The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-06-24
Badger Democrats Believe the
Present Standard the
Proper One.
Speech of Temporary Chairman
Frawley in Opening the
Convention.
Silver Men Demand Representa-
tion on the Delegation to
Chicago.

MILWAUKEE, June 24.-The caucuses
of congressional district delegations de-
layed the opening of the Democratic
state convention, and it was IL 80
O'Clock when Ex-Governor George w.
Peck. chairman of the state central
committee, sounded the gavel and
called the assemblage to order. Louis
"A. Lang of Fond du Lac, and J. M.
Clancy of Madison We're made secre-
taries. Thomas Frawley of Eau Claire
was selected as temporary chairman.
After brief burst of applause had sub
sided, Mr.. Frawley proceeded to de-
liver n speech on the issues of the day.
Mr.. Frawley said that while the great
issue of previous national contests (the
tariff is preserved, and the lines thereto
are sharply drawn still the paramount
issue presented is, Shall the Democratic
party of today stand where il has stood
for upwards of Il century of its exist
ence, for a stable currency, measured
by standard that the enlightened
Judgment of the commercial nations of
the world have established and that ex-
perience has approved? Here and there
traces of lukewarmness and apOstacy
may exist, the speaker said, but the
Democratic party today, especially the
Democracy of Wisconsin, as ever, in
sists that the honor and integrity of this
nation shall be preserved; that its
promises made in the hour of dire ne
cessities of our great civil conflicts to
@l,n
widows of those dead;
That All Our obligations,
no matter what the occasion, or when
issued, shall be redeemed; no repudia-
tion either in the way of debased cur
rency or change of standard shall or
will be permitted. The credit of our
nation, like the immutable principles
upon which our government rests, must
and shall remain unchanged and un-
changeable. The Democratic party
knows that in this era of commercial
and industrial progress no nation
can successfully sever itself from the
great sisterhOod of progressive states,
and adopt or use some special medium
of exchange and arbitrary measure Of
value in opposition to the rest Of the
enlightened nations of the world. 1t
believes and insists that without an
!, international agreement this country
Cannot Maintain the Parity
Of gold and silver, at a ratio Of 16 to l,
without attempting to deceive or mis-
lead those who profess to believe that
the panacea of all our industrial ills is
that the national treasury shall be
turned into barter shop or market
. house for the product of silver mines
The Democratic party insists that until
the standard established by the wisdom
and experience Of ages as the safest and
best, shall continue as the measure in
our commercial affairs, it insists that
the logic of protection will compel the
Republican party ultimately to grant
the demands of the six states whose
delegates sailed out Of the St. Louis
convention on the silver barque, washed
along on the waves Of selfish tears.
The echoes of the st. Louis conven-
ton have been scarcely silenced until
the learned doctors and casuists of the
grand old party are reading between
the lines and defining the true meaning
of the platform there adopted. 1t is
protection to private interests, sweets to
the South, silver to the West, and
whatever is demanded to the rest of the
country.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Frawley's g
speech, committees on permanent or.
ganization and resolutions were ap-
pointed. A fight between the gold and
silver factions ensued, over motion
that all resolutions be referred to the
committee without reading. The sill
= yer men opposed the motion, but they
were outvoted. The convention then
took recess until 80.
Silverites Demand RECOGNITION.
The silver delegates had "a caucus
Just before the convention in the after
noon, at which it was decided to de-
mand two Of the four delegates at large,
and if they are refused, they will carry
the silver fight onto the floor of the con.
vention.
vention, the temporary organization
was made permanent, and the conven.
ton took up the platform. 1t was de-
cided to allow 80 minutes for discussion,
after which vote would be taken Oh
the platform committees report
The platform as reported is as fol
lows:
We, the Democrats of Wisconsin, in
state convention assembled, endorse the
wise and patriotic administration OF
President Cleveland.
We commend the course in congress OF
our able senators, William F. Villas and
John L. Mitchell, in their faithful adher
ence to the principles Of the Democrats Of
Wisconsin.