The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-09-15

so'eruor, as an Office. The convention
desired cooperation with the Democrats
SIMPLY 10 secure in 1898 a Congress, and
IN l9UQ President favorable to it's views
OF monetary reform, and it only desired
to have the Office of lieutenant governor
TO preserve palpably and distinctly it's
| independent existence rs party. We
could not do this if we accepted Just such
| ticket rs. the Democratic convention
should offer u.s.
I'VE do not desire to be offensive, but
| we must declare frankly that we have
not an abiding confidence in the loyalty of
the Democratic party to monetary re-
form. We know and the country knows
that there is within the Democratic party
large and powerful element that is hos
tile to monetary reform (unless to inten-
sify the gold standard), and will gladly
| change the platform and policy of the
| party at the trst opportunity to do so
successfully. This element is now sub
| originating it's convictions to the spirit
of party allegiance. 1t would be much
more agreeable to this element to vote
| according to honest conviction, rather
than in accordance with the exigencies of
mere party supremacy.
Consequently, our relations with the
Democratic party must be those of indie
pendent party, with our arms anc ma
chinery in hand, ready for any possible
emergency, tyr any revolution that NAV
possibly occur within the Democratic
rarty. We are not willing to appear in
the character that the Hon Mr. Bailey,
the Democratic Congressional leader,
wants, recruits as privates in the rear
rank of the Democratic column
cit is proper for your committee to
state that the suggestion of II Populist
on the Democratic ticket this fail did
not come from our convention, or mem
bcrs of our party, and IL few of the pri
mary meetings in several countless rs n
thiIg just and proper in itself, and us
wise in policy. In nearly all the primary
meetings in the counties, while Ders ons
were named as candidates for governor
aud attorney general, little or no mention
was made OF II candidate for lieutenant
governor. i his silence seemed even more
expressive of desire than the suggestions
of Individuals and the few counties.
when our convention met on the 2Sth
OF July this was the condition of things,
and the convention, while not seeking Or
anxious for plnce on the Democratic
ticket, concluded 1t was wise, looking to
the future, to meet the suggestions from
Democratic sources, in spirit of recipro-
cation and cooperation. In this spirit we
named Capt. Il. r. Cooke, a gentleman of
the highest character, of fine intelligence
and every way worthy of that or any
other position, and logically the candi-
date of our party, if we had candidate
ut all in the field. But for the sugges-
tious above referred to from Democratic
sources, it is probable our convention
would have simply renfiirmed its plat
form and adjourned without nominations
for the State Offices. The convention
under the above mentioned circumstances.
having determined TO send to the Demo
cratic convention the name of Captain
Cooke and he having yielded very reluc-
tant consent, committee was appointed
to communicate to the Democratic con
vention the nomination of Captain Cooke
for lieutenant governor. This committee
discharged its duty by written com
munication of the most respectful char
acter.'
The committee here quotes .he COM
munication submitted to the Democratic
convention
The address goes on to recite that lwo
of the members of the committee deliv-
ered this communication to the conven-
ton, and it Yas formally received aud
read; that the members of the committee
were after some opposition invited to
seats on the floor, hut no further notice
was taken of the communication or of
therl; that they were simply ignored
that the name of Captain Cooke was pre-
scented appropriately by Mr.. Burksdale,
of Halifax, but was rejected by more
than two-thirds vote. ''For this the
convention has received the thanks and
the compliments of the So.dbug press
We regard it as palpable indignity and
insult 10 our party, and entirely without
excuse, as we did only that which seemed
to he desired and invited by the Demo
cratic party"
The address further asserts that sim
liar indignity was offered the Populist
party last fall by the Democratic State
committee, but that the Popu,ists, rather
than leoparTiZe the success of Bryan in
the State, with drew their electoral ticket
and voted for the Democratic ticket.
The address charges that the Demo
cratic party is repeating its policy to-
wards the Readiusters, FIRST denounce
1t, then accept this platform, then force
the party out of existence" etc
The address condemns the action of the
Democratic party rs a mere desire for
| party supremacy, subordinating principle
to party: but says conditions since the
Popnlist convention have not materially
changed rs to the ACCESSIBILITY OF the
nomination OF candidates. 1t, therefore,
urges the Populists to accept the action
oil that convention as conclusive so far
as nominations are concerned, and &c Use
every honorable means To elect Captain
| Cooke as lieutenant governor.
Let u.s." says the address, 'keep our
party we'll in hand. Many true and pa
triotic men of the Democratic party will
at the polls repndiate the action of the
Roanoke convention, and will he found
! voting with us. Wherever we can elect "A