The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-07-29
THE SILVERITES.
THE BIMETALLIC CONVENTION
A HARMONIOUS AFFAIR.
A Union of Forces for Bryan, Silver
and. Glorious Victory.

q * - vi II & 50
st. Louis. July 24.-The strain Of the
past few days showed upon the delegates
to the silver convention this morning.
They were slow in gathering in the hall
and the somewhat diminished attendance
showed that the fear expressed yesterday
by Mr.. Shinn of Kansas that the delegates
could not all be kept here. was well
founded. The leaders of the party who
were early on the scene notably Senator
Jones, of Nevada, expressed the opinion
before the proceedings began, that this
would be the last day of the convention
and this Feeling was shared by most or
those present. Senator Stewart, or Me-
vada, was early in the hall. his trst APP
pearance in the convention.
At 1890 Chairman ST. John appeared on
the platform and poured a glass OF water
out of silver pitcher on the chairman's
desk. It had apparently not been subjected
to the filtering process and Mr.. 81. .Jonn
concluded to go dry.
The chairman raped for order at 10:40,
and introduced Rev. w. r.. Covert OF the
Missouri delegation who opened the pro-
ceedings with the Lords Prayer.
Mr.. Baker of California. chairman OF
the committee on conferences announced
that the two committees had met this
morning and would meet again at p m.
The silverites were assuerd, he said, that
the PopuliAts were now working harmon
iOusly along the lines laid down by this
convention. (Cheers.) He believed that
q unanimous report from the conference
. committees of the two conventions Wouip
be one of the strongest campaign docu-
ments that could be circulated. In order
that that might be successfully accom-
plished, he moved that the further pro-
ceedings of the convention relating TO the
adoption of platform and Nominations
tSa 1ofA mt dc
o'clock. This was seconded bys delegates
from Kansas and Wisconsin and the mo-
ton was carried with but one dissenting
vote.
The rest of the national ommittee. was
ANNOUNCED and the members were re-
Quested to meet Immediately upon al
1oprnment this morning.
There was tumultous demand for q
speech from Senator Stewart to which ne
responded. He said the situation made
him happy. Six months ago the gold
forces believed they had the country sub
jugated. The people rose with rapidly
which had not been equalled and now
there was to be an alignment Of tibet rue
friends and foes of the country in battle
array-just what had been desired by the
silver men for years. The silver delegates
which controlled the Chicago convention
were men of honesty and integrity VINO
were determined to do what was right.
Wall street was there but it's emissaries
were not permitted to approach the hum
blest member. There was no manlpula-
ton allowed and not a single silver vote
was lost, although half Of the 10000 people
were sent by the gold bugs. The con-
test over the platform came on and 1t was
necessary for some one to present the
silver side William J. Bryan loud and
continued applause) was sent for to reply
to the arguments OF Villas and Hill. Inc
scene was q wild one, but throughout 1t
all the silver delegates were not moved.
Mr.. Bryan was nominated before he left
the platform. His speech was pure, rugged
Americanism. If there could have been
manipulation Of the convention, said Stew
but the $40 silver delegates could not be
swerved from their purpose. Every silver
man was one of us, friend of the coun-
try and opposed to the British control OF
our financies. If they unite and they are
uniting, they will march on to victory
(Cheers.)
The convention took up the veteran SOL
der resolution and it was decided to cal
the roll Of states that the chairmen OF
DELEGATIONS might announce the number OF
the veterans in each state delegation: The
call resulted in showing 1856 Union soldiers
1S Confederates and Mexican soldiers
represented in the convention.
Miss Helena Hartnett Mitchell, of Kan
saS. was introduced, and stating that
being inspired by the nomination Of Bry.
an, although she had never written, q
poem, she had written one on "The Wal
of William Whitney" She recited it to thu
convention. At the close Of the recitation
many of the delegates rose and expressed
their feelings by shouting and waving
hats handkerchiefs and flags. It was tn.
ton.
C.. r. Scott, of Omaha, formerly Re
publican, said that he would work to bur,
the party he had left. Whitney had mad,
the announcement that something shoull
be done. He wished to inform Mr.. Whit
ney that something would be done. Ref
erence was made by delegate to Cleve
land. Replying to this, Mr.. Scott said
"Oh. Cod give us cyclones. IL they mus
come; war, famine, pests but, o God, "a
yeyars Of Grover Cleveland" He called
In conclusion, for three cheers for Bryan
and they were given with will.
The following is the platform adopted:
First, the paramount issue at this tim
In the United States Is indisputably tn
money question. 1t is between the gol,
standard, no bonds and bank currency o.
the one side, and the bimetallic stand
ard on the other. On this issue we declar
ourselves to be in favor of a distinctivel
American financial system.
We are unalterably opposed to the singl
gold standard and demand the immediat
return to the constitutional standard @
gold and silver. by the restoration by thi
government, Independently of any for
eign power, of the unrestricted coinage Q
both gold and silver into standard none
sf at the ratio Of 16 to /, and upon terms G
exact equality as they existed prior t
1873, the silver coin to be Of full legal ten
der equally with gold for all debts an
dues public and private; we demand sue
legislation as will prevent the future dc
struction of the legal tender quality &
any kind Of money by contract We hol
that the power to control and regulate.
paper currency is inseparable from tn
as. power to coin money; and hence that q
Currency intended to circulate as none
should be issued and its volume controlle
by the general government only an
should be legal tender.
We are unalterably opposed to the i.
me by the United States Of interest bea,
ing bonds in time of peace, and we d,
nounce as q blunder worse than q Grim
the present treasury policy concured in
q Republican house, Of plunging the coul
s. try into debt by hundreds of millions !
the vain attempt to maintain the gol
standard by borrowing gold and we d,
mand the payment Of all coin obligation
Of the United States, as provided by e,
listing laws, In either gold or silver coli
at the option of the government and n,
at the option Of the creditor. The den
IA monetization of silver in 1873 enormousl
Y Increased the demand for gold, enhancin
III 1tS purchasing power and lowering q
prices measured by that standard ar
II 1ince that unjust and undefensible act tt
prices Of American products have falle
upon an average nearly so per cent. ca
ry1ng down with them pr0portionately II
~ money value of all other forms Of pro-
ertY. Z