The Yale expositor., 1896-01-24
PENINSULARITES.
NEWSY NOTES OF PEOPLE AND
THINGS OF MICHIGAN.
Lively Conference at Lansing-Plenty
of Speeches aud Resolutions-A New
Party Proposed
Michigan white Metal Men.

The Michigan advocates of silver
held a conference at Lansing with over
100 men present-being members of
the Republican, Democratic and Popu-
list party. An informal meeting was
presided over by c. Il. Black, of Lam
sing. Speeches were made roasting
the old parties and urging the forma-
ton of a new party. The permanent
organization was effected by the Sc
lection of c. l.. Black as chairman and
James N. Mcbride, of Owosso, as secre-
tary. James NJ. Turner, of Lansing,
made the first address explaining that
the conference was for the sole object
of forwarding the interests of silver
money and not to sail anyone's kite
for governor or any other office. Geo.
Il. Hummer, of Holland, wanted Il
committee appointed to formulate res
olutions, but Sybrant Wesselius, of
Grand Rapids, objected, thinking he
sighted scheme looking to in
dependent political action, to which
he was opposed Frank McPhillips,
of Detroit, made Hummer mad by tell
ing him he had ''new party wheel
in his head" but he was pacfied when
his resolution was adopted and he was
made chairman of the committee. The
committee retired and speeches then
flowed in "a steady stream. Chas H.
Chase, of st. Louis, wanted a straight
out free silver party and several other
speakers agreed with him, while Judge
Kelly, Of Alpena; Chas. =. Hampton,
of Petoskey, and several others claimed
the old parties were all right on other
points and only needed a club held
over them to bring them to time on
the silver question, and such club
this conference could WELD if properly
organized.
The committee on resolutions re-
ported, presenting Il long address to
the people upon the silver question,
followed by resolution setting forth
that unless the Democratic or Repubi-
can party dominates candidates in full
sympathy with the free coinage of
silver on free silver platform, indie
pendent political action was recon-
mended and TO that end the appoint
ment of one person from each congress
sional district to perfect an organiZa-
ton and prepare TO launch new party
was recommended. The report was
not entirely satisfactory to all the
committee, and Geo. Hummer offered
n resolution calling for the appoint
ment of two from each congressional
district who may call "a mass meeting
at Lansing or Grand Rapids for the or
ganization of an independent American
party, the object of which should be
to secure the rehabilitation of silver.
5. Wesselius said such action would de-
feat silver by dividing its forcss, as on
other issues silver meu could not he
harmonized. G. 5. Hampton was in
favor of giving the old parties q chance
to declare for free silver before form
ing the nucleus for new party. and
he offered a substitute for the Hum
mcr resolution. 1t pledged silver men
to support only silver men on either
ticket and to vote with the party
which would meet the demands of the
conference. This was not satisfactory
and was defeated and the report of the
committee recommending independent
political action in case no relief could
be obtained through the present polit-
ical organizations was accepted.
An executive committee of nine was
named whose duty it shall be TO name
a general committee with representa-
tivcs in each county for tho purpose of
keeping alive the organization and
carrying on the work OF education. 1t
is as follows: James M. Turner, of
Lansing; Justin Il. Whiting, OF st.
Clair; Sybrant Wesselius, of Grand
Rapids; Spencer o. Fisher, of Bay City;
j. G. Ramsdell, of Traverse City; j. n.
Mcbride. of Owosso; Willard Stearus,
of Adrian; Joseph ii. Holman, of Roch-
ester; a. M. Todd, of Kalamazoo.