Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-06-18
FOR FREE SILVER.

egates to the National Democratic con-
vention at Chicago were held in each
of the congressional districts of West
Virginia yesterday, and at every one of
them free silver delegates were elected.
The convention for this, the second,
district was held at Davis. Hon. John
T. McGraw, chairman Of the congress
sional executive committee, called the
convention to order and announced
Hon. w. H. Travers, of Jefferson coun-
ty, as temporary chairman, whom he
introduced to the convention Mr..
Clay Hyde, of Kingwood, was made
secretary, and the regular committees
were appointed, after which the con-
vention adjourned to meet at 2 o'clock.
At that hour the convention reas-
sembled, and Hon. Sam. v Woods, of
Philippi, was made chairman. R. W.
Morrow, of Jefferson county, and J.
Slidell Brown, of Preston county, were
made secretaries. Mr.. Wood made
short speech, after which the reports
of the several committees were read.
There was wrangle as to how the
delegates should be elected, but the re-
port of the committee was finally adopt
ed, which recommended that the dis
trict delegates be first elected.
The committee on resolutions then
reported as follows:
"Resolced by the representatives Of
the Democratic party in convention
assembled
"First-We reannounce and reatfirm
our devotion to the time-honored prin-
ciples Of the Democratic party.
"Second-We are in favor Of bimet-
allism, and to this end demand the
free and unlimited coinage of both gold
and silver at the ratio of Is to as
standard money for the payment Of all
debts, both public and private, with
out regard to the action of any other
nation.
"Third-We are opposed to the is
sue and sale of government bonds IN
time of peace for the purpose Of rails
ing money to maintain the gold reserve
and to this end we declare that the
Secretary of the Treasury should, in
the exercise of his legal discretion, pay
the coin obligations OF the United
States in silver or gold, as may at the
time be most convenient, and we de-
clare that the payment Of these obi
cations in gold, and in gold only, Is an
unwarranted discrimination against
the use of silver as money.
"Fourth-The delegates from this
district to the national convention are
directed to vote in accordance with
the foregoing resolution. "
The minority report reads: In lieu
of the second and third resolutions we
offer as follows:
eve are opposed to the free and
unlimited coinage Of silver except un-
der an international agreement with
the leading nations of the world, and
until such an agreement can be made
we are in favor of maintaining the eX-
listing standard of values. We are al
so in favor of reform in the banking
and currency, so as to give a more elias
tic banking system. We oppose the
instruction of delegates to the Chicago
convention, and recommend that they
90 uninstructed. "
This was laid on the table and the
majority report adopted
The next business being the election
of delegates a motion was made to
limit nominating speeches to five min
utes. Col. C. S. White, Of Hampshire
county, nominated John J. Cornwell
and Hon. C. w Daily, Of Randolph
county, nominated Z. D. Talbot for
district delegates, and they were elect
ed by acclamation. B. J. Baker, o.
Grant county, Hon. b. B. Lucas, OF
Jefferson county, and John T McGraw
of Taylor county, were nominated FOL
delegates at large. The convention
by this time had become very noisy, as
interesting speeches in support of the
various candidates were being made
Mr.. B. J. Baker withdrew, leaving Mr.
McGraw and Mr.. Lucas in the field
The convention, after being addressed
by both McGraw and Lucas, explain.
ing their positions on the money ques'
ton, proceeded to vote, which resulted
in the election of Mr.. McGraw by a
vote of ia to 1O4. When the vote
was announced the supporters Of Colo
mel McGraw lifted him to their shout,
ders and placed him on the stand, from
which he addressed the convention
C, F. Keys and George W. Miller were
elected alternates and J. Slidell Brown
alternate at large, after which the con.
vention adjourned.
The convention was one of the most
exciting ever held in the State. Sew.
eral times it was impossible for the
chairman to maintain order, and he
had to call for music by the band.
The convention for the first district
was held at Clarksburg, and after
adopting free silver resolutions, and
instructing the delegates to vote fol
no one for President or Vice-President
who was not an open and avowed free
silver man, elected as district delegates
John A. Howard and W. E. f. Byrne
and as delegates at large VIM. NJ
Kincaid.
The third district convention al
Hinton adopted strong free coinage
resolutions without dissenting vote
James H. Miller and Laurence E
Tierney were elected district delegate:
and Gen. J. w. st. Clair delegate al