Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-05

Edward; S. w. Saunders, OF Frank.
lin; w. /. Jordan. OF Halifax; Deca'
tur Osborne. OF Clark; H. H. Russell
OF Loudoun; ID. III. Cecil, OF Giles: j.
a. Patterson. OF Augusta Secretaries
j. Bell Bigger and Joseph Button; As
sistant Secretaries-Clarence T.. Young. OF
Campbell, and members Of the Democratic
press of the State Of Virginia here pres
ent; Sergeant-at-Arms. George A. Hutche-
son.
captain Woods with a big white ro-
settle and four badges streaming from his
LETT lapel, was escorted TO the stand,
ana made ten-minutc address, fun OF
good sense, and calculated 10 produce
harmony and promote party success. He
held Democratic principles and Demo
cratic supremacy above any issue upon
which the party might be divided. Cap
tain Woods expressed his appreciation
OF the compliment shown him in his cleo
tion, and referred with pride to the fact
that his county (Albemarle) was the home
OF Jefferson, and his birthplace. and the
cradle Of liberty in its highest and broad
est sense.
II was Jefferson, the statesman" said
Captain Woods, aided and supported by
the great fathers OF the republic North
and South. who proclaimed the deathless
doctrine that all legislation should pro-
mote the greatest good TO the greatest
number; that the bulwark and strength
Of a republic rested on the content. hap
piness, and prosperity OF the stalwart
tillers Of the soil-the substratum and the
bases OF all national greatness and pro-
gress-and that there should be equal op-
portunity for all and special privileges
for none. To-day in this great republic we
are confronted with fearful and dread
full condition. Under Republican legisla-
lures the wealth Of the country is being
concentrated I'm the hands of "A few. while
the toilin6 masses are daily growing,
poorer and poorer. More than half of all
the farms Of the country are mortgage
and under the present financial system
their owners are hopelessly involved. SO
far from paying the principal, they strove
in vain to meet the interest and they
have nothing but penury and disaster be-
fore them. OF all dire misfortunes save
dishonor that can befall a people the
worst is enforced poverty"
Captain Woods paid a tribute TO the
free American people. referred TO the free
silver tidal wave, and said: There are
honest differences among our Democratic
clans as to the causes of and the rene
dies for the all-pervading distress and
depression existing in the land but De-
mocracy, especially in the South means
the defeat of force bills, the recognition
of southern statesmen in the councils and
administration OF the government and
last, but not least, IL means the preserva-
tion and dominance OF the Caucasian
race. However Virginians may differ on
one great question. | do not distrust the
loyalty and allegiance of all true Demo-
Gratis TO the Democratic cause"
The permanent chairman. who was
heartily applauded. closed his speech by
predicting harmony and victory in Novem-
Der.
AN OBJECTION.
The report Of the Committee on Gre
dentials was promptly adopted. and that
on Resolutions was called for, but the
platform was not yet ready.
Captain Woods stated that the re-
ports of the district nominations for dele
gates to Chicago and for members of the
State Committee were in order, and the
secretary was about to call for them,
when Mr.. Massey of Danvile sprung
to his feet and objected. I'VE do not pro-
pose" he declared. "to go into the cleo
tion of any delegates until we have adopt
ed our platform. We want TO know
first what platform the delegates are 10
stand upon, and then decide who the
delegates shall be-
This was plainly shown to be the sem
timent Of the convention, and the reports
were not handed in at this stage.
There were loud and vociferous calls
for Marshall, the popular ex-congress-
man from the Ninth District Familiarity
known as Cyclone jim Marshall, and
he received "a -great-0VatiOn. both as he
picked his way TO the rostrum and
throughout the fifteen minutes of his
speech, which abounded in wit and humor.
Mr. Marshall drew freely upon his re-
source Of anecdotes, and put the conven-
tion In fine humOr Indeed there was q
continuous uproar. He said. as there
were neither platforms nor candidates be-
fore the body, he would not attempt to
discuss these. II was pretty well known
what the platform would declare for,
and he intlmated that he was satisfied
on that point. The rest Of his speech was
entertaining. but had very little refer
ence to politics.
MARTIN TO THE FRONT.
United States Senator Thomas 5. Martin
followed Mr.. Marshall. and in a speech OF
fifteen minutes. which elected vigorous
applause and violent Kissing at the same
time, defined his position on the money
question, aligning himself squarely with
the free-slVer advocates. He made O. bold
assault upon President Cleveland and his
administration, and expressed his entire
Indifference to criticism OF his public acts
There was a general desire 10 hear the
junior Senator, and the calls for him
came from all parts OF the hall. While
by reason of his recent votes in Congress
he had been regarded as a silver man,
there was still great uncertainty in the
public mind as to what his views really
f. asl
far as the 1900 Democrats who heard
him to-day are concerned lie is not so
extreme as some of the silver men, but
ne is by his own declaration, one of their
number. Few of those present had ever
heard Mr. Martin speak, and fewer stiii
were prepared for the speech that he
made. 1t was during his severe arraign-
ment OF Mr.. Cleveland that MIR. Martin
was Kissed by the friends Of the Presl-
dent among the sound-money men. The
free-silverites. on the other hand ap-
plauded these utterances to the echo
and drowned the unwelcome voices Of
those who were showing their disappro-
val Of Mr.. Martins views. These counter
demonstrations caused Mr. Martin 10 sus-
pend twice for a moment or two.
HIS SPEECH.
Upon being presented by the presiding
officer. Mr. Martin said:
"Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen Of the
Conventional am not a very good person
TO call upon to occupy vacancy in the
routine Of the day. j have not the fund
of anecdotes nor Of humor possessed by
my friend Judge Marshall, from South
west Virginia. In fact, l can speak only
i'm a very plain way. / am glad. fellow
Democrats, 10 see such gathering OF
Nirginians here to-day. Sixty days ago,
perhaps, there was not single man in
the State of Virginia accustomed 10 give