The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-08-20

Omaha Platforms ReaffirMed-A
State Ticket Named.
Des Moines, Aug. 19-The middle
ofthe-road Populists held state con-
vention here today which was largely
attended, about 90 countries being rep
resented. NJ. w Weeks of Madison
county, presided. A. L. Kicker, of
Johnson county, was made temporary
chairman.
address by ex-senator Pfeffer. He said
in part:
MIR. PFEF'FDRS ADDRESS.
IF recent discoveries of free gold
mines should prove to be as valuable
as present appearances indicate, the
silver question may soon be eliminate
from Republican discussions except
possibly, as TO those persons to whose
Individual Interests are at stake. Sill
Yer Republicans want more metallic
money, and they would probably be
it.
ut is proposed that the Populist
party shall do two things-limit the
range of our discussions to the silver
branch of the money question, and ally
ourselves with the Democratic party.
These are the propositions on which we
are divided. l am opposed To both of
them. 1 do not wish to see the Peo-
pies party merged in any other eX-
listing organization, and especially in
one TOO old TO be useful. Nor am l
willing without warning and protesting
to see 1t made the foot ball of politicians
and bartered away for spoils. l would
be willing to abide by the conclusions
of a national conference of delegates
duly appointed and accredited, fairly
representing all the elements among
voters who are opposed to the present
gold standard high tariff regime. But
until that can be accomplished the
Populist party is good enough for me.
The alliance with the Democratic party
in 1885 was only for the campaign.
Now, though we may not be quite our
selves again and in our right mind,
we are free to determine our affairs
in our own way as a party and as in
dividual men.
ut may be urged that the Demo-
cratic party has changed its policy in
respect to The coinage ratio. I deny
it. The platform utterance is merely
declamatory; inserted TO catch the
Populist vote. The responsible men of
the Democratic party have not been
and are not now tenacious about the
ratio It's candidate for the presidency
and his associate on the ticket would,
as I verify believe, consent to any
compromise that would secure the un-
limited coinage of silver. No benefit
would accrue to anybody but the
money changers and spectators from
increasing the coinage ratio, and Pop
ulists see no reason why money that is
good enough for the common people is
not equally good for uncommon PEG
pie.
There is nothing in the Democratic
platform or in7that party's policy which
is in any way responsible to the press
ing demand of the working glasses.
THE coinage of silver and an income
tax are the only matters about which
the Democratic and Populist parties are
even approximately in accord. AS to
all matters which Populists regard as
Fundamental and as of surprising i'm
portance, we are not only in accord,
but are positively opposed to each
other
THE TICKET.
The following state ticket was placed
in the field
Governor-Charles A. Lloyd, Musca-
tine county.
Lieutenant Governor-D. L. Perkins,
LYONS.
Judge of the Supreme Court A
Lonbure, Wapello.
superintendent of Instruction.-W. A.
Blaine, Marion.
Railroad commissioner. H. Crit
fifth, Lee.
The following members of the ma
tional committee were appointed A. w
c.. Weeks, Madison county; l.. |. Reed.
Muscatine, and J. s. Bebee, Lee.
A protest signed by j. Belange. chair
man of the Populists who have COM
bined with the Democrats for free sill
yer, was sent to the convention today,
but was denied consideration. The pro-
test called upon all Populists to join
with the free silver Democrats in an
effort to advance one of the theories of
the Pooulists.
The platform adopted reafirms the
ST. Louis and Omaha Platforms de-
clares for direct legislation for a "suffi-
cient amount of sound and flexible cur
rency," for the issuance of money to
state, county township and municipal
governments, the principal to be paid
back to the government at per cent
per annum, without interest, the said
money to be full legal tenor.
The Temple amendment is endorsed,
a reduction of freight, passenger and
express rates, and of salaries of pub
lie officers is demanded, and the de-
duction of mortgage indebtedness from
assessed valuations is demanded.