Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-06-05
without international agreement.

4
to 81, and the majority report was
adopted as it came from the committee.
The committee on resolutions was
composed almost entirely ofsilver men.
Senator Daniel was chairman.
The resolution instructiDg the dele
gates, as was expected, provoked more
earnest discussion than any other fea-
ture of the convention. 1t was adopted
| ~ vote of ], 075 to 542.
Alexandria county voted solidly for
instructions. Alexandria city voted IL
for instructions and 8 against.
The gold men made strong fight for
their minority resolution, signed by the
six gold members of the committee.
Judge Leigh r. Watts, of the Second
district, made vigorous protest against
the establishment of the unit rule. He
said that home rule had been cardi-
nal principle of the Virginia democracy,
and he asked that home rule be given
to the Second district. They had elect
ed two delegates. He wanted to know
if they were entitled to their votes?
| GCries of "No!"
Senator Daniel, amid tremendous
demonstration, advocated the adoption
of the majority report, and his address
was detailed argument in favor OF
free silver. He said: "The States vote
for president only as States, and the
clerk does not call for districts, but for
Virginia. I want the delegation to say
Virginia is for free silver, and do not
want my friend from Portsmouth be-
hind us pulling our coattails."
The gold men made strong appeals
for the abrogation of the unit rule, and
the silver men clamored for its adop:
ton. The roll was called by counties
and the unit rule was adopted.
The sensation of the convention was
the speech of Senator Thomas S. Martin
on the free silver idea, and his joining
the great majority in the open meeting.
Until recently he was classed as a
sound:money man. In his speech TO Inc
convention Senator Martin said:
81 have q new hope infused in me,
and I look forward with certainty to
~ democratic victory. 1 60 further,
and say that if the democrats follow
the old party of Virginia, we will have
u democratic president more satisfac-
tory than the one that has filled the
chair for the past three years. II the
present executive has earned reputa-
ton for any one thing more conspicu-
GUS than another, it is as a party
wrecker.n The words which bound
the Senator to new faith we're as fol-
lows: 81 have not agreed in all re-
spects with the policy of the silver
leaders, but I find no difficulty in agree
ing with the democrats of Virginia on
the platform which will be presented to
this convention"
| When Senator Martin reached his
denunciation of Cleveland, there was a
storm of Kisses from the sound mone y
men, but it was quickly lost in the roar
and din of applause from the silverites.
The climax was, however, not reached
until he placed himself squarely on the
free silver platform; then the uproar OF
the silverites was tremendous, while
the sound money men, who had only
two nights before mentioned him as a
delegate at large to Chicago as their
representative, were dumbfounded and
mystifed at the ligbtning.like change
Oh flTSluldS JuulOI OCuntOl'
Congressman Tucker followed Sena-
tor Martin, and proclaimed sound
money views, but said there was no
4 reason why they should not leave the
\, convention united democratic body.
At this point the speaker addressed
himself to that part of Senator Martins
speech which alluded to Mr.. Cleveland.
He characterized the President as q
patriot, and said II have often differ
ed from him, but he is our President.
We helped to elect him, and 1, for one,
am not going to stand here and abuse
the President helped to elect" This
thurst at Senator Martin was cheered
by the Cleveland men, while the silver
men continued to applaud their new
proselyte.
At the night session Mr.. Glennan, of
Norfolk, one of the gold delegates to
the national convention, said if the in
structions adopted had the effect of q
unit rule he would go to the conveD-
ton and have his vote recorded as d.
rected by the majority of the delega.
ton. IT, however, he had to cast that
vote himself under these instructions,
he would do as his district had directed.
Mr.. West, of Nansemond, the other
gold delegate from the Second district,
explained that his position was similar
to his colleague.
The explanation of these two gen.
tlemen caused the convention to sus.
pend the rules and adopt the unit rule.
The resolution providing for this au
thorizes the chairman of the Virginia
delegation at Chicago to cast the votes
of all its members as majority thereof
shall determine.
Hon. Lloyd Smith, of the First dis
trict, presented resolution endorsing
Senator Daniel for a place upon the
national ticket. The rules were sus-
pended and the convention adopted the
resolution, although there were a few
mays" from the sound money advo.
Gates.
The new State democratic committee
was chosen. The members for the
Eighth district are Leonard Marbury,
Charles P. Janney, G. S. P. Triplett,
Granville Gaines and w. E. Bibb. The
only change in this district is the ap-
pointment of Mr.. Gaines in the place of
the late 81. Sheppard.
The selection of chairman of the
State committee was relegated to the
action of that committee, owing to the
doubt expressed by the present chair
man, ex-Mayor Ellyson, as to whether
he could serve. Senator Daniel refer
red in the highest terms to Mr.. Ely