The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-05
FOR 16 TO /.
Platform Committee Endorses by
Vote of % to "a

Kansas City, July 5-The resolutions
committee has decided on an explicit
declaration Tor free silver coinage at
Is to l. The vote stood 26 to "A. and
was taken at $3.50 O'Clock this morning.
The vote stood as follows on reso-
. luton to substitute a Is to declaration
for a simple reaffirnat ton of the Chi
cago platform.
Ayes-Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado
Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Ken
lucky, Maine. Massachusetts,, Missouri.
North Dakota. Oregon. South Carolina,
Tennessee, Vermont, Washington.
Wyoming. Arizona, Oklahoma, Indian
Territory. New Mexico, Hawaii-26.
Noes-California, Connecticut, Flor
ida, Georgia, Illinois. Indiana, Louis
lana, Maryland, Michigan. Minnesota
Mississippi. New Jersey, New York.
North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas,
Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wiscon-
sin, Alaska-24
The plank agreed upon is as follows:
We reiterate the demand Of the
platform of 1896 for all American fnan-
ciaI system made by the American peo-
pie for themselves which shall restore
and maintain a bimetallic price level;
and as part or such system the iTnIne-
date restoration of the free and unlirn-
tied coinage of silver and gold at the
present legal ratio of 16 to 1 without
waiting for the aid or consent of any
other nation"
A subcommittee consisting of Jones.
Blackburn, MetcaIfe, Girard, Van
Wyck, Stone, Williams, McGettrick,
and Tillman was appointed to draft a
platform.
The committee was called together
soon after the first adjournment Of the
convention, but then only elected its
$50 D. m. Senator Jones of Arkansas
was unanimously chosen chairman, and
Mr.. Metcalfe of Nebraska secretary.
When the committee reassembled Mr.
ATnf Tod frnf Of at
form, covering all questions Of public
interest, which draft all the members
accepted as Mr.. Bryans expression
upon this question. Mr. Girard, of
did Mr.. Van Wyck, of New York All
these documents took principally the
same ground upon all questions except
that of the finances. Mr. MetcaITS dec
laratfon was for the reafirmatiOn of the
Chicago platform in letter and spirit
and it emphasized and reiterated spe-
officially the declaration for the free
coinage of silver at the ratio OF 10 to /
Both the other drafts simply reaffrmed
the Chicago platform without reference
to the ratio.
When the committee re-assembled at
$50 o'clock. Chairman Jones was of the
opinion that the fight over the platform
would be carried into the convention as
two reports would be presented
The first speaker was G. Irving Handy
of Delaware, who took a position in
favor of the reiteratIon Of the platform
instead of re-afhrmation- IF you re-
affirm the platform, said Mr.. Handy,
you will have to include in it the at
tack on the supreme court, and the
Chicago riots which caused that declara-
ton a thing of the past If you re-
affirm the platform you still declare for
silver. You cannot silence that great
voice of Nebraska In tones to be heard
from ocean to ocean, will the man you
are going to nominate, declare that the
Democratic party is for free and IN
limited coinage OF silver at the ratio or
Is to l without the consent OF any other
nation on earth Instead of taking sill
yer out of the platform you will serve
to emphasize interest in it, In his let
ter of acceptance Mr.. Bryan will in
terpret the platform Do you think
he will make the silver issue subordinate
to others of the Chicago platform which
you propose to reaffirm? No, never,
and all over this land will he proclaim
that silver is still the dominant issue"
Great interest was manifested in the
speech OF Carter Harrison of Chicago.
He went over the arguments that have
been made since the convention began.
and declared that the proper action of
this convention was to re-afirm the
Chicago platform
REPRESENTATIVE Ball of Texas said he
came from a state which gave Bryan
2O4 900 majority on the Chicago plat
form in 1896 and was ready to repeat
the operation this year.
What is the use" he asked, ''of max
ing an issue for the purpose of getting
whipped If the states of the middle
west and those of the east thought they
could give the Democratic party cleo
toral votes on the Chicago platform re-
affirmed, why not give it to them? Sill
yer was not an issue in this campaign
he continued Every man here knows
that there can be no silver legislation
during the next presidential term be-
cause the complexion of the senate can
not be changed in that time. We must
secure 500 600 votes to win We must
get those votes on the issues of trusts,
imperialism and mflitarism. Why
should we require the men of the east
and middle west to accept reiteration?
Why do you insist upon a specific decla-
ration for free silver at 16 to II Why
do you want to cram ii down their
throats in order TO be vindicated?'