The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-06-25
large enough to contain all the friends

Voices-16 to 1; Clark and Hardy; that
other convention.
Hogg-I don't jump on corpse, my
friends.
Then the Col. took up the silver ques-
ton and discussed it solely on the points
made in his Waxahachie speech. He
contended that the money power was not
so much opposed to free silver as to the
payment of the bonds on the terms of the
contract under which they were issued.
If it was proposed to pay them in gold,
they would oppose that. What they
want is that the bonds be renewed.
They know that by the contract they
would be forced to receive silver or gold
at the option of the government in pay
ment for the bonds.
Governor Culberson also addressed the
convention and during the course of his
remarks, said: There is the one
of federal expenses, reduction of
which is imperatively demanded There
is the great question of the tariff,
and then there is the great the over
shadowing issue of free silver. 1t is
the question upon which the Democracy
no mistake is made. The great
cause Of silver has won a great
victory. 1t will control the national con-
vention at Chicago. The nominee of
that convention. from boot to plume.
from end to end, all around and all
through must be Democrat, man
whose life and character is in itself a
sufficient platform for the Democracy to
stand on. We do not want any recent
converts to lead the party in the presi-
dental campaign" Cries of good, no
more GreeleysD
The governor closed with a glowing
tribute to the party and an emphatic
promise of victory in November.
On motion, Judge John NJ. Duncan of
Tyler addressed the convention. He said
he was glad to sit in pure and I'M
defiled Democratic convention. For the
last few years there has been tremcn-
kickers have kicked themselves out, and
there is harmony again. This is year
of triumph for the regular Democracy
to win. For years and years the Demo-
Gratis of the Union have been ground be-
meath the heel of the oppressor. Now it
had achieved it's liberties and will put a
man of its choice in the presidential
chair next November. He denounced
the Republican convention at st. Louis
of the east. The Democratic party will
have a platform as plain as Thou shalt
not steal" In fact that would be a
very good platform for this year.
Cheers and applause.) The platform
will be so plain that every man will know
that the Democratic party is opposed to
all Republican policies, whether initiated
by Democrats or Republicans. 1t will
stop the coupon-clipping at the expense
of the plain people of the country These
people always cry out that if you ;dOpt
the silver plank and put it on the statute
books that confidence will be destroyed.
Confidence in what? About the only
thing they have any confidence in is
themselves. They talk about ruin and
panic which will never come. They are
prone to picture disaster which is purely
imaginary, and horrible things which
never happen.
On motion. J. w. Blake, chairman of
the bimetallic executive committee, made
speech. He said there were news
paper reports that he and Governor Hogg
and that Hogg and Bailey and he and
Culberson were at outs. He and the gov
enor were perfectly friendly and he had
the highest admiration for him as a man
and an official. Hevwanted the COVER
nor to go to Chicago if the governor
wanted to go. He wanted to see him
reelected in November and would help
him to preside at the head of the table
for two years more. The governor will
knock the socks off of the Republicans
and the Populists this year. Silver is
ahead this year. The clouds are rolling
by and everything points to absolute,
complete and overwhelming victory COR
the cause of the people. They are
going to see to it that there is a 16 to l
platform and 16 to l president.
Senator Horace Chiffon, by invitation.
also made an address, in which he told
of the progress of the silver movement
and how its growth had dumfounded
its friends and paralyzed its opponents
Senator Chiffon reviewed the canvass for
the Republican nomination, and, lire all
of the rest, brought his remarks to
close with prediction of entire success
in November.
The convention then adjourned Until
$50 o'clock.
NIGHT SESSION.
When the convention was called to
order about 8 o'clock, it was announced
that the committee on credentials would
not be ready to report for twenty minutes.
On motion Attorney General Nj. Nj. Crane
filled in the time with a speech. He said
he had been born and raised a Democrat.
His record might not be of the best, but
it was better than that of the brunette
statesman from over the Trinity in that
he waited till he got inside the party be-
fore he asked for a nomination. He re-
counted the history OF the struggle Tor
silver in Texas, and denounced the plat
form of 1894 as a miserable straddle,
and said this year there would be no such
monkey business.
A voice-What do you think of Tillman
and South Carolina?
Crain-I believe he could use his pitch
fork to advantage in some quarters.
Whatever may be South Cardinals sins,
she has always been true to TIE free
coinage of silver. And then he wound up
with the usual victory talk.
The committee on credentials reported
allowing proxies representation where
delegates are not present. Also the seat
ing of the Atlee delegation from Webb,
and the Linn delegation from Wharton.
After some little discussion the report
was adopted.
Hodges submitted the report OF the
committee on permanent organization.
Shaw moved to amend the report and
make it provide for the election of eight
delegates at large and no alternates.
Some desultory discussion followed and
Shaw offered a substitute in lieu of his
amendment striking out the word alter
mates altogether. The substitute prevail
ed and the report was then adopted. 1t
was victory for the eight delegates adj
yocates as that is what Shaw's substitute
meant.
Brock Robertson, permanent chairman,
took the chair and Ramsey retired with
+bo tbo MIC of tho convention.