand the free and unlimited
coinage of both gold and silver at the ratio of
16 to 1 as standard monev for payment of
all debts, both public and private, without
regard TO the action of any other nation.
"Third-We are opposed to the issue and
sale of government bonds in time of peace
for the purpose OF raising money TO maintain
the gold reserve. and to this end we declare
that the Secretary of the Treasury should, in
the exercise Of his legal discretion, pay the
coin obligations of the United States IN silver
or gold, as may Mt the time be most con-
yenient, and we declare that the payment of
these obligations in gold, and in gold only, is
an unwarranted discrimination against the
use of silver as money.
'.Fourth-The delegates from this district
to the national convention are directed TO vote
in accordance with the foregoing resolution"
The minority report reads: In lieu
of the second and third resolutions
we offer as follows:
weare opposed TO the free aud unlimited
coinage of silver except under an information
al agreement with the leading nations of the
world. and until such an agreement can be
had we are in favor of maintaining the exist
ing standard of values. We are also in favor
of reform in the banking and currency law, so
as TO give u more elastic banking system. We
oppose tn instruction of delegates to the
Chicago convention, and recommend that
they 90 uninstructed.
This was laid on the table and the
majority report adopted.
The next business being the cleo
ton of delegates motion was made
to limit nominating speeches to five
minutes. Col. G. S. White, of
Hampshire county, nominated John
]. Cornwell, and Hon. C.. w. Daily,
of Randolph county, nominated p.
D. Talbot for district delegates.
The nominations closed and they
were elected by reclamation. b. j..
Baker, of Grant county, Hon, d. B.
Lucas, of Jefferson, and John I. Nc
Graw, of Taylor, were nominated for
delegates at large. The convention
by this time had become very noisy,
as interesting speeches in support of
the various candidates were being
made. Mr.. b. j. Baker withdrew,
leaving Mr.. McGraw and Mr.. Lucas
in the field. The convention, after
being addressed by both McGraw
and Lucas, explaining their positions
on the money question, proceeded to
vote. which resulted in the election
of RIr. BIcGraw by vote of ia 20
lO4. When the vote was announced
the supporters of Colonel McGraw
lifted him to their shoulders and
placed him on the stand, from which
he addressed the convention. G. f.
KEYS and George w. Miller were
elected alternates and j. Slidell
Brown alternate at large. after which
The convention adjourned.