The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-07-09

confession and avoidance (Appause.)
The gentleman who has. Just spoken
on the minority report said that what you
wanted were facts. You have received
no facts. This case was left III the
hands of the committee and we have been
in earnest. solemn session over this qucs-
ton, and we have been battling all night
long with the testimony. Statement al
ter statement made by the contestors
was deliberately denounced rs beng I'M
true by the contestants present ana sup
ported by solemn atiidavits. 1t Is Il
question to decide whether Democrats
in the great state of Michigan, who are
honestly and fairly here representing
majority of the Democracy of that state,
shall be stitiled and throttled and driven
from this convention, or whether you
will recognize them rs lawful representa-
tives of that constituency. (Appause)
Now, gentlemen of the convention.
we want 10 wrong done; we want that
done here which will be just and right.
We have voted to seat only the two con-
testants from the Fourth district and
two from the Ninth district. The 9TH
ers are to remain seated as they are
recommended by the national committee.
THAT shows, gentlemen oi the con,
venton. that we intend to be falr ana
intend to do what is right and what Is
just and what was necessary Tor the
Democracy of that state. Now. gentle
men of the convention. | have not de
sired to take up your time, but l would
say if you had heard the sworn testimony
rs we heard it, the undisputed reports
on many points as we have had 1t, you
would come to the same conclusion tnat
the majority had come to, and that ma
iority report should be adopted by the
convention. | thank YOU
At the conclusion of Mr.. Taylors
speech he was greeted with hearty APP
plause.
Governor McLaurin of Mississippi also
came to the defense of the committee.
He made a careful review of the facts to
show that the will of the Democrats OF
Michigan did not prevail i'll the conyen-
ton. -Four hundred and twenty-fouf
delegates to the convention were, he sald;
instructed for free silver. lie described
the alleged methods pursued by the adj
ministration's agents to override TINS eN,
pressed will of the people, and declared
that they were under instructions to car
Nv Michigan for gold and the admins
tration.'
Some unsympathetic auditor in the gal.
lery shouted, shut up and sit down.
whereat there seemed to be systematic
attempt to howl down the spea ker. MS
aroused the ire of the silver delegates,
and one of the indignant Louisiana dele
gates arose and shouted that if these m
terruptions were continued he should
move to clear the galleries.
1.-The galleries are packed by the gold
men," he shouted, but the cries OF the
crowd continued.
At last Col. Martin. the sergeant-at,
arms. interposed from the platform ana
instructed the assistant sergeant-at-arms
and the police to summariy eject any one
who interrupted the proceedings. ;.
Governor McLaurin drifted into u dis
cussion of the issue before the Democra-
cy of Michigan, whereupon Delegate Nc
Dermott of New Jersey arose to point
of order.
What happened twenty years. ago,
he said. has nothing to do with the mer-
its of this controversy; -, .,.;,
The galleries checred and waived Their
handkerchiefs at the protest from the
floor. The blood of the gold spectators
was aroused.
Governor McLaurin. spoke as follows:
"NIr. Chairman and Gentlemen OF tle
ConventiOn-I have not come to make II
speecb. but to state the facts rs we
found them by investigating thls Goa,
fest. 1t has been said here that we
have no right to go into the state OF
Michigan and overturn the will OF the
majority of Democrats of that stare
(Cries of good, good.) agree TO that:
| have been cndeavoring to the best OF
my humble ability, ever since you ad-
iourned yesterday evening, to ascertain
what are the facts and who mas Il MA
iority in this contest. Right here let me
say to you that undisputed evidence, IN
questioned fact remains. so far as the
evidence has been presented to your com"
mittee. that there were IS3 delegates Ill
that convention.
.'The great question of national lmpor-
lance that was submitted to the Democ-
racy of that state was submitted to the
Democracy of every state in the Union,
and in the determination of that question
there were 424 men instructed as dele
gates to the convention at Detroit TO vote
for silver. applause and cheers.)
There We're 127 Of those delegates in
structed to vote for gold Applause
and cheers.) There were Do of the
delegates who were uninstructed, leav-
ing a clear majority in favor of the cause
of silver over those instructed for gold
and those not instructed. Therefore.
you see there is no effort here to throttle
the will or 'stitle the purpose Of ma
jority of the Democrats in Michigan.
Applause and cheers.)
y u.
be submitted to the people of this
country. There are two great national
parties. One of these parties has taken
| its stand and the other is looking out Tor
the stand that it was to take on the ques-
ton. All other questions had been sub
ordinated and in the state of Michigan,
as in every other state of the Union, this
question was being discussed and de-
| bated as the leading one to put to the
| front in the November election.
"There was man who went from
that state to the city of Washington. and
when he came back he told Il witness
who gave sworn testimony before the
committee. that he had stated in Wash
ington that it was impossible to carry
the state of Michigan for the gold stan
dard; that he was told at all hazards he
must carry it for the gold standard and
for the administration.
| you have the facts that the state OF
Michigan is not represented here by men
who are in accord with Il majority of
the Democrats of that state | have moi
heard it asserted by any man who con
tends for seat on this floor, because he
was sent from that state convention
that he represents majority of the
Democrats of Michigan. | was sent tC
this convention as free silver man tC
vote for free silver at 16 to l. | eXpec,
to do it, but | can not believe this con
vention will do an injustice to any stntt
by unseating men legally elected, and
shall not vote for it"
Joe Salisbury, member of the famous