The San Francisco call., 1896-05-07


to settle their indebtedness in some reason
able and businesslike way, and that the
Government should foreclose its lien upon
them and take possession Of the roads.
He asked whether there was anything in
that that was wrong or that was not ex-
pressive of the will of the people of the
State of California.
Judge George a. Nourse of Fresno Sec
onded the resolution. He said that the
people were not willing to put themselves
for the next fifty or one hundred years
into the hands of the railroad corporation.
DR.. Pardee of Alameda followed Judge
Nourse in an earnest speech. He said that
if there ever was time when Republican
convention should speak to the people for
California now was the time.
1--WE are in favor of the railroad COM
pany paying its just debts" he said, upon
maturity, dollar for dollar, interest and
principal. Therefore it would be polit-
ical, commercial and moral mistake should
this convention refuse to indorse the SEN
timent of the people OF this State upon
the funding bill. 1 second the amend
ment."
Mr.. Shorts resolution was carried with
a shout, there being few noes from the
hail.
George a. knight of Butte, ignoring the
fact that the Mckinley plank in the plat
form instructed the delegates to vote for
and use their best endeavors to secure the
nomination of Mckinley, assembled the
platform and in a rather f1ourishing man.
ner announced that he had substitute to
offer. Then he said that the only thing
he feared was that the supporters Of Nc
Kinley back East might think that the
Republicans of California had cold feet and
did not like him. He remembered how
at Minneapolis in 1892 the supporters of
that grand old man, James G. Blaine,
bowed their heads in shame when nine
Californians drove a rusty knife blade into
his heart.
This remark of the gentleman from
Butte. passionately made. was greeted
with considerable kissing and groaning.
He thereupon came to a sudden stop and
read his resolution, which resolved that
the Republicans OF California, while
recognizing the eminent worth and
fitness of each of the distinguished
statesmen of the party whose names
have been mentioned as aspirants for
the Presidential nomination at st. Louis,
and while pledging him in advance
the electoral vote of this State, declare
that the emphatic sentiment of the
people of California is in favor of the
nomination of that wise and able states
man, William Mckinley of America, and
the delegates from this State are hereby
irect ed and instructed to work and vote
for the success of Mckinley as long as
there is a reasonable prospect of his NOM
ination.
Many of the delegates laughed at the
dramatic way in which Mr.. knight read
this resolution, which, although turgid
and verbose, was not one whit stronger
than the plank on the same subject al
ready in the platform. 1t was apparent
that the colonel from Butte had written
the resolution before he knew what was
going to be put in the platform, or else
that he desired to entrap some of his po-
lItical enemies into a declaration that
the existing plank covered the case, in
which event, it was believed, he would
charge the objector with being opposed to
the nomination of Mckinley.
But if such were his object, 1t was deftly
foiled, and the convention quickly saw
that such was the case when Colonel E. f.
Preston made for the platform almost be-
fore Mr.. Knight had stepped off it. Colonel
Preston was greeted with cheers not from
few delegations but from all parts of the
house. He said that the convention had
just listened to words of thrilling elo.
quence from one of the leading standard
bearers of the Republican party, and there
was nothing that Mr.. knight could say
about that grand apostle of protection,
James G.. Blaine, before which the head OF
every Republican would not most rever-
emily bow. This remark was cheered
Justify.
There is no Republican who reads the
handwriting on the WALL" added Colonel
Preston, land who is abreast of the cur
rent OF the times, who does not feel and
know that upon the shoulders of William
Mckinley has fallen the mantle of the
great James G. Blaine. He is to-day, par
excellence, the exponent of those great
principles which are so dear to every Re-
publican heart and which we regard no,
only as the shibboleth of our party but as
essential to the success of every industrial
interest of the United States"
mo Republican," continued Colonel
Preston, 'no man who believes in lighting
the furnaces; no man who wants to hear
the whirr of the wheel and the clang OF
the hammer; no one would hesitate to
support Mckinley for President of the
United States. AS a lifelong Republican
training with Republicans, marching un-
der the banner of Republicans, believing
in Republican doctrines, 1 rise to second
the amendment of Mr.. Knight
This speech brought forth a burst oi
hearty cheering. 1t was hailed as a fit.
ting reply to the false rumors that had
been circulated to the effect that John D
Spreckels would not pledge himself to sup.
port Mckinley.
Senator Spencer of Lassen, who will be
remembered as the stalwart champion OF
the woman-suffrage amendment at the last
session OF the Legislature, made his way
to the platform with an expression of
countenance betokening considerable agi.
tation and indignation, and when he faced
the convention his fierce glance in the di.
rection of the seat occupied by Mr.. Knight
OF Butte County was interpreted to signify