The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-07-04


a roll. 1t was found that nearly all the
gates or by men who had come here to
work against free silver.
When the state Of Kentucky was call
ed. Mr.. Long, ex-chairman of the Dem
ocratic state central committee, made
an impassioned speech. He said he did
not think 1t was possible to do any eff
fective missionary work with the dele
cation from his state, but he was certain
that If 16 to platform was adopted by
the national convention Kentucky
would go Republican at the election.
When Missouri was reached, ex-Gov-
ernor Francis said he regarded mission
ary work with the Missouri delegation
as well nigh hopeless. If Bland should
be 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 length
and said the silver movement in Illinois
was not an intelligent Democratic move
ment, but represented the discontented
socialistic and anarchistic following Of
Governor Altgeld. which was very large
ly personal in it's character.
When New York was called ex-Gov-
ernor Flower said: "In my home county
we number among our Democrats a few
men of silver tendencies. We have
given Republican majorities for presi-
Dental candidates Of between 1000 and
5000. I am bound to say. however. If the
Democratic party goes before the peo-
pie 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 elector-
al vote which we have been able to give
in some years would be thrown away
and the state would go into the Repub-
lican column
Gov. Flower then spoke upon the
financial issue in the east, and said the
panic which would naturally ensue if
the silver candidate was successful,
would react upon the farmers as had
the panic of 1893 several years after
wards.
For that reason I would not feel it
possible to go before the farmers Of my
state and speak for Democratic NOM
inee upon free silver platform. am
positive New York will go unon the Re-
publican side of the question with ma
jority of from 900 to 100000 If the
issue Is silver
Gov. Flower was followed by John R.
Fellows of New York. who spoke with
great deliberation and in a broken
voice. He said:
II am a Democrat and it has been a
source Of great pride to me that should
be able to leave to my children as a her.
itage the recollection that their father
had been consistent Democrat. But
am strongly impressed that this move
ment against which we are contending
violates every principle of Democracy
and is but the vaporing of wild fan
atlcs."
The tears streamed down Mr.. Fellows
cheeks as he said:
IF this dogma of reputation is in
corporated into the platform of the Dem
ocratic party 1 must leave that party
and forever, as have said am DEM
ocrat I have voted and worked and ex-
pended my energies with and for the
party. have been as faithful and con-
sistent to its principles as the party has
been. But while have always expect
ed to remain a Democrat, I cannot,
gentlemen, accept the degradation the
following of this silver fallacy means"
AS Col. Fellows sat down the room
rang with applause.
A motion was adopted to the effect
that the gold men meet every morning
at 10 o'clock at the Palmer House to ar
range for missionary work, and that a
conference similar to tonight's be con-
vened every evening at the Auditorium
at o'clock.
The meeting then adjourned.
Twice during the meeting Senator Hill
was called for but declined to make any
remarks, saying that he did not believe
in crossing bridges until he reached
them.
When the gold conference closed at
midnight, the consensus of opinion gain
ed by the views presented was that the
party would be defeated if it adopted
a. free-coinage platform. There were
also some who were very urgent for a
bolt if silver should win in the conven-
tiOD