Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-08-06
SILVER PARTY CONVENTION.
Delegates Of the White Metal Party Meet
In 81. Louis

The silver party convention was called to
order at 1885 p. m., Wednesday. Temper
ary Chairman Newlands and Representative
Towne, bolting Republican from Mime
sofa, were greeted with applause when they
took seats on the platform. Chairman New
lands delivered an address outlining the
position of tho party.
The call for the convention emanated from
q conference Of the friends of silver, held at
Washington, D. g., January % and 20 last,
and was signed by A. J. Warner, president
American Bmetallic League; Ii. g. Miller,
chairman national silver committee; r. O.
Chambers, president National Bimetallic
Cnioni j. NJ. Devine. secretary American Bi-
metallic League.
DIR. ]. ]. Mott, of North Carolina, who
was elected chairman Of the executive COM
mittee, has been in st. Louis for several
weeks, making preparations for the con-
yention.
The hall had been attractively drapped
with flags and bunting, but the atmosphere
was so close and hot that 1t was almost suf-
focating when Chairman Mott came forward
to call tho convention to order, the delegates
for the moment ceased the use of fans and
reused from the torpor caused by the awful
heat indulged in some enthusiastic cheering
Prayer was offered after which Miss Lille
b. Pierce, read the Declaration OF Indepen-
plause.
The pre- gram OF the silver convention was
all arranged in advance. 1t included simply
the adoption Of n l6 to l platform and the
nomination of Bryan and Sewall, but those
In charge OF it deemed 1t good policy to go
slowly in the belief that they might by re-
naming in session be able to exercise an in
fluence In shaping things in the Populist
convention. To this end they appointed
commltthe of seven headed by Judge Scott
OF California to meet with similar commit
tee from the Populists for the purpose OF
reaching common plen of action.
Wm. P. st. John of New York Is perma-
nant chairman OF the silver convention and
h. Il. pilrcndorfer of Pennsylvania Is secre-
tary. Mr.. st. John delivered 16 to speech
and preached Populist and Democratic unity
The second days session was devoted to
speech making. Charles A. fowne OF Mimi
csota and Mrs Helen NJ Cougar of Indiana
wore the principal speakers.
1t was l0:41 o'clock when Chairman st.
John called the silver convention to order
Friday. Rev. Dr. L. W. Covert led in
prayer, after which G. w. Baker, of Cali
fornia, took the floor. He said the Peoples
party convention had appointed u conference
call and moved that the convention confer
action In the platform and postpone the
nomination Of ticket until $3.50 A motion
that when the convention adjourn 1t adjourn
until $3.50 p. M, also prevailed.
Senator Stewart, of Nebraska, was called
to the front and was cheered as he took the
stand. His mention OF Bryan's name while
reviewing the work of the Chicago conven-
tion was greeted with applause.
The National silver party adjourned sine
die shortly after $3.50 o'clock Friday evening,
after going on record bv nominating the
nominees of the Democratic convention,
William Jennings Bryan and Arthur Sewall,
for president and vice president of the
United States respectively.
The last act before final adjournment was
the selection of Lincoln, Neb., as the city at
which the nominees were to be notified OF
the honor extended to them.
SILVER PLATFoRM
The National Silver party In convention
assembled hereby adopts the following dec
laraticn OF principles:
The paramount issue at this time In the
United States is indisputably the money
question. 1t Is between the gold standard
gold bonds and bank currency on the one
side, and the bimetallic standard, no bonds
and government currency on tho other, On
this same issue we declare ourselves to be
in favor Of distinctiYely American nnan-
cial system.
We hold that the power to control and
regulate paper currency is inseparabe
from the power to coin money.
We are unaltcrably opposed to the issue by
the United States OF interest bearing bonds
In time of peace.
We, therefore, confidently appeal to the
people of the Uuited States to leave In abey-
ancc for the moment all other questions, and
unite in one supreme effort to free them
selves and their children from the domina-
tion OF the money power.