Evening star., 1896-08-05
Convention Of the Michigan Rspubi-
cans at Grand Rapids.
APPEAL MADE BY CHAIRMAN GORE
Charges of Fraud in the Alabama
Election.
TEXAS POPULISTS CONVENE
Special Dispatch to Tho Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
GRAND RAPIDS. Mich, August 5.-The
republican state convention was called to
order at noon today by Chairman D. M.
Ferry of the state central committee.
The floor of the convention hall was oc-
cupied by delegates only. and the galleries
and platform were filled to overaowlng
with spectators. Hundreds were outside
unable to gain admission. In the arrange
nents of seats the Wayne and Saginaw
delegations occupied the front that each
might have an equal show on booming it's
candidate. but in the galleries the Bliss
forces had three to one advantage, as the
machine has teen against Pingree and
acted accordingly In distributing tickets.
Victor NJ. Gore Of Benton Harbor was in
troduced as temporary chairman.
Chairman Gore said in part:
We are convened In a year fraught with
irreconcilable political issues. 1t has gone
forth the republicanism of Michigan is
tinctured with heretical weakness and a
spirit Of cowardly compromise. 1t is ours
TO place the brand Of utter condemnation
upon this base perversion of our faith.
The country knows that the voice of Mich
fgan Is the voice Of her republican plat
forms. We have the inspiration of a noble
example The st. Louis platform is the
most courageous. commanding, the most
far-seeing political document of recent
years. II is American from skin to core,
and there Is no man 30 fit to carry 1t to its
glorious triumph as the Incompatible Nc
Kiniey.''
Mr.. Gore commended in detail the nation
al platform and devoted the bulk of his
address to an argument for the gold stand
ard principle as therein enunciated.
he pointed to France as an example of
the futilty of endeavoring to maintain a
stated ratio between gold and silver, and
SAID that Germany's proud boast was that
she never paid a creditor in silver who de-
manded gold. The history of the attempt
OF legislation to set up its unaided fiat
against the DEGREES Of commerce was the
history Of impotence and uniform failure.
The gold standard has been the most po-
tent and persistent factor in the growth Of
England'S commerce.
In this age of expansion" said the
chairman, the second best will not an
s"er. By natural evolution, gold sits as
a queen of commerce. The deeply ground
ed preference of the business world for gold
Is superior to and independent of legisla-
ton. 1t will survive the blizzard of free
silver coinage. Such violent act by this
nation alone would not only intensity that
preference. but would inevitably drive
every gold dollar in the United States to
seek winter quarters, there to remain so
long as debased money was permitted TO
wreak its unspeakable havoc upon wages
and savings. credit and contracts, trade
and industry
The usual committees were announced
anu tue convention look recess until =
o'clock The committee on resolutions will
report unequivocally indorsing the st. Louis
PLATFORM and urging all to forget factions
and favorites and work in supporting the
ticket.
The report of the committee on creden-
tials will probably stir up a hornets nest
on the contested st. Clair county delega-
ton. and there may be q long and bitter
hght upon which delegation. Bliss and Pin
gree shall have the seats. Then will come
the nomination.
The gubernatorial situation shows Pin
gree and Bliss far In. the lead and both
claiming everything. Neither will have
enough to nominate. however and in this
O'Donnel, Aitken, Conant and Wheeler
see hope for themselves. and they all de-
clare that their respective delegations will
stick to them to the finish, and each is
confident of being taken up when Pingree
and Bliss break. The Bliss campaign has
been so bitterly antagonistic to the others
that when the break comes Pingree will
inevitably receive a large accession Of
strength. and as the convention opens the
indications are that 1t will be Pingree or a
dark horse, but that it will not be Bliss