The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1896-10-30
EMPIRE DEMOCRATS.
MEET In STATE CONvEN-
TION AT BUFFALO,.
Fuse With Popuists-Five Electors and
Two Congressman the Price of Third
Party support-Hin and Murphy Absent
But Not Idle.

NEw YORK, Sept. II. - Yesterday
afternoon a number of Populists ar
here and. after a protracted conference
appointed a committee of five to visit
the Democratic state COMMITTEES ard
present to them q plan for fusion in
this state. This morning the cora-
mittee announced hat the Populists
would support the nominees and the
platform Of this convention in return
Tor which they would be allowed to
name five presidential electors and
two congressman. The Populists claim
that they can swing the electoral vote
Of this state either way and are sure
that their union with the Democratic
party will result in Bryan and Scwall
carrying the state of New York bv q
large majority.
1t was 1890 o'clock when Chairman
Hinkley called the Democratic State
convention to order and announced
that the State committee had selected
State Senator Thomas F. Grady for
temporary chairman. Mr.. Grady I'D
dressed the convention for about
twenty minutes. In the beginning he
SAID: "As loyal representatives of
Democratic constituencies, you have
assembled to again declare your faith
IN Democratic principles. your respect
for Democratic authority, and YOUR
confidence in Democratic success. In
this respect you differ from some who
were, Tor many years, associated with
with you, using their profession of
Democracy as a mask under which to
conceal the purely selfish character of
their political actions, and who are
nov leagued with your political op-
ponenis denouncing Democratic prin-
ciples, dcfying Democratic authority
and aiding, IN so far as they may, to
defeat The Democratic candidates"
1t is the speaker continued. "a
sham Democracy which submits to
The VII OF the ma jority only when no
selfish interest is affected or sacrificed
by so doing. 1t is a sham Democracy
which sets up the opinions Of the few
MS entitled to control, because of the
wealth or culture or pedigree of those
oy whom such opinions are held. 1t
Is a sham Democracy which has for
its purpose the undue enrichment Of
the man who rel IS for his supper
upon what his money earns for him,
and the consequent unjust impover-
lshment of the citizen who depends
upon what his labor may be able to
earn. 1t is a sham Democracy which
Yesterday asked for a bimetallic
standard, upon the single condition
OF an international agreement, and to-
day confesses that it's declaration was
but a subterfuge with which to de-
ceive those honestly favorinr such
standard, and that at the time it's
purpose was to establish and main
tain the supremacy OF gold"
MIR. Grady alluded to Governor Nc.
Kinley as q mortgaged candidate, and
spurned the allegation that the Chica-
go platform was nothing but a
declaration favorina reputation, riot
and ruin" He argued the question
of free silver coinage from the bi,net-
allie standpoint.
1--WE are opposed, "Mr. Grady went
on, ito civil service reform as now in
terpreted and enforced, which, while
pretending to prescribe no other test
than that of merit, in its present ap-
plication exacts a collegiate and tech
nioal education as a requisite for en-
ployment in the public service. We
recognize the fact that a vast ma
jority of the youth Of the country are
now compelled to engage as wage
and bread winners without
any opportunity for advanced tech
meal education. and we insist that
honesty Of character and the ability
to discharge the duties Of tho position
for which they apply or to which they
may be appointed shall be the only
test of fitness to which they shall be
required to submit"
After a brief reference to State
issues, Mr.. Grady spoke of Bryan and
Sewall as candidates Of stainless
character. commanding abilities.
acknowledged worth and tried devo-
ton. The Peoples cause" he added,
may safely be entrusted to their
keeping. No pledges given bv them
to our citizens but will be faithfully
and promptly redeemed" In con-
clusion be said: "Defeat can but doom
us to a continuance for four more
years Of existing conditions, with
their injustice to labor and their
privileges to wealth a~ccentuatcd and
Increased. Victory will realize for us
the blessings and advantages of a
peoples government under which the
public welfare is the highest law"
Though they are absent the leader
ship Of Senators Hill and Murphy and
w. f. Sheeman may be felt in the
Democratic state convention to-day.
Rumors were current in the hotel lob
bies early IN the day that all through
the night the wires had been carrying
communications between the senators
and other Of the old time leaders on
the one hand and their lieutenants
nov in this city, the purpose bong
to bring about a modification Of the
resolution on the financial question
and on the Endorsement Of Bryan and
Sewall.