Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-07-22
FOR A GOLD TICKET.
An Address to the Wisconsin
Democracy.
Villas, Bragg, Hogan and Flanders De-
eide to Fight to the End.

Milwaukee, Wis, July Ex-senator
William T. Villas, Gen. Edward S.
Bragg, James c. Flanders and J. J.
Hogan, elegates-at-large to the late
Democratic convention at Chicago, held
a conference here Saturday to decide up
on a course to pursue regarding the ma
tional and state campaign they having
been elected as gold delegates and the
convention having declared for silver"
AS a result of the conference it was de-
cided to fight for gold standard nation
al ticket, a gold standard state ticket,
and, in the event of a possible victory by
the silver men at the state convention
IN September, they are for a second con-
ventlon to name gold standard state
ticket and electors.
An Address to Democracy.
At the close of the conference the fol-
lowing address was issued:
To the Voters of Wisconsin: The under
signed, believing in the fundamental princi-
pies Of the Democratic party and having
followed its flag for many years, were chos-
en- by the state Democratic convention as
representatives of the Democracy of Wis
cOnsin at the convention held in Chicago on
the 18th of July. The state Democratic con-
Ventfon, by which were appointed as
such delegates, declared itself in unequivo-
cal terms In favor of the principles of De-
mocracy to which we have been taught to
give adherence Its platform obtained an
unqualified declaration in favor of honest
money, and It's delegates were instructed to
cast their votes at the Chicago convention
as a unit when and the majority of such
delegates should direct.
Upon the assembling Of the Chicago con-
vention it Immediately became manifest
that a new force and un-Democratic ele-
ment had seized upOn, and was In control Of
that convention. The traditions Of the party
were disregarded and long eSta blished usag-
eS trampled upon by men who had assumed
the garb Of Democracy for the accomplish
ment Of single purpose.
fragrant Violation of Rights.
The selection by the national Democratic
committee of a temporary presiding officer,
made in accordance with a custom prevail
ing for more than half a century, was set
aside and the place filled with one peculiar
ly representing the dominant element in
state Democratic conT5e:tlon 81 the state OF Of
Michigan to represent that state in the Chi
cago convention and against whose right to
hold that position no protest was made in
the state convention, We're deprived of their
seats IN order thar by applying the unit rule
the entire twenty-eight votes Of Michigan
might be cast in favor of a platform declar-
ing for the free coinage Of silver a the ratio
OF TO TO l, and in favor of a candidate in
accord with such declaration. Four dele
gates. representing the Fourth and Ninth
districts of Michigan, were SO unseated. in
order to accomplish a majority Of the dele
cation, while the four delegates-at-large
chosen by the same convention, and the title
to whose seats rested upon the same founda-
the unit rule referred to they would be In
hopeless minority in that delegation after
the four district delegates had been I'M
seated. Such a fragrant violation of the
right of representation by a state has never
before occurred in any Democratic conyen-
ton.
The right of the state Of Wisconsin TO con-
troll by its instruction the votes of its dele
gates and to determine when and how much
votes should be cast, was likewise denied.
Against Democratic Doctrines.
The platform adopted by the Chicago con-
yention is directly at variance with those
doctrines which, since its creation. have
been part Of the creed of the Democratic
party While Democracy has for nearly
century been the advocate of honest money
and at all times opposed to its debasement.
the Chicago convention declared in favor Of
compelling the citizens Of the United States
to receive as dollar One-half its value in
the product of a single industry. While
the Democratic party has sturdily main
tanned that courts in which justice is adj
miniStered should be above and beyond pO-
.litical control the convention at Chicago
adopted resolution looking to the recon-
StructiOn of the Supreme court of the Unit
4 States to accomplish the reversal of it's
"cision. While we condemned the use of
hat court in 1877 for political purposes and
10 accomplish the inau guratfon as President
OF a candidate not elected; while we de-
n0unced an appointment made by Repub-
Hcan President to a position in that court
which denied the right Of the government
to issue paper money in times of peace, we
adopt the, same methods which we have
condemned in our opponents.
That convention refused to approve Of the
fidelity and honesty OF the one Democratic
national administration elected during the
past forty years.
The principles enunciated in the Chicago
platform other than those in favor of the
free coinage of silver are socLaIistic in
character and commend themselves to the
Of the eOunt The fanddate
nOunced his determination more than two
years ago to leave the Democratic party and
fight for free silver in the ranks of the Popu-
list party Under these circumstances the
undersigned delegates at that convention
felt it their duty, under the instructions re-
vigor the adoption Of that platform, and
after it was adopted to decline to- vote for
candidate who represented 1t.
A Crisis in the Party.
We have thought it only proper TO make
report of our action to the Democrats of
Wisconsin, and to say that crisis is
imminent such as has never in the history
of the Democratic party confronted it. It's
enemies predict its diSSOlution; it's false
friends invite it's absorption by the Populist
party. Such enemies and such false friends
are alike untrustworthy and mistaken. The
Democratic principles are the foundation
upon which a free government rests; they
are firmly established in the hearts OF the
American people; they cannot be DESTROYED
a republican form of government exists. No
set of men Selling forcibly upon the ma
chlnery OF the party can control tine votes
of Democrats believing in those principles.
We have faith to believe that a large ma
jority of the Democrats of Wisconsin are az
much today in favor Of the principles de-
clared by our state convention as when that
declaration was made. We have entire con-
tidence that if proper opportunity will be
views in a mass meeting or convention to
be called at some date not far distant. the
true principles of Democratic faith will be
again pronounced in uncertain tone and
that some way will be found by which Dem
ocrats cast their votes in favor of ~
Democrat, and at the same time against the
Protectionist nominated by the st. Louis
convention and the Populfst nominated by
the Chicago convention.
EDWARD S. BRAGG,
WILLIAM r. Villas,
JAMES G. FLANDERS,
J. J. HOGAN,
GEORGE NJ M'KEY.
THOMAS n. KEARNEY,
WILLIAM H. ROGERS,
HERMAN GASSER,
HENRY HASE