Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-06-24
FUSION IN IOWA.
ans Get Together on One Ticket
md One Platform.

Des Moines. Ia. June 23.-The Democratic
| state convention adjourned early this even
| ing. having completed its work. The two
allied conventions. the silver Republicans
and Populists,' completed their work slight
ly in advance. The three factions were.
after much controversy, able TO agree on
| one platform, with free silver as the main
| idea, and one ticket, composed of two Dem
| ocrats. two silver Republicans and one
Populist. The ticket will be placed on the
| official ballot under the name Democrat"
When this became known, there was a
split in the Populist convention, the mid
dle-of-the-road faction. under the leader
ship of A. w. c. Weeks, walking out. The
seceders numbered probably 100 of the dele
gates. General J. b. Weaver's faction re-
mained with the Democrats, whereupon he
was bitterly denounced. But for this rup-
ture the union of all the free silver forces
would have been complete. The ticket is
composed as follows:
For governor-F. E. White Democrat,
Keokuk.
For lieutenant governor-B. A. Plummer,
silver Republican, Winnebago county.
For judge supreme court-L. G. Kinne,
Democrat. for Bryan, Polk county.
For railroad commissioners. B. Grain,
Populist Dallas county.
For superintendent of public instruction
G. F. Rhinehart, silver Republican. Jasper
county.
Mr.. White. the candidate for governor,
was formerly a member of congress from
the Sixth district He was defeated for
reelection last year by John +. Lacey.
He is an out and out free silver man. and
he has an established reputation as a
good campaigner. His nomination was
largely due to the address he delivered
as temporary chairman of the convention.
Mr.. Whites main competitor for the nomi-
nation for governor was J. r. Burgess, of
Ottumwa, Cleveland postmaster who
supported Bryan. His candidacy was
pushed by the younger men. Half dozen
other candidates were placed in nominal
tion, but Ex-Governor Boies' name was
hardly mentioned in the convention.
Mr.. Plummer and Mr.; Rhinehart are lit
tie known in state politics. Mr.. Grain was,
many years ago, the Populist candidate
for governor. Judge Kinne is chief jus
tice of the supreme court now. He sup
ported Bryan last year. but under some
protests. He is a prominent Democrat.
The sentiment of the convention was al
most overwhelmingly for Bryan. Every
reference TO his name was greeted with
lusty cheering. His picture was repeatedly
displayed, and every time an orator pointed
toward it there was applause. There was
no quarter given TO the gold Democrats.
The silver element of the party had its
own way in all the proceedings. In point
OF numbers IL was one of the largest Dem
ocratic conventions ever held in this city,
and in point of enthusiasm it will compare
favorably with any of them.
The platform declares in part:
We enter into the first campaign after
the greaS battle of the people against the
combined corporate and money power in
which that peerless statesman and patriot,
w. ]. Bryan, was our leader, with the re-
assertion that we demand the free and un-
limited coinage of both gold and silver at
the present legal ratio of IS to l, witnout
waiting FOR the aid of consent of any other
Lation."
The Republicans. in. the management of
the national campaign last year, are
charged with bribery, intimidation. colo
nization and deception. 1t Is charged that
the rich men contributed millions to Mark
Hannas campaign fund. and he has tri-
umphed by the corrupt use of these vast
sums. They are now about TO recoup them
selves from the pockets of the people"
Secretary Gage Is denounced for with
holding greenbacks and Sherman notes
from circulation, and Speaker Reed for ar
bitrary rule in the house. Prosperity is de-
clared to be a delusiOn and a fraud.
The mills and shops are closing down."
says the platform: "the army of unem-
ployed is growing larger and the farmers
in Iowa, since election, are marketing their
products at less price than ever before"