The San Francisco call., 1896-08-27
IOWA GOLD DEMOCRATS,
They Indorse Cleveland and
Denounce the Chicago
Platform.
Delegates to the Indian apolis Conven.
ton Without Suspicion of
Populism.

DES MONIES, Iowa, Aug. 26.-The
largest Democratic convention that has
been held in Iown in three years was the
gathering OF the National Democracy to-
day to select delegates to the Indianapolis
convention. 1t was Democratic coIven-
ton without suspicion of the Populism
which has been the characteristic of Dem
ocratic conventions for two years. 1t en-
phatically denounced the Chicago plat
form. indorsed Cleveland and reiterated
the principles of the National Democracy
of Jackson, Jefferson and Tilden in ring
ing platform. J. E. Markley was tempo
rary chairman and made strong speech.
The permanent chairman was Judge w.
/. Babb, who only year ago was made
the unanimous nominee of the Iowa
Democracy for Governor. His speech was
long and able exposition of the essential
differences between the principles of true
Democracy and those enunciated at
Chicago, and was vigorously applauded
Mr.. Markley's was the most eloquent,
however, and resulted in breaking the
slate and nominating him unanimously,
in the face of his decination, for elector at
large, w. w. Wilmer of Des Moines being
his running mate.
For delegates at large to Indianapolis
there were so many aspirants that the con-
vention named eight and gave them half
vote each. They are: w. /. Babb
Joseph Eiboeck, William Groneweg, John
Cl1ggett, L. NJ. Martin, M. B. Hendricks
Joel Stewart and II. H. Trimble. The
only jar in the convention was when a
resolution was presented declaring it the
sense of the convention that every sound
money Democrat should vote against anv
Congressional candidate who does not
pledge himself to oppose the free coinage
OF silver at 16 to 1. 1t had been decided
that the State or Congressional tickets
would be named by the National Democ-
racy, and when this resolution was pre-
sented Chairman Babb ruled that the State
convention had no authority over Con-
gresslonai matters, and therefore it was
out OF order. There was no opposition to
the ruling.
The platform reiterates the principles
recognized as those of Demo cracv; de-
ciares that the Chicago convention sur
rendered these and declared for a new sec
tlonallsm, OF the West ana South against
the East and North; declares that the Chi
cago platform Is mischievous III its ten
dencies and menace to free government.
1t denounces the Chicago attitude toward
Cleveland, whom 1t eulogizes. The at
tack on the Judiciary is denounced, and
the attitude of the Chicago gathering on
money is discussed at some length. The
declaration on this subject is in substance
as follows:
That platform threatens to debase the
coinage through unlimited coinage of
silver at an arbitrary and fictitious ratio.
1t virtually pledges, if placed in power,
to repeal the act for resumption OF specie
payment. These are not Democratic prin-
ciples and cannot receive our support.
The election of a President pledged to
these principles will precipitat finan-
clal crisis whose consequence cannot be
predicted. We favor use OF gold and
silver, maintained at parity; we adhere
to the gold standard until true bimetallism
can be achieved. We demand a reorgan-
ization of present financial laws, especi-
ally those which compel the issue OF Gov
ernment bonds to maintain National
credit. We reaffim the past declarations
of the party on the tariff and on State
issues.
The State Central Committee met after
the convention and decided to open head
quarters and conduct an active speaking
and literary campaign IN the state.