The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-06-05
THE VIRGINIA CONVENTION.
rse 4 sE3ls6 - +tfEsts
The Victory of the Silver Democrats
Was Complete.
Wa s CompIete,

Staunton, Va, June 4.-When State
Chairman Ellyson called the Demo-
cratic State convention to order at
noon to-day Columbian Hall was pack
ed to the doors with people. The
building was handsomely decorated
for the occasion. Mr.. Ellyson made
no speech. He simply announced the
temporary organization as follows:
J. Bell Bigger, of Richmond, chair
man; Joseph Button, of Appomattox,
secretary and George Hutchinson, of
Augusta, Sergeant-at-Arms.
Col. Bigger, on taking his seat, adj
dressed the body for two minutes only.
He said he had for many years acted
as the recording secretary for the
Democratic saints but never before
had the honor of presiding over a State
gathering of them come to him. With
a plea for harmony, and a nice little
| compliment to Senator Daniel Mr.. Big
| ger closed his remarks and announc-
ed the convention open for transaction
| of business Various committees were
| then announced.
The ten Virginia Congressional dis
| tricts held their conventions this
morning and elected delegates and
| electors.
| The gold people captured the Sec
| ond district. There was a long SEES
| sion and some stormy scenes The
| vote was 104 to TO- All other districts
are for silver.
At the meeting of the Third dis
| trict convention B. B. Munford, and
| State Senator Henry Wickham, the
| two gold leaders made speeches advo-
| eating harmony and a conciliatOry pol
| lev. Messrs. Isaac Diggs, Thomas II.
Edwards and S. p. Waddill, silverites,
| spoke in the same spirit. The vote
was 101 for the silver ticket and SIS
for the gold ticket.
| The committee on resolutions is
| composed almost entirely of silver
| men. Senator Daniel will be chairman
After the committees had been an
nounced, except the members from
| the Second district the convention
| took a recess TO $3.50 p. m.
Immediately after the result of the
| Second district convention became
| known the silver steering committee
| was called to meet. Last night, this
committee deeS1ed not to press the
unit rule At this meeting, it looks as
| if the action would be reversed. The
| silver leaders are nearly all advocat-
| ing the unit rule and there viii be
| hot fight over 1T.
Immediately upon the reassembling
| of the convention, the committee on
| permanent organization made IT'S re-
| port. recommending Maeajah Woods,
1 of A1bemarle, for chairman; j. Bell
Bigger, of Richmand, and Jos. Burton,
| of AppomattoX for secretaries and
| Geo. Hutchinson. of Augusta, for ser
| oeant-at-arms. Maj. Woods addressed
| the convention briefly. He starred
out by saving he had always been
| fighting monopolies and plutocraey.
| He was for the masses and against
| classes. He made red hot silver
| speech. The masses were aroused, sai&
| he. and they intended to restore silver
| to it's proper place in our currency
| system. He predicted that the silver
| ties would control the party and elect
the President and appealed 10 the
minority 30 bow to the viii Of the ma
jority.
port of the committee ON credentials.
While waiting for the committee on
resolutions to report eN-Congressinan
Jas. ". Marshall addressed the body
and was followed by Senator Martin.
He said the Democratic prospects were
growing brighter He believed they
would carry the country and he hoped
to get President more satisfactory
than the one they now have. He called
Cleveland a wrecker of his party. The
silver men cheered and the gold men
Kissed at this. Mr.. Martin said he had
been criticised for his course on the
currency, but he had long ago made
up his mind TO pay no attention to AL
verse criticism and especially when II
comes from the ignorant. He was not
ashamed to ally himself with the Vir-
ginia Democrats While he did not
agree with the silver people in their
entire policy, he was now and always
had been. in favor of the full restora
ton of silver at the ratio of 16 to I.
The Senator predicted that the silver
men would control the National con
vention and elect the President.
Congressman Tucker followed. lie
said he had no apologies to make for
his course on the currency question.
He had come by his views honestly
and was not ashamed of them. There
is in the White House." said Mr..
Tucker, "a big man CHEERS and hisses)
"a great big man (more cheers and
hisses.) While | do not agree with
all Mr.. Cleveland has done, tell you
he is an honest man and a patriot"
Mr.. Tucker urged harmonious pro-
ceedings and said no matter who the
Chicago convention should put up he
would support the ticket.
Chairman Patterson spoke for free
silver and ex-senator Hunton also adj
yocated the free and unlimited coinage
of silver.
Senator Daniel read the majority
report of the committee on resolutions.
The financial plank of the platform be-
ing in favor of rec silver.
Mr.. Munford, of Richmond, present
ed the minority report signed by him
self, JAS. L. Heath, Jr., Leigh Watts,
r.. c. Kent, Thos. II. Barnes and Ed |
ward Echols,in favor of the gold stand
ard.
The majority report was adopted |
just as it came from the committee. |
The convention then took a recess to,
0 p. m.
Soon after the body was called to |
Ill l.