The record-union., 1896-03-29
UNRESTRICTED DELEGATES.
Grove l. johnson Explains His Position
In a Telegram.
His Stand Endorsed by Republican
Clubs and Applauded by the
Friends of Silver.

Quite a stir was made IN local pOIlLlcdI
circles by the announcement that the
following telegram had been sent to
Hon. Grove l.. Johnson by ex-senator
T. r. Dray, Chairman of the Mckinley
Club, Engene S. Hadley, Secretary of
the Mckinley Club William Beckman
and w. B. Thorpe:
I'VE desire to know positively, if you
are selected as delegate to the Ma
tional Republican Convention to be
| held in St. Louis, whether or not you
will cast your vote for William McKin-
| ley to the exclusion of all other candi-
dates. Wire answer"
| 1t was said that Mr.. Johnson, SO far
as could be determined, has ignored the
| polite request to wire answer" as
being leading question.
| But Mr.. Johnson's wire" is, never
| theless, in the city, having been re-
| ceived yesterday afternoon by Hiram
| W. Johnson. To DR.. G. NJ. Dixon of the
| Joint Republican Committee Hiram
| w. Johnson disclosed the contents of
said "wire,' and DR.. Dixon was not
only willing to disclose it to the Rec
| ord-Union," but also consented to con-
tribute a few terse remarks, embodying
his thoughts on the matter and few of
his political principles.
Il consider said DR.. Dixon, ''that
| the telegram sent to Mr. Johnson by
Mr.. Beckman and others almost a re-
Election upon the formers intelligence;
for it is a ridiculous proposition to ask
a man in Mr.. Johnsons position to
pledge himself absolutely to one candi-
date to the exclusion of all others, when
neither hh 4aIT
at this time whether or not such candi-
dates did or would stand for the prin-
eiples which Mr.. Johnson advocates. 4"
Following this declaration DR.. Dixon
produced the telegram received by
Hiram W. Johnson from Grove L.
Johnson. Tt was as follows:
Mckinley is my first choice. but am
opposed to instructions. The delegates
should be free to work for silver and
California's interest. Instructed dele
gates have no influence
GROVE L. JOHNSON"
In certain political circles the teIe-
gram sent to Mr.. Johnson was consid-
cred only a trap to cause him to commit
himself, but his wire" plainly shows
that he had no intention Of so doing.
But the Republican clubs of Sacra-
mento from the Twentieth and Twenty
first districts were jubilant over the
telegram received from Mr.. Johnson:
sc jubilant, in fact, that the following
telegram was sent in appreciation of the
stand taken by him:
Hon. Grove L. Johnson, Washington,
.. c.: The Twentieth and Twenty
first Assembly District Republican
Clubs, 1000 strong, support your stand
for uninstructed delegates, for free and
unlimited coinage Of silver and Cali
fornia's interest
Signed: c. E. Fowler, President
Twentieth District Club; H. H. Look,
President Twenty-first District Club.
G. M. Dixon of joint Executive Com
mittee."
That the action taken by Mr.. Johnson
in dealing with the question is indorsed
by the clubs of the Twentieth and
Twenty first Districts is further
shown by the fact that at a called meet
ing of both clubs held week ago, reso-
lutions were unanimously adopted fa-
voring free and unlimited coinage of sill
yer at the ratio of is to /, without refer
ence to any international agreement:
also instructing the members of the
club to use their influence to secure an
uninstructed delegation to the St. Louis
Convention. "This action of the clubs.
said DR.. Dixon, was the warrant upon
which the official telegram was sent to
Mr.. Johnson.
1T is evident" continued the doctor.
that the sentiment in this Congress
siona1 District, and for the State at
large is for free silver, by large ma
jority. If California's delegates stand
with the delegates from other Western
States as a unit for free silver in the St
Louis Convention, they will, in my opin-
ion hold the balance of power, and be in
position to force the Eastern gold men
tc come to them; and, as a result, the
next Republican platform will contain
an unequivocal free silver plank, upon
Which Mr.. Mckinley, or any other good
man, can ride triumphantly into the
White House.
81 stand for the broad principle of law
that the interests of the few must be
sacrificed to the interests of the many;
and believing that the interests of the
masses will be conserved by the re-
monetization of silver, I consider that
the adverse interest of the gold men
should and will be sacrificed
And SO the doctor disposed of the
matter