The Yale expositor., 1896-05-08
DEMOCRATIC HOSTS
Gather I'm State Convention at Detroit
Gold Men Win.

X
fight over the silver question. Elliott
q. Stevenson, chairman of the state
central committee, opened the conven-
ton. Alfred j. Murphy. of Detroit,
was chosen temporary chairman and
Walter Meade as secretary. Mr..
Murphy made pleasing little speech,
and then reports were made by dis
tricts with recommendations of COM
mittees, with the exception of the
Fourth, where there was Il contest be-
tween the silver and sound money men.
The first test of strength came on a
motion to have all resolutions coming
before the convention referred to the
committee on resolutions. This was u
move of the anti-silver men. The
white metal men seemed to think that
the committee on resolutions would
not report any of their measures and
opposed the resolution. When a vote
was called for the anti-silver men had
the lead and carried the motion. Com
mittees were appointed and recess
taken
Upon rcassembling the committee on
delegates from Alcona, Charlevoix,
Grand Traverse and Missaukee. coun-
ties, were not acceptable. but by vote
of the convention the delegates were
seated. The committee on organiza-
tion reported recommending Hon. Jas.
;. Gorman as permanent chairman and
Walter Meade, as secretary. A test
Dt, l., .L,
yer men was shown when they fought
to have the resolutions adopted before
delegates were elected, but the gold
men downed them by "a vote of 424 to
366. The selection of fdelegates-at-larg
opened with Elliott c. Stevenson. of
Wayne. as the gold mems candidate
and Judge j. W. McGrath for the sill
verties Mr.. Stevenson won by a vote
of 473 to 80. The remaining delegate
at-largc and the alternates, all sound
money men, were chosen as follows:
Thomas A. f.. Weadock, of Bay City;
Robert A. Blacker, of Manistee; Peter
White, of Marquette ALTERNArEs-
w f. DARRELL of Mecosta; James
O'lIara, of Berricn; n. Il. Woodin, of
Calhoun; Robert Lake, of jackson.
The district delegates were an
nounccd as standing 10 for silver and
II for gold, but this will avail nothing
to the silver men, as the resolutions in
struct the delegation to vote as unit
and as the majority are for gold the
entire vote will stand for gold in the
national convention.
;. l.. Smith, of Detroit. chairman of
the committee on resolutions. read the
following as the report of the majority
of the committee:
Grover Cleveland gave to the Democratic
party for the first time after the war what was
essential to Success-more votes and when the
Democratic party gained its first national sue
cess after the war by his election as President
of the United States, his firm announcement
that having been elected he would be inau-
gurated. sounding like a bugle call in the ears
OF a doubling people, put end to a second
great conspiracy to steal the presidency
We. the Democrats of the state of Michigan,
in convention assembled. salute Grover Clevc-
land. President of the United States. the
great chief and leader Of the Democratic party.
and we record here as matter of history
of which we will be proud while we live that
we have unswervingly supported indorsed and
been faithful To his leadership since he was
called from the rank and file of the party to
that leadership i'm 1854. He has never betrayed
or deceived the Democratic party. and he has
always been faithful to his pledges, and to
the principles Of Democracy, when there were
many, many faithless. We indorse the foreign
policy of the administration one which has
warned Off foreign enCrOachment upon Ameri
can rights. maintained the dignity and prestige
of our country abroad. and kndled anew the
pristine patriotism uf our countrymen We
trust the administration which moves with
proper conservatism IN dealing with questions
irNolvins oui relations with all European pow
crS having colonies on this hemisphere. to rec
ognize the belllSercncy OF the Cuban patriots
and. may be, TO give further coun-
tehance ana ana 10 the cuban republic. in ac.
cordance with the sentiment of our people. the
genius of American liberty. the dictates of
common humanity and of Christian civilza
ton
On the finance question we recognize that thi,
administration stands upon. and has consist
emily carried out, the platform OF the national
Democratic convention of 1892 which 1t
was elected by the people, which declared that
the parity of he metals of our currency should
he maintained. The platform OF the national
convention ON this question which has carried
the country overwhelmingly for our party
new platform is formed by another national
convention. TO that convention, to be held
at Chicago, on July Z. 1896. we remit this sub
ject, with confidence in the wisdom and patriot
ism of that body. The Michigan delegation
TO the national Democratic convention Is in.
structed to vote as a unit on all questions
coming before the convention.
The Democratic party is unalterably opposed
to the spirit of bigotry fostered for political
and animosity among the citizens of this re-
public. Secret political bodies formed or used
for deprivinS any citizen of his right to vote
hold office earn ms living are illegal. cow
ardly and un-Amercan. AS such secret
political body we denouncc the American Pro-
tectve Association.
When the platform had been read
Judge Q. G. Smith, of Lansing, silver
man, read the following as the report
of the minority of the committee:
The Democrats of Michigan renew their al
legiance TO the principles OF Thomas Jefferson
jackson and "A long list of patriots and states
men who have adorned the record OF the party.
We deplOrc the record of industrial failures.
OF pauperism. suicide. crime and insanity. and
other evidences of despair, in land so boun-
tifuy blessed by Providence az is ours we
believe that these conditions Principally the
result of bad laws and misgnvernment. We
affirm that the financial question and the re,
monciizaton Of silver are the paramount and
prosperity can only be enjoyed by our people
through the full reconciliation OF silver and
ita equal use standard money with gold.
without discrimination of any kind by the
government i'm the laws. We demand n
system Of American money. and tho restora ton
of silver TO all the rights OF mintage as money,
which II .ceived prior to its demonstration
in 1873 and upon the ratio of 10 to |, without
regard to the action of any other country on
earth.
Judge Smith made long speech for
the resolution. protesting against the
turn-down of the silver men, but his
protest was of no avail, as the resolu-
tions of the majority were adopted by a
vote of 42S to 343.
Mr. Stevenson moved that the choos-