Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1896-07-21

all great constitutional lawyers
will tell you and have repeatedly
told the country this change is.
not constitutional; that congress
has no power to change the law of
coinage. By that unconstitutio-
nal act the government has cut
in two the value of products. We
ask the government to go back
and put us where we were before
nothing new or strange; only
for our rights under the constitu-
ton. But the republican party
says We cannot right this wrong
unless England gives US permits
sion. When the declaration of
independence was formed sup
pose Jefferson and Adams had
said, Hold. Let us see if we
can get the permission of Great
Britain for this DEPARTURE We
who have come from foreign
countries would be still toiling
for tyrants. This country is the
last battlefield for humanity.
The old world is kept down by a
standing army. The fight must
be fought here. Yet the repub-
licans tell us that we must wait
for those other countries, whose
people have no right to speak or
think for themselves. No; we
must run our own business.
They call us anarchists. That is
the last answer of small boy
who turns and bowls a foul name
at the one who whips him. I be-
lieve you will do the right thing
to-day and thus we shall do what
we can toward that universal
liberty toward which we all look
with hope.
DR.. Johnson's address while
evidently without preparation
was not only full Of sturdy elo-
quence but contained enough
strong argument and vigorous
defence of the cherished princi-
pies of populism to bring out the
heartiest applause of the day at
frequent intervals.
H. w. Barker, of Elbow Lake,
delivered a carefully prepared
and magniloquent speech which
failed to catch the convention as
DR.. Johnson's off-hand but elo-
quent common sense had done.
Loud calls for DAILY" finally
brought our own M. J. to the
platform. though he said he was
not in order, not being candidate.
He spoke briefly, extending a
welcome to the delegates in be-
half. of Otter Tail and Fergus
Falls.
George Ketcham of Herman
came next, and he kept the hall
in roar for ten minutes by a fire
of witticisms and shrewd hits
that tickled everybody. Mr..
Ketcham is a quizzical looking
man with rugged, clean shaven
face and bald head which he re-
ferred to very humorously dur
ing his remarks.
The committee on credentials
made its report, showing 2l8 de-
legates present. The report was
adopted.
r. J. Hall of Stevens and ex=
State Senator r. M. Probstfield
Of Moorhead were called for and
spoke briefly, both making excel.
lent points in their remarks.
The committee on platform and
resolutions reported. The plat
form in effect was as follows: 1t
declares the present financial po-
Icy wrong, demanded it's rever-
sal; pledged the party to free
coinage Of silver and gold; favor
ed abolition of national banking
system, and the use of safe cur
rency suitable for the needs of
the people; endorsed the Monroe
doctrine as applicable to the mon
etary SYSTEM; declared against
all monopolies; favored the re-
ferendum direct to the people of
all public questions; and endorsed
all acts showing gratitude to the
old soldiers Of the rebellion
The platform was adopted.
The committee also reported
certain resolutions, the .gist Of
which was as follows: -
F l. TO unity the reform forces