Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-17
VESTS REPLY.

Senator Vest of Missouri, in reply to
the statement given out by Mr.. Don NJ.
Dickinson recently in regard to the Mich
igan convention, said in an interview the
other day:
"Of course, this Is what is to be ex-
pected from Dickinson. He was bound to
deny the charges that the convention
had been controlled by chicanery. But
the manner of his reply scarcely does him
justice Personally, know nothing about
the situation in Michigan. based my
statements in the senate upon fnforma-
ton received from political and personal
friends in Michigan. These gentlemen
are just as good democrats and just as
reputable citizens as Mr.. Dickinson him
self. They back up their charges by
specific statements. Willard Stearns,
whom know to be man Of honor and
probity, sent me list of the delegates
by counties, showing the number which
were actually instructed for silver, who
simply violated their Instructions and
voted the other way. According to this
statement, and 1 place implicit faith in
it, more than $50 men deliberately vio-
lated their Instructions.
Mr. Dickinson denies that any in
fuences were brought to bear upon the
delegates. A prominent Detroit demo-
crat telegraphed me the night before the
convention met, after making careful
"
$50 majority for 16 to L. Stearns, who
was delegate. and knows what he is
talking about, tells the same story, and
follows it UP with specific charges. The
next day the convention voted by fifty
eight majority for gold. More than 200
votes had been changed in twenty-four
hours. / would like to have Mr.. Dickin-
son tell me what influence was brought
to bear to accomplish this miracle. 1t is
one of the most remarkable and dis
graceful incidents / have. ever known In
politics. The proceedings of that conven-
ton bear conviction on the face of them.
l would like to have Dickinson face the
question squarely and answer me, how
1t was done. i see that he refers here to
charges made by the SENATOR of money
being used in the convention. No sena-
tor so far as know, least of all myself.
ever charged or intimated that money
had ever been used. But I would like to
know how 1t was done.
HE denies that proxies were used.
What is the difference between proxy
and substitute? And why should a
man go outside of his county for sub
stitute? l never heard of such thing.
That is simply bubble. The fact of
the matter Is that proxies, or substi-
tutes, or whatever you may call them
were used-and literally, too.
81 have numerous letters from respon-
sible men in Michigan who are in as
| good a position to know the facts as
Dickinson himself and who all verify
and repeat Stearns' charges. l cannot
give you these letters, because | have
not yet received permission from them
to make them public Stearns, however,
authorized me to use his letter in any
way l saw fit. l had another letter from
him today informing me that he Is pre-
pairing a tabulated statement of all the
delegates and the positions they occu-
pied on the money question before and
after the convention. 1t will be very in
teresting, and 1 should like to have Dick
ihson answer It, Why does not he reply
to Stearns? I based my speech largely
upon his statements, and Stearns is a
good deal nearer Detroit than am
Dickinson also says that not more
than % per cent of Michigan democrats
are silver men. That Is simply one gem
tleman's opinion as against anotners,
and l have nothing to say to 1t. No, I
do not know whether / shall make any
further reply to Dickinson. 1t depends
on future events"
do you really believe, senator. that
the Chicago convention will have a ma
jority for free silver?"
Eyes; i am now convinced that 1t will.
1t is only recently. however. that l have
reached this conclusion. OF course, there
is still time enough to work considerable
changes, and the gold men are badly
scared and very busy From now on
they will overlook no chances. But
think we are safe. We have carefully
state aud territory, which give us eighty
eight majority. In making up these
figures we have in every case Of con-
tested delegations, ETC., given the gold
men the benefit of the doubt. In my
opinion we shall have about 100 majority.
But it will be hard fight, and the ma
iority IN either case will be small
.