The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-07-02
GEORGIA DEMOCRACY.
Hoke Smiths Brother Democrats Are
Not of His Mind on the Money
"a Question.


Macon, Ga. June 25.-The Democratic
convention of Georgia has met and ad-
journed. 1t was probably the most eX-
\ peditious work ever done in this state by
convention of such Importance. The
convention met ut noon and adjourned
at o'clock, having gone through all
routine in four hours.
The Associated Press has already out
lined everything and has given a forecast
of all the nominees. The convention
was called to order by Steve Clay the
a chairman of the state committee. The
( convention hall was crowded from floor
ito ceiling. The day was the hottest so
far this year and the temperature was up
to the top notch. Fortunately there
was no excitement and everything
passed off like the ticking of clock
After addresses of welcome from local
representatives, Clarence Gaines was Sc
lected temporary chairman and clerks of
the last house and senate acted
temporary secretaries. After the
appointment of a credentials committee,
whose work was confined to the seating
of three contrasting delegations, Steve
Clay was elected permanent chairman
and the same secretaries continued in
the permanent organization. The com
mittee on resolutions having been ap-
pointed, the nomination of governor and
state officials was taken up with the fol-
flowing results:
a A. Y. Atkins, governor (renominated);
secretary of state A. ID. Gambler; state
treasurer, w. j. Speer: attorney gen
eral, j. w. Terrell comptroller, w. A.
4 Wright; commissioner of agriculture,
y X. l.. Nesbitt.
All these We're rcnominated volun-
\ tarily.
The delegates from the state are:
Evan Howell, Patrick Walsh, Pope
+ Brown and II. r. Lewis.
The platform is as follows:
'ReSolvcd, That congress has no power
to discriminate at the minis against
either gold or silver, as metals for the
coinage of primary money or against gold
or silver coin of the United States as to
their debt-paying functions. Said dis
ordinations deprive the citizens of the
use of one kind of standard money pro-
vided by the constitution for the pay
ment of debts, and we demand the re-
peal of all laws or parts of laws making
such determinations and the restoration
of the standard silver dollar to the rank
of primary money, which it held prior
to 1873, by opening the minis to the
coinage of silver on Il perfect equality
with gold at the ratio of 16 to |.
Resolved, That we condemn iinan-
cial policy which necesstates the increase
of the bonded debts of the country in
time of peace to maintain an mneces-
sary gold reserve, or to pay the current
expenses of the government. We also
condemn a policy which seeks to retire
the United States and treasury notes,
as they constitute an absolutely safe
circulating medium based on gold and
oil hn, al Nv hn Mi
of the country. Such policy would not
only intensity the present evil of con
traction, but place the executive right to
issue circulating medium in the control
of Il concentrated money power and
above the laws and will of the people,
and foster the federal doctrine of cen
traliZation and class government through
financial control, a doctrine which is
standing menace to our republican in
stitutions and the liberties of the people,
and we demand the repeal of laws which
clothe a secretary of the treasury with
more than imperial power to issue bonds
and increase the public debt at his will
and pleasure without specific authority
from congress-.
Resolved, That we favor the payment
of the public debt as rapidly as practical
BILE; all moneys drawn from the people
by taxation, except so much as is re-
quisite for the necessities of the govern
ment economically administered, should
be honestly applied to such payment, and
when the obligations of the government
expressly state their face or the law
under which they We're issued,
provides that they are payable in coin
or in dollars such obligations should be
paid in gold or silver at the convenience
of the government and not at the option
of the holder of the obligation"
the committee made its report. The por-
ton relating to financial affairs is as fol-
lows:
'The constitution of the United States
recognizes both gold and silver as the
primary or redemption money of these
states and that, in the words of the ma
tiOnal Democratic platform of 1894, tive
believe in honest money. the gold and sill
yer coinage of the constitution. as a cir
cuating medium. convertible into such
money without loss.
''We favor. independently of other ma
tons, the free and unlimited coinage of
silver and gold, without determinations
against either. at the present legal ratio
of 16 to l, and we condemn the system,
which, in times of peace, with millions
of silver bullion lying idle in the treasury,
has forced the government within the
short period of two years to issue $685.
100000 of bonds, entailing this enormous
debt on the people in order to maintain
its credit upon single standard and a
gold basis"
The platform instructs the delegates
to Chicago, both as to platform and can
didates, to advocate and vote as a unit |
unfinchingly and at all hazards for the |
restoration of silver and to use all their |
efforts to abrogate the two-thirds rule if |
necessary to secure the nomination of a |
candidate in complete and hearty ac-
cord with the principles herein enun
cated by us.
After the committee offered its report, |
Col. Paul B. Means of Cabaraus precipi-
tated the financial question by offering a
straight gold standard amendment for
the silver section. He was howled down,
but at last the convention quoted enough
to hear him But when he mentioned
President Cleveland as my ideal man
of all the world" there was a storm of
Kisses and yells of derision. He was
called down time and again, but at last
succeeded in getting a vote. The gold
plank was voted down by Z: vote Of $40
TO 81.
Tonight Cyrus Watson was nominated
for governor and G. w. Hampton for
lieutenant governor.