The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-06-24
Frce-siIver Platform Adopted. ana
Delegates to Chicass Instructed %
Vote for 18-to-1 Dollars.
OHIO DENIS ALSO sILvERITEs
ALL DELEGATES WILL he FORCED
TO VOTE FOR WHITE METAL.
Only Four sound-Money Men o. the
5 Committee-A. J. Warner 10 He Per-
manept .Chasrman To-Day.

PEORIA. ILL.,. June 2s.-The State Demo-
cratic convention to-day declared for free
silver and nominated the following ticket:
For Governor-JoHN p. ALTGELD. OF
Chicago.
| CRAWFORD. OF Union county.
Secretary Of State-FINIS E. DOWN.
xuditorew. W. F. Beck. of Richland coun-
,rreasurer-EDwARDc C. PACE. of Coles
county.
y-general-GEoRGE A. TRuDE.
University Trustees-JULIA HOWE
+ Snr SmiTH; T. B. MORGAN and WILLIAM
Delegates at Large-JoHN p. ALTGELD,
s.: F. Mcconnell; w H. HINRlcHsEN
National Committeeman THOMAS
GAHAN. OF Chicago.
John p. Altgeld was unanimously placed
at the head OF the ticket this afternoon.
He had no opponent and a fex moments
before the honor was thrust upon him
he declared that he did not want It. He
said so at the conclusion OF one OF the
most impressive speeches ever made be-
fore Democratic convention He said that
he was physically unable to make the
fight. and his financial affairs were In bad
shape and needed his attention. No sooner
had he mentioned his desire TO retire from
public life than there came an impassioned
shout of dsapproval, not only from the
delegates but from thousands OF people
who were crowded in the hall. 1t was .
strange convention and Will not soon be
forgotten. 1t was in session only little
over five hours Nearly all the candidates
were nominated by acelamation. There WAS
no strife There were no acrimonious
speeches save those directed aBHlnst the
national administration and Republican
party The convention. had been predict-
ed came out strongly for free silver ana
so Instructed it's delegates at large TO the
national convention. The platform wa
almost diametrically opposite In all i<s
parts n that of the Republican, party. ana
the l,065 delegates voted unanimously for
it's adoption
II was near 1880 o'clock when w. n. Hin
richson. chairman of the State central COM
mittee. called the assemblage to order. He
first called on the Rev. Mr.. Mcvey to In
woke the blessings Of God When the Pray
er was ended the delegates applauded loud
ly. The preacher prayed that the Almighty
might restore the country to prosperity apo
that the masses of the people might - ~
Iieved from oppression and wrong.
MAY GOD FORGIVE U.s."
Theodore Nelson, Of the State commit-
tee. then read the call. When ne had mn
ished the chairman announced the tempo
rary organization with A. II. Bell as tenn
porary chairman. Mr. Bell on taking the
gavel, said in part:
any political party when every step should
be takea with prudence, but without fear,
the time is now at hand: Great issues are
are at stake. -Four years ago we nominated
a man for the presidency from New York
from np'ts that fi state saf %sy COD forgive IS o
IT, At that election We carried almost
every State Our hopes were then bright
tariff issue on which we had 30 grandly
won brought confusion into his party BY
| striking down with traitoroug hand the only
OF the peoples silver As q result. the
| Democracy of Illinois to-day has no repre-
sentative in Congress The rank and nle of
the free coinage Of gold and silver at the
| old ratio. But the declaration Of the party
has heretofore been couched IN equiyoosi
| terms. We are told by some Of our fr1endo
we must straddfe. There will be no strad-
ding this o,s eampasn ns we sufg must s ss et fs
iessly Is upon u.s. IL IN the people against
the plutocrat. have confidence to beIIeye
| II we fail now let US register vow iQ
heaven not to cease until the wrongs of
the people are redressed-
The temporary chairman was frequently
interrupted by applause when ne said that
| four years ago the Democratic party. of
hs York s,as aas GoS orsss the for
there was an outburst Of applause lasting
several minutes A moment later he paid
whole assemblage arose and shouted and
screamed and threw up hats and handker-
chiefs There % was another % %demonstrasion 80 ton
coinage Of silver. When he finished the
great assembiage gave vent 10 deafening
aPpiause, me io', Ill. ~ w ss's,onl .p o's-
selected for the various committees Dur
ing the calling of the roll Col. Henry r.
,here Mere " SO many people IN the aisIes hnes
that the delegates could not ind their
seats. The sergeant-at.arms was directed
whereupon A. S. Trude. OF Chicago took
the floor and declared that many OF the
their eo seats and demanded that The o's sepL %
geant-at-arms perform his duty. An up
roar followed, lasting for several minutes
used. but no violence occurred. though if
was threatened for time There was buf
one contest and that was vas from the Elsv-
moved and adopted that all the delegates
be seated save where there was a contest.
take a recess TO o'clock that the commit.
tees might prepare their reports. An uD-
rsar followed. but the motion prevailed
MR.. LADD's SPEECH.
The delegates were slow In assemoline
after the recess and IL was 3:so before the
temporary chairman called the convention
to order The committee platform was
still in session. 1t had appointed a sub
committee TO draft a platform and the
subcommittee had not reached an agree.
ment. The committee On credentials ~
ported. ssafing all the delegates. the con-,,
test In the Eleventh district hnr1nk been
settled The COMMITTEES on permanent a.
Of Henry ooopVs I'D ~ 6>cc>n Gc1