Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-06-27
SILVER MEN.
Dramatic Scene Before tho Resolutions
Committee OF tho Republican Conven-

Hcan convention was in continuous
session for over five hours yesterday
considering the platform. 1t was final
ly agreed to.
The feature of the day was the ac-
ton of Senator Teller and other silver
members of the committee on the
financial flank. Senator Teller
opened the opposition to the platform
by offering his amendment for free
and independent coinage at the
ratio of sixteen to one. Neither
he nor his colleagues had any
hope that Mr.. Teller's PROPOSE.
ton would prevail. and the Colorado
senator took the floor to formally an
nounce that they could no longer act
with the republican party if gold
plank was placed in the platform. His
address was most effecting- His ex-
preston of regret that he had reached
the parting of the ways moved some of
his colleagues to tears He displayed
no bitterness. but he was impressively
sad in expressing regret at what he
termed the act of the party in '1eav-
ing him and his associates"
The financial plank was reached
about noon and after offering his sub
stitutes Mr.. Teller made a vigorous
speech in support of them.
He spoke vehementIy in opp osition
to the gold standard plank, declaring
his belief that in taking this course
the party was departing from it's
Wanted position of defender of the
rights of the people and putting itself
in the hands of bond-clippers of Lom-
bard and Wall streets. This policy he
denounced as un-American, unpatriotic
and opposed to all the best interests of
humanity. He expressed his sincere
regret that such a course should be
adopted-not because it affected him
personally, but because it was a step
that would seriously affect the welfare
of the people of the entire country.
AS for himself, he had been a repub-
lican since the anti-bellum days He
had assisted in securing the nomina-
ton of Lincoln and had supported him
in the campaign. Naturally, there
fore. the step now proposed was re-
garded by him in the most serious
light, and he sincerely hoped that the
step would not be taken.
Mr.. Teller, in the course of his re-
marks said that if the gold standard
plank proposed was adopted he would
consider it incumbent upon him to
sever his connection with the conven-
ton. Believing. as he did, upon this
subject, which was of all questions the
sistently continue his relations with a
body which was so determined to an
tagonize his convictions of right and
duty, and, as he believed, stultify its
own record.
Mr.. Darlington, of Pennsylvania, re-
piled briefly to Senator Tellers chal-
longing the position of the senator
address referring to the dictation of
Lombard street, and saying this was a
poor return for the money-amountin g
to many millions Of dollars-which had
been invested in the west by the men
of the east in building railroads and
other enterprises. "We have given
you our money freely" he said, land
are surprised that You should now
want to pay US in money worth only SO
cents on the dollar
Colorado" responded Mr.. Teller,
''has always paid her debts and will
continue to pay them. What we OBJ
ject to is the paying of So for 81 re-
ceived." He then proceeded briefly to
show that silver had not deprecated,
but that it was gold that had increased
in value.
Senator Lodge spoke briefly. but
largely in way personal to Senator
Teller. He spoke of the esteem in
which the Colorado senator was held
and the respect felt for him, but said
that, Notwithstanding this feeling, it
was impossible to follow his idea OF
financial policy.
Senator Dubois followed in an ear
nest speech. He dwelt especially upon
the service the west had been to the
republican party, showing that that
section had never in its hour of need
been untrue to the party call He
dwelt especially upon the strength OF
the west in the senate, and fshowed
how the repu blican party had owed
the maintenance of its protective tariff
policy and all other party policies to
the votes of that section in the senate.
Often when their own sectional in
terests were in no wise involved, he
asserted that the inter-moun tain states
had been regular in supplying two
senators for the support of these lines
of policy, while New York, with moi
with only one, and southern states, to
say nothing of Indiana, Wisconsin and
other northern states, which had moi
been for years represented in the SEN
ate, are inaugurating a contest which
is not only ruinous to the west, but he
believed, to the entire country-not
only ruinous but unpatriotic and con-
trary to the principles of the party,
and in view of these facts he, too, felt
constrained to announce his intention
of leaving the convention in case OF
the adoption of a gold standard plank.
MIR. Brewer replied to Senator Du
bois, saying that the silver senators
had practically severed their connec
ton with the repub 1ican party wher
they had refused to vote for the Ding