Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-07-30

Chicago, July 24.-The meeting of
gold standard democrats, called to
consider the ACCESSIBILITY of issuing a
call for national convention, was
held last night at the Auditorium an
mex. The convention was called to or
der shortly after o'clock, and was
held in secret, both public and press
being excluded. kilograms were re-
ceived and read from prominent dem
oCrats all over the country strongly
endorsing the movement for another
ticket. Comptroller Eckels did not
appear and the meeting. after waiting
some time for him, went into session
and Gen. E. S. Bragg of Wisconsin was
elected chairman and c. A. Ewing of
Illinois secretary. The conference
definitely decided that a convention.
should be called, the only question be-
ing whether the meeting should issue
a call. On this lively debate occurred.
G. NJ. Davis of Kentucky presented a
resolution calling for a convention to
seemed to incline the other way. He
said: IF we are to have an organiza-
ton which shall represent the DEM
cratic party we must recruit it from
every state in the union We must not
issue call from a body too narrow to.
be potential. | think the best way
be held in September, in Detroit H.
S. Robbins of Illinois did not favor
the issue of call by the meeting and r.
w. Knott spoke strongly in favor of
calling the convention at once Sena-
tor Villas violently opposed the issuing
of a call by the conference. His speech
was frequently cheered although the
general sentiment of the : meeting
would be to appoint a committee to
select representatives from every state
| don't believe that each state should
hold a state convention. Let a mass
meeting be held in each state and let
them nominate delegates to the ma
tional convention in the regular way
This conference should not issue a
call We want all the states repre-
scented when the call goes forth for the
convention. Then we are sure of our
ground and strength.
After a long debate resolutions were
adopted to the effect that is was the
sense of the meeting that a democratic
convention should be held a democratic
platform enunciated and candidates for
president and vice-president chosen
and that said convention should be
held not later than September 2. A
committee of one from each state rep
resented was appointed by the chair
man to draft call for convention
with orders to report TO a general meet.
ing at II o'clock this morning.
Gen. Bragg said after adjournment
of the conference at / o'clock this
morning: There is no longer any
doubt that the gold standard democrats
mean business. We all decided that
the best thing to do is to call a con-
vention and put ticket in the field"
The men taking part in the confer
ence were: Littleton Cooke, Thomas
W. B1llitt, w. B. HaIdeman, f. W.
Knott, A. J. Curroll, George M. Davis
of Kentucky; S. H. Holding and L. n
Linn of Ohio; Col. James o. Brodhead,
Krauthoff of Missouri; Gen. E. S. Bragg.
Senator Villas and Ellis B. Usher of
Wisconsin; Col. j. M. Martin, Judge
French, Thomas Bowman, Henry Volt
Ter E. W. Boynton, E. M. Sharon OF
Iowa; Euclin Martin and Fred Vaughn
of Nebraska; and John J. Hopkins and
G. A. Ewing of Illinois.