The Portland daily press., 1896-06-18

To His Conferees In the Committee on
Resolutions-says silver States Cannot
Remain in Republican Column Long If
Gold Standard Is Anopted-Touching
Reply of Senator Lodge to the Veteran
Westerner.
st. Louis, June 17.-It was at TO- 80
when Chairman Foraker called the full
committee on resolutions together The
platform was read by paragraphs, the
agreement being that each paragraph
should be voted upon separately. The
preamble was objected to, and the
phraseology was ordered changed, so
that the wording of the paragraph should
be less obscure.
Mr.. Teller of Colorado stated that he
had prepared minority report on the
financial plank, which he would present
when that subject WAS reached. The re-
minder of the platform. he added, was
entirely satisfactory to him. The tariff
plank was agreed to unanimously. The
sugar plank ws adopted precisely in the
words sent out by the United Press this
morning. A strong declaration was
madsEfor the protective duty on woods
and woolens, the protection OF American
shipbuildiug and the development OF
American commerce was demanded.
All Mr.. Teller's amendments to the
financial plank were voted down. There
was pathetic scene in the committee
loom when the financial plan was re-
ported and Senator Teller presented his
minority report. 1t took the form of O
substitute and declared in general terms
for the free and unlimited coinage of sill
Yer at ratio of 16 to /.
Senator Teller spoke for thirty minutes.
His utterances were followed with deep
interest. for all present realized that the
hour had arrived when one of the found
ers OF the Republican party, a man who
has been conspicuous in Republican
councils for the third of a century, was
taking step which would separate him
from his party friends. Mr.. Teller spoke
with deep emotion and the sincerity of
his purpose was SO manifest that his
words produced deep impression. He
Republican party. 1t was the party of
his young manhood, the party of his
choice. 1t was the party with which he
affiliated thirty five years. 1t was the
party that had given him great honors,
and he had served it Loyalty.
But" he exclaimed, in a voice of
deep earnestness, "the time has come
when ] shall be obliged to leave 1t, If it
declares for the single gold standard
Mr.. Teller explained in conclusion,
that he had not originally intended to
speak at such length, but was carried
. way by the Importance Of his subject.
tt was purely matter of conscience and
:, rinoiple. There was no question of per-
q onal am bition involved. He might be
wrong; he believed not. Time alone
could tell whether he or the trainers of
this plank were right
Senator Lodge Of Massachuse it's ex-
planned that no choice was left to the
committee bat to adopt the plan k in
question.
He expressed bis high appreciation of
Mr.. Teller, and stated his belief that he
was acting from conscientious motives,
but that the Republicans had come to the
parting of ways, and in separating from
Mr.. Teller and his associates he wished
to announce that they carried with them
the full respect OF the committee.
MIR. Cleveland of Nevada asserted with
such plank that his state could not be
in the Republican column.
Mr. Lennon of California said that
men had not come here under the belief
that the committee would be friendly to
silver. He explained his connection with
the three last Republican campaigns in
California, that they had done what they
could to keep the state in line, but the
effect OF this action would be to wipe out
the Republican majority Of 10000 and
make the state Democratic.
Mr.. Cannon of Utah like Mr.. Teller,
created a profound sensation by the
earnestness of his remarks. His voice
was choked with emotion several times,
and he proceeded with great difficulty.
He pointed out that Utah had been
converted from DemoFatic territory into
Republican state, but it would be
irretrievably lost if the party were COM
mitted to the gold standard. He bitterly
deplored the necessity which compelled
him to leave the party of his choice, but
existing circumstances left him no alter
native.
Mr.. Mott Of North Carolina, asserted
"a "a ~