The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-04
THE TELLER ACT.
J. r. Fellows Sheds Tears as He
Tells Conference
Of the Gold Men His Grief Over
the Plight
OF THE DEMOCRACY.
Tears Stream Down His Face
as He BeWaiIs the Fate
Of the Grand Old Democratic
Party About to Break.

Chicago, July At did not take the
gold standard people from the east
very long to get actively to work. No
sooner had VIM. c. Whitney gone to
his room last evening than he wrote
personal notes addressed to the leaders
here Of all the states opposed to silver.
These notes requested that the gold
standard people meet him and others
of the eastern men at the Auditorium
at o'clock, so some plan Of action
might be devised for the gold cam
paign.
At o'clock Mr.. Whitney accompan-
led by ex-Mayor Grant. ex-Gov. Russell
and several other of the eastern men
appeared at the rooms. Senator Hill
and Roswell P. Flower came in q little
later and ex-Lieut. GOV. Sheehan, who
is the present national committeeman
from New York, came along right after.
James J. Martin, John r. Fellows, Sen
atOr Gray of Delaware, Senator Smith
of New Jersey, Chairman of the New
York State Committee Hinckley, and
several others. followed and the room
soon filed UP. Among the others go
ing in We're W. F. Harrity, John R.
Read and Chas. E. Ingerson of Penn
sylvania; John P. Hopkins, Washing
ton Hesing James E. Eckles and Ben
T. Cable of Illinois; J. G. Prather Of
Missouri; Vim. E. Russell of Massa-
chusetts; L. Victor Boughman of
Maryland; E. S. Bragg Ond E. c. Wall
of Wisconsin; Don. NJ. Dickinson Of
Michigan; Morris Power, c. c. Bald
win, Smith NJ. Weed of New York; W.
D. Bynum, John T. Dye of Indiana;
Asher NJ. Caruth of Kentucky.
Senator Gray was chosen chairman Of
the meeting, on motion of Mr.. Whit
ney and Collector Reed of Philadelphia,
of Illinois
made secretaries. Senator Gray on
taking the chair said that every gen
tleman present must be impressed with
the gravity of the situation. No con-
vention of the Democratic party had
ever been called upon to face a cOndi-
ton so mOmentOus- I'VE confess" he
said, that none of US are clear as to a
definite policy to be pursued. All we
can do, and all we are seeking to do is
TO hold an informal conference of those
who recognize impending danger, to
take counsel one with another, and act
as wisely as we may under the circun-
stances"
It was then suggested that a call be
made OF the states, that those present
indicate the names OF delegates or in
fluential persons favorable to sound
money, together with address. from
which names the secretary should
make a roll. 1t was found nearly all
the states were represented, either by
delegates or by men who had come
here to work against free silver
When the state of Kentucky was
called MIR. Long, ex-chairman OF the
Democratic state central committee,
made an impassiOned speech. He said
he did not believe it was possible to
do any effective missionary work with
the delegation from his state, but he
was certain that if a 10 to l platform
was adopted by the national cOnVen-
ton, victory would go Republican az
the election. When Missouri was
reached Ex-Governor D. r. Francis
said he regarded missionary work with
the Missouri delegation as well nigh
hopeless. If Bland was nominated, it
was his judgment that the state would
go Democratic, but he did not believe
it possible that any other candidate
could carry Missouri for free silver.
Judge Moran of Illinois spoke at
lenoth and said the silver movement
in Illinois was not an intelligent Dem
ocratic movement, but represented the
disconnected socialistic and anarchis-
tic following of Governor AItgeld,
which was very largely personal in its
When New York was called ex-Gov-
ernOr R. P. Flower said: In my home
county we number among our Demo
Gratis a few men of silver tendencies.
We have given Republican majOrities
for presidential candidates of between
1000 and 5000. I am bound to say,
however that if the Democratic party
goes before the people on a silver
platform this Republican majority
will be doubled, if not trebled- This
would be the result in every county in
the state and the Democratic electoral
vote which we have been able to give
in some years would be thrown away
and the state would go IN the Repub-
lican column
Governor Flower then spoke upon the
financial issue in the east and said the
panic that would naturally enSue if the
silver candidate was successful would
react upon the farmers as had the
panic of 1873 several years afterward-
For that reason would nOtfeeI 1t pos
sible to go before the farmers or my
state and speak for 4 Democratic nom
inee upon a free silver platform am
positive New York state Will go upon
the Republican side of the question
with a majority of 100000 to 100000 if
the issue is silver"
Governor Flower was followed by
John r. Fellows of New York, who
spoke with great elaboration and a
broken voice. He said: Il am a Dem
Ocrat, and it has been a source of great
pride to me that I should be able to
leave to my children as a heritage the
record that their father had been a
consistent Democrat. But I am strong
ly impressed that this movement
against which we are cOntending vio-
lates every principle of Democracy and
is but the vaporings of wild fanatics.
The tears streamed down Mr.. Eel
lows cheeks as he said: If this dog
ma of reputation is incorporated into
the platform of the Democratic party.
1 must leave that party and forever.
As have said. am Democrat
have voted and worked and expended
my energies with and for the party
I have been as faithful and consistent
to its principles as the party has been
But while I have always expected to
remain a Democrat, cannot, gentle
men, accept the degradation the fol-
lowing of this silver fallacy means"
AS Colonel Fellows sat down the
room rang with applause A motion
was then adopted to the effect that all
of the gold men meet every morning at
10 O'Clock at the Palmer house to ar
range for missionary work
The meeting then adjourned Twice