The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-07-15
motion to reconsider the action on the

motion to reconsider the action on the
Michigan case was adopted.
The convention reassembled at 5: is,
with a full attendance of delegates and
with crowded galleries. Senator Dan
iels of Virginia was in the chair as
temporary chairman.
AT 5 80 p. M, the committee on ere.
dentials presented its completed report,
admitting to seats the contesting dele
gates from the Fourth and Ninth con.
gressional districts of Michigan and
recognizing the right to their seats of
all the other delegates from Michigan.
The effect is to transfer the delega-
ton to silver delegation by Is to l3,
and as the unit rule prevails, it gives
Michigan a solid silver vote of % in
the convention and creates two thirds
silver majority there.
A minority report was presented in
favor of allowing the delegation to re-
main as it was on the temporary roll
Debate on the report was at once be-
gun.
Mr.. Brennan of Wisconsin advocat.
ed the adoption of the minority report
and said he feared the effect of the
adoption of the majority report upon
the country. He entered into details
of the facts involved in the contest
and said the report in this case if
adopted would establish the fact that
a majority in the first flush of success
might 60 into a sovereign State and
upset the action of a legal convention
Cheers.) He charged that the CON
test originated only three or four
weeks ago when certain facts became
as to the majority in this
convention. He had since become &C
quainted with that majority, aud he
appealed with confidence to their
sense of justice and fairness. Cloud
cheers.)
Governor McLaurin of Mississippi,
another member of the committee on
credentials, gave a history of the cleo
ton of delegates in Michigan, assert
ing that there was a clear majority of
Democratic voters in that State in fa-
vor of silver, so that there was no is
sue here to throttle the will or stife
the purpose of that majority of Demo.
Gratis. He spoke of the orders issued
from Washington to Federal Office
holders in Michigan to carry that
State at all hazards for gold, and he
said that it was question for the con-
vention to decide whether the men
who represented the majority of the
Democracy of that State were to be
driven out of the convention.
The audience manifested Impatience
at the length OF Mr.. McLaurin's ex-
planation, and broke into constant
cries for speech from Hill, but notice
was given that if these Interruptions
were persisted in the galleries
would be cleared. The notice was of
little avail, for hardly had Governor
McLaurin taken up the thread of his
story again when the shouts for Hill
broke out afresh.
MIR. Stevenson, member of the ma
tional committee from the Stete of
opposed the maj ority report
beginning his speech with the state
ment: II am the man who they say
stole Michigan. Even so Qaughter) I
do not desire to discuss the financial
question now, but to assert the rights
of the delegates elected by a sovereign
State to sit in a Democratic national
(Cheers.)
"The convention" he added, "has
no right to SIT as committee on Gre
dentials on a State convention. 1t
may answer It's purpose now, but it
would be making precedent which
will return to damn you some way.
(Cheers.) The only safe Democratic
doctrine is to stand by precedents and
to seat the delegates who held the only
credentials that have been issued from
those districts.
Mr.. Mcknight of Michigan, a MEM
Der of the committee on credentials,
asked the support not only OF the sill
yer men, but of the entire convention
in support of the majority. The gen
tlemen of the committee, he said, had
given this case careful consideration,
and they were here to testify to some,
and only some, of the outrages perpe-
trated on the Democrats of Michigan.
He asserted that the State of Michigan
elected a majority of 200 to the con-
vention in favor of silver and when
the administration found this out, and
Mr. Stevenson was sent to Michigan
10 upset the will of the people.
''There IL not one word of truth in
all that" said Mr.. Richardson from
his seat.
As MIR. Mcknight proceeded further
with his statement of alleged facts,
Mr.. Weadock, one of the delegates at
large, seated in the front row immedi-
ately facing the speaker. said in an
audible voice: "That's lie." No no.
ice was taken of this interruption.
Mr.. Brdcker of Michigan declared
that he had always been q free silver
man, and that there were enough sill
YER delegates in the convention to
nominate President by two-thirds
majority without the necessity of com.
hitting hiR hway robbery. (Applause
and laughter.)
Mr.. G. S. Thomas of Colorado, a
of the national committee,
next took the stand, but the audience
was becoming impatient and raised
loud cries of vote" He held it would
be a mistake to elect a Democratic
President by overturning the express
ed will of a.sovereign State. He warn
ed them that they could not afford to
strike down the State of Michigan
simply for the purpose of obtaining a
two.th1rd majority.
Mr.. Powers of Utah, member OF
the committee on credentials, argued
in support of the majority report.
State Senator Thomas +. Grady of
New York spoke against the majority
report.