The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-09-12
.0'FERRALL's ANSWER
what He Has 10 Say In Reply TO the
Letter Of Senator Daniel.
ATTACKS The SENATOR'S STATEMENTS
The Chicago Platform and who
Helped In Framing It-Speciaies
Eight Charges OF Inconsistency
snys independents FREQ Coinage OF
Silver Is Doomed.
10, the Editor of the Leader:


Sir-Little did I imagine that NV In
terview in the Washngton-Post, Of the
ISL instant, would elicit such q reRly
from Senator John w. Daniel, as that
which appeared In your paper on Sat
urday last, and in other papers Oh the
following day.
The Senator assures his Lynchburg
organ that he only replies because of
my "unfounded and unprovoked criti-
clsm OF him; yet he fills nearly three
columns with a defense of the Chicago
platform, as we'll as in reply to my
criticism
Does not the Senator know that he
was criticised from July to November
last year for voting in the Senate to
praise Mr.. Cleveland, and then voting
10 condemn him in the convention? Was
ne asleep all last campaign? oh, no;
ne was very Wide awake. Was he deaf?
On no; his ears caught every sound.
Ihen did he not hear and read this
criticism times without number? He
VIII not tax the credulity Of the people
by denying that the criticism reached
his ear from every direction. Why did
he hear 1t with such serenity then and
allow 1t to arouse his temper to SO high
q pitch now? Really the charge was so
stale that ! hesitated to mention 1t in
my interview. 1t seemed to be raking
over old Goals. The public had heard
no denial, and "the bill had been taken
for confessed"
The Senator preferred silence, though
ne abhors all things golden" to speech
though he idolizes everything "silvern."
Pardon this attempt to be little
1acetious, for, like the Senator, 1 am
always failure when I seek to be hu-
morous
NOT ON PLATFORM COMMITTEE.
The Senator says that he was not a
member OF the Committee on Resolu-
lions at the Chicago convention as I
stated In my interview. He says that
he was appointed on 1t, but when he
was selected as temporary chairman
or the convention. another gentleman
became the Virginia member. OF course
! accept his statement. But I ask the
Senator II, this Is not the fact: That
when he retired from the committee 1t
was understood that whenever 1t was
desired he would take the place of the
gentleman appointed In his stead; and
that at the request of this gentleman
at q certain and important stage of the
committees deliberations. he, Senator
Daniel, took the place of the Virginia
member (Mr. GLASS; on the committee,
and participated in the drafting, franz
Ing or preparation of the platform in
whole or In part?
The Chicago correspondent Of the
Richmond Times In attendance on the
convention, on July 10th. wired his paper
as follows:
The Committee on Resolutions had
another meeting this morning for the
purpose Of putting the finishing touches
upon their remarkable document. The
proposition to empower the Government
to further issue Of greenbacks was a
trifle more than Carter Glass could
stand and he protested against it,
THEN CAME THE ENDORSEMENT
OF AJTGEJDTSND IN CENSURING
THE PRESIDENT FOR SENDING
TROOPS TO QUELL THE CHICAGO
MIR. GLASS AND HE RETIRED
FROM THE COMMITTED AND RE
QUDSTED SENATOR DANIEL TO
ACT IN HIS STEAD. THIS WAS
DONE. BUT THE TWO PLANKS
WEIRD REPORTED IN THIS PLAT
FORM"
I ask Senator Daniel if this state
1nent was correct? II so appeal to
discriminating public to say whether
the Senator was not disingenuous and
lacking In frnnkness when he declared
he was not member Of the Committee
on Resolutions.
THE CONDEMNATION OF cLEvE-
LAND.
The Senator denies that Mr.. Cleye-
lands course in sending troops to Chi
oago to suppress the mob In 1894, was
condemned In any plank in the plat
form. and asserts that he never heard
from any ccle at the convention, and
never surmised that any one supposed
Mr.. Cleveland to be aimed at In this
clause, meaning the plank referring to
Federal interference in local affairs.
But 1t Is strange indeed that Senator
Daniel should have allowed the charge
TO go unrefuted from July to November
last fall, If he believed then as he de-
clares now. From one side of this
country to the other, and In this State
from Norfolk to Bristol and from the
Potomac to the Dan during the last
Presidential campaign. the plank in re-
ference to arbitrary Federal interfer-
ence In local affairs was construed. as q
condemnation of Mr. Clevcland's course
In the Chicago strike troubles. Eyery-
body 80 understood 1t. The indianapolis
platform denounced It nm an attack on
the authority Of the President to on
force Federal laws; 1t was the subject
Of discussion IN every political gather
Ing; 1t was interpreted by the Bryan
campaign speakers and denounced by
the opposition speakers.
THE ATTACK ON THE SUPREME
COURT.
Like the preceding, the charge that an
attack had been made by the Chicago
platform on the Supreme Court of the
United States and the independence OF
the judiciary, was declared from the
stump everywhere during the entire
campaign.
No paper In Virginia, and no speaker
refuted It, so far as I ever heard.
The court was criticised without
mercy, and Senator Daniel. in his letter
justifles the criticism. He insists that
Judges should not be exempt from criti-
oism any more than other men. I cannot
agree with the Senator in his broad as