The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1896-09-04
The Conference Committee.

The Conference Committee.
While fusion was in the air at Bay City
and while each of the three conventions
seemed bent on fusion of the silver inter
ests. yet the Is men selected by the con-
vcations to formulate a plan for union
party did not seem TO have been infected
very strongly with the contagion when
they met behind closed doors at the
Rcuech house. A snag was struck at the
very outset. The subject tackled was the
name OF the proposed new party. The
Populists and SilVerites had come into the
conference with the proposition that the
name OF the proposed new party should
be the Union SILVER Party buL the DEM
ocrats, led by ID. J. Campau and I. E.
'farsney, OF Detro.t. showed that the anti
fusion election law of the last legislature
provided that the party having the larg-
est number of votes in the last preceding
: tate e.ection should have tae first place on
the ballot, and the party having the second
largest number OF votes would have the
second place. etc. This would give the
Republicans the first column on the Of
neal ballot, and II the name of the
Democratic party was dropped and the
name kept by the Lansing convention OF
~ would have second place on the ballot.
a ne Din II IaUn saw me IOrCe - tnls a. u
ment and were willing TO waive the point.
But the Populists refused TO acc EIDE TO tbs
proposition. They said they had come to
Bay city for the purpose OF forming "a
new party, not 10 be swallowed by the
Democrats. THIS point was discussed un-
iii the recess at $50 clock ana 1t vas
again taken up when the conference Ie-
suined its sessions.
Finally the subject Of the name OF the
proposed new 2artys name was dropped
and the conference passed 10 other mat
tiers 10 see IL they could agree. The ques-
tion as TO which party should have the
nomination for the goVernorship was not
touched upon, but the minor nominations
were tackled. Again the Populists were
intractable. They not only wanted the
nomination for audltOr-general, but they
wanted several other places on the tick
ct, which the Democrats would not grant.
The sce-sawing was kept up until 1880.
when the Democrats went out to see IL
the silver men and the PoDuiists could
get together but without result, and al
1890 the conference adjourned until In
the morning. They were no nearer set
Element than when they started.
Inc morning session or the conferees
was much more successful and by il
o'clock they were ready TO report some
progress in the shape OF resolutions. but
mad to give up the selection OF a ticket.
In the meantime the three conventions
opened their separate sessions and pro-
ceeded as follows:
Wh.le the resolutions were being put
into shape the Democratic convention
went on with speech-making, while walt
John Donovan, OF Bay, the one Demo-
crat OF the last leg Stature, made the first
speech. He referred TO the queer position
OF the Republican party N TINS state, and
quoted P.ngree as yng: Were in the
darndest fix we ever were in our lives"
William A. Baker, of Berrlen, followed,
and he also gave Pingree blast, because
of his wabb!ing policy ON the financial
question. NJ. j. Doyle, OF Menominee, also
spoke. Judge DeW.tt Clinton Walker, Of
ST C!air, 81 years OF age, followed. with
quaver.ng voice and trembling limbs the
Venerable speaker said he had served In
the legislature OF 1910, and said this was
q - e IL ,1 ~
found. There were epochs in history
mile-stones in the progress of time. and
this was one of them. After a rising
vote OF thanks TO Judge Walker, John w.
McGrath, OF Detroit. had spoken few
words, when Il was announced that the
conference committee was ready 10 re-
committee. headed by ID. =. Campau, adj
vanced to the platform. Mr.. Campau read
the resolutions adopted by the conference
committees, which were as follows:
Your committee appointed TO meet a like
committee from the Union silver and People 8
party conventions, met the committee as direct
ed. The Democratic party, the Union Silver
party and the Peoples party each being repre-
sentcd by five representatives. The Joint com.
mittee was organized by electng c. II. Nc
Ginley chairman and a. A. Ellis secretary.
After full statement OF the OBJECT TO be ac-
eompllshed the following resolution was
Resolved. That we recommend a union Of ali
silver forces, and that the vignette upon the
ticket be representation OF the silver dollar,
IN the following order. to-wit; Democratic Peo-
Pile s-Union Silver ticket. and also picture Of
William j. Bryan, the Democratic candidate
for president
Your committee f,rther report that after an
earnest effort and much discussion they were
unable 10 agree upon the division OF the ticket.
and, fully realizing that IL was for the inter
est Of the people OF the state that strong
union ticket should be nominated, which would
command the entire confidence Of the people.
the following resolution unanimously
adopted:
Resolved. That we report TO various con-
ventions that IL Is the sense of this conference
committee that the name and style OF the ticket
be az hereinbefore fixed and az above set forth.
and that the state and electoral ticket be nom
mated by joint convention, To be composed OF
the members OF the several conventions to he
held at once in one hall, and that the several
candidates be nominated as above set forth by
majority OF all the votes cast for the respective
offices to be declared the nominee OF the con
venton for said office.
Owing TO the fact that the Democratic party
has the largest representation, the People 9
party and the Union Silver party together shall,
in the Joint convention. be entitled TO an equal
number " votes cast by the Democratic party
in the joint convention.
The report was adopted without discus
sion. and while the Democrats waited
for the delegates from the other conven-
lions they heard more speeches. While
the conference committees got together
again 10 handle the action of the various
conventions on the conference report re-
cess WAS taken.