Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-03-05
Thos. B. Buckner Talks.

From the Kansas CITY star.
Thos. B. Buckner, formerly of Mex
leo, Mo-, the attorney who attended
the sound money conference Of Dem
ocrats in st. Louis Saturday, returned
yesterday, and was seer at bis office
by a reporter for the Star. He was
emphatic In expressing himself on the
action OF the conference. He said:
sThe conference was composed OF
nearly 300 Democrats, representing
almast- evarv ~ayocation in Life and
coming from every section OF
| State. / never saw a more represent
alive body of Democrats or a more
| determined set of men assembled In
| the State. They, with n accord,
were determined not only to protest
against committing the party In this
State to the impossible proposition OF
the free and Independent coinage OF
silver at the ratio of 10 to l, but they
proposed to make a contest against
the party committing itself to such q
doctrine. I did not see a candidate for
a State or congressional office In the
whole conference. 1t was composed
of patriotic, loyal and unselfish Dem
~ocrats; Democrats who stood squarely
upon the Chicago platform of 1892 n
who have the courage to say so; Dem
ocrats who believe the administration
of Mr.. Cleveland has been In line and
in harmony with that platform; Dem
ocrats who think the administration OF
Mr.. Cleveland not only needs o apol-
ogy, but Is deserving Of praise; DEM
ocrats who believe he has properly
interpreted the platform Of 1892, and
by his Arm and patriotic stand In favor
. of maintaining the public credit, to-
gether with his courageous and vigor-
GUS policy, has strengthened our credit
at home and enforced respect for u
flag and country with all the nations
. of the earth. The conference, while
. believing that the great majority Of
the free silver advocates are as hon.
o est and patriotic as we are, believe
they are honestly mistaken. II was
. also the belief that as the State now
u stands, a majority was In favor Of free
IT silver, but the reason this Is so IL be-
n cause the leaders Of the party have
systematically kept the sound money
W Democrats from discussing the ques-
'r ton. For instance, In the last cam
US paign no Democrat known to be op.
10 posed to the free coinage OF silver al
IS to ! was allowed to speak out hi
sentiments on the stump, but was re-
d quired + o confine himself to otheI
~ questions. That campaign lost all saw
three congressman, and gave the Stat
and legislature to the Republicans, tn
y frst time in twenty-five years. Tn
sound money men propose being muz
zled no longer. They propose to or
ganizs and discuss the question befor
the people and, IL possible, have
representation In the Sedslia oonven
n ton. II Is a family fight, n We hop
:. out OF the discussion of the questio,
O., right principles will be evolved. I %,
IN, or talked with not q single member 9
the conference who was not willing Z
70, standto and abide by the principles Z
be be adopted by the Chicago convention
,rp Not n OF them, however, was !
my favor OF the policy OF trying to max
ess Democrats by preaching Populism, q
lie. TO accept tho cast of clothes of tn
to Republican party. They do not wal
to line up in the same class wit
ing Stewart, Woicott, Allen, PETER, Lev
on cling, Waite and others and mai
{. their chief tenetsa q test OF Democrl
ave cy."
"we may not win," Dir. Buckn'
day said, "but we shall at least stand q
ity. and be counted"