Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-07-23
FOR A GOLD TICKET.
An Address to the Wisconsin
Democracy.
Villas, Bragg, Hogan and Flanders De-
eide to Fight to the End.

Milwaukee, Wis, July Ex-senator
William f. Villas, Gen. Edward S.
Bragg, James G. Flanders and J. J.
Hogan, delegates-at-large to the late
Democratic convention at Chicago, held
Il conference here Saturday to decide up
on a course to pursue regarding the ma
tional and state campaign, they having
been elected as "gold'' delegates and the
convention having declared for silver"
As a result of the conference it was de-
cided to fight for a gold standard nation
al ticket, gold standard state ticket,
and, in the event of a possible victory by
the silver men at the state convention
in September, they are for a second con-
ventlon to name a gold standard state
ticket and electors.
An Address to Democracy.
At the close of the conference the fol-
lowing address was issued:
To the Voters of Wisconsin,: The under
signed, believing in the fundamental princi
pies of the Democratic party, and having
followed it's flag for many years, We're chos-
en- by the state Democratic convention as
representatives of the Democracy of Wis
consin at the convention held in Chicago on
the It'll Of July; The state Democratic con-
such delegates, declared itself in unequivO-
cal terms in favor of the principles Of De-
mocracy to which we have been taught to
unqualified declaration in favor of honest
money, and it's delegates were instructed to
cast their votes at the Chicago convention
as a unit when and as the majority of such
delegates should direct.
Upon the assembling Of the Chicago con-
yention 1t Immediately became manifest
that new force and un-Democratic ele-
ment had seized upon, and was in control Of
that convention. The traditions Of the party
were disregarded and long established usag
es trampled upon by men who had assumed
n G h
ment of single purpose
fragrant Violation of Rights.
The selection by the national Democratic
committee of a temporary presiding officer,
made in accordance, with custom prevail
a n fo sn If fs e s h ed w Wy n was
ly representing the dominant element in
that convention. Delegates chosen 81 the
state Democratic convention Of the state Of
Michigan to represent that state in the Chi
cago convention and against whose right to
hold that position no protest was made In
the state convention, were deprived of their
the entire twenty-eight votes of Michigan
might be cast in favor of a platform decar-.
ing for the free coinage of silver at the ratio
accord with Such declaration. Four dele s-
gates, representing the Fourth and Ninth
districts of Michigan, were so unseated, in
order to accomplish majority of the dele
CATION, while the four delegates-at-large
chosen by the same convention, and the title
to whose seats rested upon the same founda-
ton, were allowed to remain because under
the unit rule referred to they would be in
hopeless minority In that delegation after
the four district delegates had been I'M
seated. Such a fragrant violation of the
right of representation by a state has never
before occurred in any Democratic conyen~
ton.
The right of the state of Wisconsin to con-
troll by its instruction the votes Of it's dele
gates and to determine when and how much
votes should be cast. was likewise denied.
Against Democratic Doctrines.
The platform adopted by the Chicago con-
vention is directly at variance with those
been part of the creed of the Democratic
party. While Democracy has for nearly a
centary been the advocate OF honest money
the Chicago convention declared in favor Of
compelling the citizens of the United States
to receive as a dollar one.half its value in
tine pary has stny man
tanned that courts in which justice is adj
minstered should be above and beyond POI
adopted a resolution looking to the recon.
'truction of the Supreme court of the Unit.
States to accomplish the reversal of it's
lat court in 1877 for political purposes and
accomplish the inauguration as President
of candidate not elected; while we de-
nounced a an appointment made by Repub.
for the purpose of reversing d decision
which denied the right OF the government
to issue paper money in times of peace, we
are asked by the resolution referred to to
adopt the same methods which we have
condemned in our opponents.
That convention refused to- approve of the
fidelity and honesty of the ONE Democratic
national administrations elected during the
past forty years.
The principles enunciated in the Chicago
platform other than those i'm favor of the
free coinage of silver are sOcfaIfStic in
character and commend themselves to- the
comm unists Of the country. The candidate
chosen by that convention publicly an
nOunced his determination more than two
years ago to leave the Democratic party and
fight for free silver in the ranks of the Popu-
list party. Under these circumstances, the
undersigned delegates at that convention
felt it their duty, under the instructions re-
ceived by them, to oppose with the utmost
yigor the adoption, of that Platform and
after it was adopted to decline tor vote for
candidate who represented 1t.
A Crisis in the Parity
We have thought it only proper to make
report of our action to the Democrats Of
imminent such as has never in the history
of the Democratic party confronted it. It's
enemies predict its dissolution: it's false
friends invite it's absorption by tire PopuTfst
party Such enemies and such false friends
are alike untrustworthy and mistaken. The
Dem ,cratfc principles are the foundation
are firmly established in the hearts of the
American people, they cannot be destroyed
so long rs the love of liberty and belief in
republican form of government exists. No
set of men Selling forcibly upon the ma
chinery of the party can cOntrUT the votes
of Democrats believing in those principles
We have faith to believe that a large ma
jority of the Democrats Of Wisconsin are as
much today in favor of the principles de-
clared by our state convention as when that
declaration was made. We have entire COT
fidence that if a proper opportunity viii be
afforded to that majority to- express its
views in a mass meeting convention to
be called at some date not far distant. the
true principles of Democrat tic faith win be
again pronounced in no uncertain tone. and
that some way will be found by which Dem
ocrats can cast their votes in favor of *
Democrat, and at the same time against the
Protectionist nominated by the st. Louis
convention and the Populfst nominated by
the Chicago convention.
EDWARD s. BRAGG,
WILLIAM f. Villas
JAMES &. FLANDERS,
]. ]. HOGAN,
GEORGE NJ. MKEY.
THOMAS n. KEARNEY,
WILLIAM H. ROGERS,
HERMAN GASSER,
HENRY HASE.
WM. BERGENTHAL.
NJ. c. MEAD,
II. P. HAMILTON,
J. J. WOOD,
ROBERT LEES,
JOHN BRENNAN.