The Yale expositor., 1896-09-04
campaign wased in behalf OF the protective


elements OF the country. The party must be
saved from those who are even now hagglins
over the terms which its name shall be
traded OFF at the behest OF mercenary P0pulist
and Republican free silver organizations.
Therefore, resolved. That we denounce the
late Chicago convention as undemocratic In Its
representation, arbitrary and dishonorable in
It's methods, revolutionary in its platform, and
Populistic In Its nominations; we refuse TO sup
port its candidates or obey its nandate; and
demand that the coming convention at In.
dianapons shall present for suffrage men
who are Democrats and a platform advocating
the honored principles OF the Democratic party
We indorse the present national Democratic
administration for sustaining our national hon
or and dignity abroad. for preserving psace and
supITessing disorder within our borders, and
for maintaining unsulied the financial integ-
rity OF the United States.
We favor the maintenance OF the existing
gold standard; we oppose the unlimited free
coinage OF silver at the ratio of l6 to l. be-
cause we believe such coinage would ruin our
industries, rob our savings bank depositors of
half their pittance. take from the widow and
the orphan half their life insurance. and cut
in two the wages of our workingmen.
We believe the American workingman earns
more, produces more and knows more tnau any
other workman on earth; We therefore believe
he is entitled to receive his pay in the best
100 cents In gold.
Alternates and district delegates were
also elected and then attention was given
TO the nomination of electors. There was
no contest. and the following electors
were chosen: Observation-Disclosures S.
Farr, of Kent; Samuel 7. Douglas. Of
Wayne; Second district-John Strong. OF
Monroe; Third district-Herbert II. Ham
lton OF Eaton; Fourth district-John u.
Barnes. Of Berrien; Fifth district-John
Joseph T. Titus, of Livingston; Seventh
district-W. T. Mitchell, of 81. Clair:
Eighth district-Judge John Moore, Of
Saginaw; Ninth distrlct-Alex;. 3. Mann.
of Muskegon; Tenth district-Judge c. j.
Pailthorp, of Emmett; Eleventh district
f.. w. Hudnutt, of Mecosta; Twelfth dis
fNfa 90
Then came the nominations. There wos
no slate, and when j. V. Sheahan, tho
eloquent Washtenaw man, suggested that
a committee be appointed to make one.
he was cried down. The convention
thought any suggestion of such machine
methods should be discouraged. AS soon
as nominations were called for lbere was
a stir in the Kent delegation and Wesley
W. Hyde, of Kent placed in nomination
w. r. Shelby, Of Grand Rapids. He made
graceful nominating speech. The nomi-
nation was received with deafening APP
p.ause and II was seconded by every dele
cation in the hall. Without the formality
of ballot the rules were suspended and
Mr.. Shelby was about TO be nominated,
when he tried to get the floor. point
OF order was raised against him, but he
was allowed 20 speak. 1t was suggested
that he save his speech for one of accep-
tance, but he preferred TO go on and did
so. He wanted TO be private instead OF
a leader. He had been connected with a
corporation, a fact that would be used
against him. His railroad in the last
twenty-five years had paid out SIS, 900, 600
for labor. He expected to continue at the
same honorable business. paying the
wages in gold too. and having lately ac-
cepted a position requiring all his time
he could not honorably accept the posi-
ton. Thanking the convention, he de-
clined.
There were dozen suggestions and Mr..
/ Shelby pointed to Capt. Geo. w. Thayer,
Of Kent, who sat on the platform, and
said: There is a man who would be an
honor at the head OF this ticket Mr..
Montgomery Is another, and Clarence III.
I Bennett as well az r. II. Sprague, of
son, OF Jackson, was mentioned, but he
refused the honor on several scores.
Richard a. Montgomery, of Lansing,
named Rufus. F. Sprague, of Greenville,
and the nomination met with loud APP
plause. The nomination was made by ac-
climation. and Mr.. Sprague arose TO say
that he would do his best. His acceptance
speech was short but effective. and the
nominee sat down amid cheers and APP
plause.
]. V. Sheahan, Of washtenaw, got the
tenant-governor. In an eloquent speech
he presented the name of Harry Russell,
OF Detroit. Mr.. Russell prevented his own
nomination by declining. 1t was impossi-
BILE for him to go into the campaign, and
he pleaded to be excused.
Mr.. Montgomery thought II would take
all night TO get ticket nominated at that
rate, and he offered a resolution that a
committee be appointed to make a list OF
nominees. In half an hour the slate MAX
ers came back and presented their report.
Their work had been well done, there
was no opposition. and on motion OF
Chairman Chas. NJ. Swift the secretary
cast the ballot of the convention for the
following candidates:
For Lieutenant-G overnor-A. y. Ed
ridge, Of Marquette.
For secretary Of states. L. Boice. Of
ST. Clair.
For state treasurer-wider D. Stevens.
of Kent.
For auditor-general-Irvin w. Conkey.
OF Berrien.
For land commissioner-A. NJ. Tinker, OF
Jackson.
For attorney-general-c f. Lothrop, Of
Wayne,
For superintendent OF public instruction
William Heap, of Muskegon.
For member of state board of education
John s. Taggart, OF Shiawassee.
The sound money party being new
party IL was necessary to select a state
central committee which was done with
w. r. Shelby as chairman.
Harry Russell precipitated a long dis
cussion as to the name to be printed on
the official ballot as the name of the
party He offered q resolution to the eff
feet that the old name of Democratic"
be used provided il was found that IL
might legally be done. Some of the dele
gates thought there was objection. Ma
some of the old-timers. like Judge Nit
chell, of Port Huron, said that they had
always been plain Democrats, and they
wouldn't listen to any tail-piece or head
gear being loaded upon them. The legal
lights of the convention cut loose and be-
gan to point out supreme court decisions
pertinent to the question at issue. There
appeared to be a sentiment favoring both
names, but when the resolution of Mr..
Russell was put II went easily through,
and the old name will be kept. provided
there proves to be no legal obstacle.
The finishing business was then trans
acted. The state central committeeman
of each congressional district was author
lied to arrange for congressional sound
money candidates, calling the conventions
and choosing the candidates. The thanks
of the convention were extended to the
officers, and Eugene Pringle, of Jackson,
was invited to the platform to close the
convention with a speech He made a
good one, and then the first gold Democ-
racy convention adjourned sine die at 6
y. IN.
The Los Angeles, Cal, Labor World
asks: Does il spe. well for our nine
teenth century civilization when there
are 100000 children at work in the
United States, 211 800 of whom are I'M
der the age of 15?"
p. ]. Mcclure, secretary of the Broth
erhood OF Carpenters and Joiners Of
America, reports that the organization