The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-09-17
DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION.
Proceedings Of the Reconyened Convention,
Held al Harrisburg September 10Th.

at one O'Clock last Thursday by state
chairman Garman, in the Opera
House at Harrisburg. Captain John
& Keenan, Of Greensburg was elected
chairman and made speech. He
said: d.
ain beginning l should perhaps
apologize to the convention he said,
sfor disobeying the orders of the
caucus at Chicago and voting for
Bryan. The Chicago convention not
only changed a great many mems
minds on the currency question, but
il also changed the minds Of great
many men on other questions. We
in the East believed that in the East
the star of Democracy was ascendant.
But we found at Chicago that the
Democrats of the West and South
were the courageous and patriotic
men Of the country. We found there
the Eastern Democrats assembled for
the purpose Of accomplishing the
election of Mckinley. There is a
great difference of opinion as to which
Jefferson the Jeffersonian Democracy
Of Pennsylvania is named after. Some
think it is Thomas Jefferson, while
others believe it is Jefferson Davis.
"The Republicans make the pre-
tense that they are in favor of inter-
national bimetallsm. This is fraudu-
lent pretense, however, as no speaker
advocates bimetalism, and no date is
fixed when bimetalhsm is to take
effect. On the other hand the Demo-
cratic party declares freely and frank
ly for the free and unlimited coinage
of silver and offers to the people a
definite plan for the improvement of
the financial condition, which is worse
to-day than at any time for fifty years.
We are criticized for abusing the
supreme court. Gentlemen, we do
not unduly criticize the supreme
court. The supreme court criticlzes
itself"
Mr.. Keenan, made an able defense
of the income tax. He said this law
protected the poor man: and the rich
man, who gets his wealth from the
efforts of the workingmen, surely has
no cause to complain. 'If the Popu-
lists of the South and West are good
enough for the Republicans 10 com.
bine with, Mr. keenan, went on, 81
believe the Populists of the North
and East are good enough for the
Democrats to combine with. l want
to see the common enemy fought with
the most effective weapons and
therefore believe the position of the
Democrats in Pennsylvania would be
strengthened by the fusion with the
Populists which is now offered us.
"Before election day comes the
gold men ofPennsylvanla, irrespective
of party, will be united on one ticke
in every close congressional district
and / therefore urge that the silver
men do likewise. This will result,
know, in carrying many doubtful
district for the cause of silver"
Nearly an hour was spent in making
up the roll on account of the large
number of substitutes. Colonel VIII
lam Hayes Grier, OF Columbia, raisec
lively breeze when Lancaster county
was reached by challenging the right
of Mr.. Given to name a substitute
'Given is chairman of the state com
mittee of the so-called Jehersonian
Herr Most-bankers party" said Col
onel Grier. This declaration wa.
greeted with loud cheering and ap
plause.
"He is here continued Mr.. Grier
''but has not the courage to appear a
delegate and names in his place
printer from his newspaper shop name,
Guy w. Ferguson, who is gold bu
simply because he is ordered to b
one. Lancaster also contests tn
seat Of George B. Wilson, who was
delegate to the Indianapolis conver
ton. Surely there is no room her
for man who participated in thu
convention"
Chairman keenan, referred tn
coloners objection to the credential
committee. That body met at tn
close of the recess and recognize
thejustice of Grier's claims by promp
ly unseating Ferguson and Thome.
When the call of the roll was con
pleted Walter f. Ritter, of Lycon
ing, moved that all contests be settle
on the floor of the convention. H
explained that if his motion wei
adopted there would be no need f
committees on credentials and res
lutions and that it would expedi
business. William ]. Brennan,
Pittsourg, objected to dragging Il
contests into the convention and i
sisted on the appointment of r0sol
tions and credentials committee
Speeches on the motion were al.
made by a half dozen delegates th,