Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-03-26

Delegate-at-Ldr2e w. u! HOARD
Delegate at-Large. Eugene S. Elliott
Delegate-at-Large j. II. Stout
Chairman State Com. i. d. Edwin d. Coe
Milwaukee, Wis, March 49, The at
tendance at the republican state con-
yention here yesterday was unusually
large and the proceedings on the whole
were marked with a considerable de-
gree of harmony. The convention was
held for the purpose of choosing four
delegates-at-large to join with the
twenty congressional district delegates
in representing Wisconsin at the ma
tional convention to be held at st.
Louis in June. The convention also
elected a permanent chairman of the
state central committee to fill the
vacancy caused by the death of H. c.,
Thorn
Chairman Jones called the conven-
ton to order Mayor Koch and Treas
urer Milbrath loomed up in the real,
as representatives of the peace and dig
nifty of Milwaukee, while at the other
wing of the stage Uncle Hold Taylor
and M. 7. Park appeared as the twin
cherubs of journalism. Secretary EW
ing took up the list of delegates and
said there were no contests. Several
proxies were announced and accepted.
Chairman Jones appointed Fred.
Phelps of the fifth district, and George
w. Bishop Of the ninth district, as sec
retaries. AS Mr.. Phelps was not a
member of the convention, Arthur ".
Jones, of the fifth district, was ap-
pointed in his place. John J. Esch, of
La Crosse, was then introduced as tenn
porary chairman, and on taking his
place on the platform spoke as follows:
"The republicans of Wisconsin are
today taking the first step towards the
white house. A year hence it will be
the home of a republican president.
A year hence the national capitol will
witness the deliberations of a republic
an congress. This is not idle prophecy
the people have seen the handwriting
on the wall; they have read Alright the
signs of these democratic times
Protection and it's offspring, recl-
procity, are not dead issues, but shall
remain living issues until they have
been settled right, and it remains the
high duty of the party which has pro-
claimed and defended them both to see
that they are settled right.
The impending conflict presents
financial questions of no mean import
anCe. We must meet them in a
straightforward and unambiguous way
Our national platform on this, as we'll
as all other subjects, should be one that
even he who runs may read, and our
candidate one whose position needs no
defense. Our party's financial history in
the past is sufficient guaranty for it's
ability to meet the requirements of the
prosont. 1t has almost paid off, in
single generation, the biggest war debt
in all history; resumed specie payments
against bitter opposition; upheld our
credit by scorning to repudiate; main
tanned the equality of gold, silver and
paper in their purchasing and the debt
paying powers. We favor the use of
both gold and silver as standard money
under such restrictions and conditions
as will secure the maintenance of the
parity of values of the two metals. We
oppose free coinage of silver which
would make our country the dumping
ground of all bullion to the discredit
and injury of our finances in the money
markets of the world We believe that
free coinage by the United States alone,
at the ratio of 16 to /, amounts to re-
pudiation; that the parity now existing
between the metals would be destroyed
and our people would be COM
PEELED to report 50-cent dol
lars for their labor and
produce and be asked to trust in God
for the balance. In behalf of our vast
foreign-bo population which has
brought over with it sound ideas of
honest money, in behalf of all classes
of our state and nation, in behalf of our
present and future prosperity, let us
ask of the delegates we shall this day
select that they give us an honest
money candidate upon an honest plat
form. 1t shall be the duty of the dele
gates we select to weigh the claims of
the several candidates and with the
party's honor and public veal in mind
to select the men best fitted for the
place as mountain peaks, towering
above the lesser hills, arrest our gaze
and stir us to admiration, so now, ris-
ing above the rank and file of our
party, we behold the heroic presence of
we'll known leaders. We see the ven
cradle form of that irreproachable
statesman and successful man of bus
mess, Levi P. Morton, of New York
We see and admire that Nestor in re-
publican councils whose many years of
service have brought honor to a sister
state and fame to himself, William B.
Allison, of Iowa. We admire that mod
ern Hercules, giant in mind as we'll as
body, whose courage and skill shattered
the time-worn .precedents of congress
and won for him the proud title of car,
adding honor to q state already hon
Ored b. a Hamlin and a Blaine. We
cannot refuse our admiration for Tom
Reed of Maine.
I'VE admire a certain private citizen
of a staunch republican state, whose
public as we'll a private life has been
without reproach; who fought for the
union upon the field of battle and later
for the people in the halls of congress
who today stands as the chief exponent
of the grandes, doctrine of our party:
whose sublime faith there in has never