Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-09-18

Buffalo, n. Y, September 17.-Delay
in perfecting its work by the platform
committee was the reason assigned for
the lapse of an hour after the time set
for the reassemb,ing of the Democratic
State Convention before that body was
called to order to-day. Business then
preceded with expedition. The report
of the committee on credentials having
been adopted the committee on perma-
nent organization reported, naming eX-
Congressman Hosea H. Rockwell, OF
ChemunG, for permanent chairman. The
report was accepted without dissent.
Mr.. Rockwell was greeted with much ap-
plause as he appeared upon the plat
form. He was introduced by Temper
AIRY Chairman Grady.
In opening his speech on assuming the
chair, Mr.. Rockwell gave his unquali-
ed approval TO the platform and candi-
dates of the Chicago convention, adopt
ing as his own the sarcastic observation
| Of Governor Flower that the platform
was just suited 10 the candidates and
the candidates to the platform" He at
tributed the financial panic Of 1898 10 "a
salse and mischievOus financial system,
and in that connection quoted the words
of Senator Hill, uttered in the Senate
that year as follows:
The paramount remedy for all our
financial evils is a return to the system
of bimetallism which existed prior to
1873" This quotation Mr.. Rockwell
supplemented with the words Of Senator
Hill,spOken in the Chicago convention:
I'VE are Democrats and not revolution
lists" Mr.. Rockwell defended the BIZ
| metallicsystem as having the sanction
of the constitution and of the founders
of the Democratic party. In spite OF
this, the speaker added, "since 1873, any
man could take gold bullion TO the mints
and have it coined, but there has never
been q day that he could do the same
with silver. Notwithstanding the make
shifts OF the Band and Sherman laws,
silver has been, and still is discTedited;
gold is the sole standard, and by 1t silver
and all other property must be measur-
| ed. The representatives of the mOnopo-
les and syndicaces who controlled the
ST. Louis convention realized that their
| interests were at stake. Two hundred
and sixty-nine million Of dollars of
bonded indebtedness had been created,
l,Dstensib,y to maintain the gold reserve.
In the sale of these bonds a great scan
tal had been created and Il was current
/ ly stated and generally believed that the
profits of the Morgan syndicate on SIN
gle issue was about $12,000.000. While
"a Senatorial committee was in session
| trying TO ascertain the truth or fa.s.ty
Of this statement. the Republican lead
ers of the ST. Louis convention prepared
the gold plank of their platform wired
Il to J. p. Morgan q Co. for approval,
received. reply that it was em.nent.y
satisfactory, and adopted it.
II is the first square declaration on
any platform in favor OF the single
standard and IN opposition to the use
Of silver as lawful money.
"The Republican party demands the
maintenance of the gold standard, in
violation of all its past teachings ard
po,icy. and in violation of the const.tu-
ton.
again I say We are Democrats; we
are not revolutionists."
Mr.. Rockwell argued that silver had
not deprecated in value; instead OF that,
he sad. the purchasing power OF gold
had increased through legislation hostile
10 silver. Farmers. he alleged, were
thc PRINCIPAL sufferers. and they ccA-
sti.uts fully one-half of those in the
United STATES following gainful occu-
nations. To DO justice to them would
be TO benefit all. He added:
Every monopolist. every oppressor
Of labor is engaged with Mark Hanna
in forwarding your interests by geeping
down valu and prices for your 0eneht.
"Whi s Mark Hanna?
eco ask the sailors on the great lakes.
The men whom his organized thugs n
Cleveland shot and beat and starved
into submission.
GO ask the miners Of Ohio, Michigan
and West Virginia. Every dollar OF the
millions which ne has accumulated IS
tainted with The sweat and blood OF
onnress-d and down-trOdden labor. lie
olor;es in the fact th3. his money and
bis work secured McKinleys nom-na-
tiop and eXDec,s them to secure MS
o,ec-ion with him are engaged the
or.at trusts and monopoles and rail-
Tood cornorations. I is ;hcir boast that
ybe.r money and their power cannot
ba beaien. These are the men wno are
so zaqlous for the interests Of labor.
Mr. Rockwell held that it is not nee
ossarv 10 wait upOn Europe before pro-
ceedjng to establish the DimetaIhc
standard. saying:
"O-hor nations are only waiting Tor
nc N AXE The lead. 1t only remains .or
come strong and courageous nation TO
fake the initiative, and what naticn IS
more competent than our own
In conclusion. Mr.. RockweiI sd'u.
'Tf we shall be true to our prlnc'p!gs,
+rue 10 our convictions. and 20 maniui'5
forward in this battle. we sh2H succeeu
in making this government OF the peopIe'
nv the people. and for the people IN
s,ead of government of trusts ana mo-
ronolias. by trusts and mcnoDolies ana
for the benefit of trusts and mopop-
olies"
chairman called for the report OF the
committee on resolutions, and 1t was read
by Mr. Yorke
The frs. plank Of the platform is as
fellows:
"The Democratic party Of the State
of NV York. in convention assembled.
nnreserveilv endorses The platform
qdopted by the Democratic party at the
Tstioral convention. held in Chicago on
Inlv : 1895. cordially approves the nom
ina.jon there made, pledges to William
Rrvan and Arthur Sewall its hearty
md active support and declares as its
deliberate judgment that never IN the
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