Evening star., 1896-10-03
DE MOCRAT IC CLUBS
Convention of the National Associa-
ton at st. Louis.
BADGES AND BUTTONS AND BANDS
Vice President Stevenson Among
the First Of the Leaders to Arrive.
PRESIDENT BLACKS ADDRESS

ST. LOUIS, Mo-, October at is the
opening day of the quadrennial conven-
ton of the National Association Of Demo-
cratic Clubs. The delegates began to ar
rive yesterday, and they have been pour
ing in on every road that comes to the
city since that time. All morning they
gathered in the lobbies of the hotels, where
the curbstone orators shouted and roared
with enthusiastic energy, explaining the
money question and true significance of
16 to II There were bands of music of
every sort and description, from backwoods
and from the metropolitan cities, playing
patriotic airs.
The Vice Prcsident's Arrival.
Vice President Adlai f. Stevenson was
the first Of the leaders of the organization;
named to arrive in this city. President
Chauncey F. Black of Pennsylvania end
other officials of the National Association
of Democratic Clubs came in on a special
train, accompanied by delegates from
eastern clubs. In the party were Chauncey
F. Black and Miss Black, Secretary Law
renee Gardner and Mrs. Gardner, M. ].
Heron. state organizer Of democratic
clubs In Maryland. and Maryland dele
gates; Judge Hughes and delegates from
Pennsylvania clubs; w. Lambert Of New
ark and delegates from New Jersey clubs;
Representative w. z. Sulzer Of New York
and delegates from New York clubs. and
George W. Rae of Texas. who will be ser
geant-at-arms of the convention.
Several prominent men who were expect
ed to be present have sent word that they
tial Candidate Arthur Sewall Of Maine has
notified the executive committee of his
inability to attend the convention. In addi-
tion, also, he wired from New York to G.
w. Allen of st. Louis as follows:
Il regret exceedingly that 1 am to be
deprived of the pleasure Of participating in
the great meeting Of the democratic clubs.
which will contribute SO much to the sue
Senator James X. Jones, chairman of the
national democratic executive committee,
sent the following telegram from Chicago
yesterday:
Impossible for me to be in St. Louis to-
morrow. Important matters keep me
here"
When Mr.. Bryan is Expected.
Mr. Bryan is expected to reach here this
evening. AS at present arranged he will
speak tonight at the mass meeting in East
st. Louis. Then he will go to the Audi
torium and speak to the convention, after
which he will be taken to the South Park,
where the Workingmen's Bryan Club will
give him hearing.
There will be three sessions of the con-
vention. The first will be devoted to the
preliminary work and permanent organiza-
tion. The second session will elect officers
and listen to speeches from the guests OF
national prominence.
1t is quite likely that all the present
officers will be reelected, as there seems
to be no opposition to Chauncey F. Black,
the president, nor to Lawrence Gardner
the secretary.
Last night all the visiting and local clubs
took part in a parade through the busi-
ness section Of the city Forty-flve clubs
were in line, divided into six divisions. The
line was reviewed by the club officials anu
other prominent democrats, who are dele
gates to the convention. After disbanding
the marchers participated in reception
given the officers and distinguished guests
at Jefferson club house.
The Convention.
It vas about 1890 o'clock in the fore
noon when the delegates and visitors be-
gan to assemble at the Auditorium, where
the convention was held. and it was al
most an hour later when President c. F..
Black called the meeting to order.
When the blessing of the deity had been
invoked the Jefferson Glee CLUB OF severai
hundred voices sang the national anthem,
America" in which the audience joined.
When the applause following singing OF
the anthem died away President Black de-
ilvered his quadrennial address.
Mr.. Black declared that the cause which
the democratic party was supporting was
that Of no class or section, but OIL the people
as whole. 1t was the cause OF all classes
entered into the discussion Of the money
question, and concluded by denouncing
| Mark Hanna and the moneyed power
Mr.. Black was frequently interrupted by
applause When he had finished ne intro
duced Vice President Stevenson.
Vice President stevenson's Address.
Vice President Stevenson. who took the
chair to preside over the convention, made
q long argument in favor Of the free coin
age of silver. He devoted considerable time
| to a defense Of the democratic position,
holding that it was in line with democratic
platforms of the past. He said. referring
| to the dissentions in democratic ranks:
"I deeply regret that many Of those with
| whom have been associated in former con-
tests now oppose the election Of the candi-
| dates nominated in accordance with the
| time-honored methods and usages cr the
| democratic party. Without questioning
their sincerity, the inquiry Is slgnincant
| What is there in the attitude OF the demo
cratic party upon the monetary question tc
| Justify it's abandonment by those who nave
lcne shared in it's counsels. and who nave
heen the recipients of its rewards and Its
honors? AS the parting Of the ways has
| been reached it Is well to inquire: Is their
/ path, or Is ours, the true ono! Are We
| recreant to democratic faith and traditions
| in standing by tnc ulSIOIiS "a
thew in aiding directly or indirectly in the
| triumph of its great antagonist
| The Vice President then quoted from pre-
| vtous democratic platforms. concluding
| with the one recently adopted at chicago
| He then went on:
| "I have now given you the solemn decia
| rations of the democratic party In the foul
| great national conventions Immediately
| preceding that which in July last nomi
mated MI Bryan for the presidency. Die
| time permit the utterances I have reat
might be supplemented by those Of erni
nent statesmen, Hendricks. Thurman ant
others, whose loyalty. patriotism and de
| yotion to democratic principles have never
been questioned. Is 1t too much. then. t.
claim that in giving our support to thu
nominees of the Chicago convention we ar,
keeping the faith? The charge Of rec
reancy to party does not lie at our doors
We believe that the election of demo
cratic President and Congress will secur'
the restoration Of silver to the position o
standard money Of the country-that de
signed for it by the founders Of the gov
ernment. think I have shown beyont
peradventure that In the present attitud
Of our party favoring a return to bimet
allism there is no shadow Of departur
from firmly established democratic faith. -
| Mr.. Stevenson asserted that the republi