The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-21
ALL ADRIFT.
Withdrawal of Cato Sells From
the Race in Iowa
Has Left the Democratic State
Convention at Sea.
HALF A DOZEN MEN
Are Willing and Even Anxious
to Head the Ticket.
None Has Appeared Who Seems
to Be Satisfactory.
A Fight Develops on the Ques-
tiOn of Silver.

Les MOlneSs IA, aug. Zl-W 4en morn
ing came to the 500 delegates in attend
ance upon the Democratic state con-
vention which opened here this fore
noon the name of the man to head the
ticket was just as much mystery as
ever. The absolute withdrawal Of Cato
Sells from the field left a half dozen
men of local strength in the race, none
of whom seemed to be particularly sat
isfactory to the leaders.
Conferences were held before the dis
trict caucuses convened with a view of
securing If possible some unanimity of
action, but SO far they have been with
out result Another conference is called
for at noon which may produce some
thing. Delegations called upon Cato
Sells this morning at his hotel request
ing that he reconsider his refusal to
accept the nomination but to each Mr..
Sells declared that he would not do so.
Mayor Phillips of Ottumwa. who is an
ayowed candidate for the nomination
for governor is most prominently men
toned of those in the field, but the i'm
preston prevails that the caucus of the
leaders win pick a new man who has
not yet been named.
To all appearances the question of re-
affirming the Kansas City platform in
the resolutions will probably be fought
out on the floor of the convention. The
any conclusion this morning after an
oher conference and Cato Sells an
nounced that he would take the floor
for a general reah1rmatiOn maintaining
that the paramount issue in Iowa was
railroad taxation and that silver was
not involved in the campaign Both
sides will be heard before the commit
tee on resolutions. The silver men, led
by J. S. Murphy. demand that the con-
vention in specific terms approve the
silver plank of the Kansas City plat
the resolution of reahirmation should
read as follows:
Resolved, That we endorse the time
honored principles Of the Democratic
party and that no other mention be
made of previous platforms.
Immediately after the adjournment Of
the district caucuses the delegates be-
gan to assemble In the auditorium.
State Chairman Huffman raped the
convention to order and was followed
by the Rev. J. N. McNash, pastor of the
University Place church with the invo- !
cation. The temporary officers of the
convention were then presented They
consisted Of Chairman e. NJ. Sharon of
Scott county; secretary, H. A. Nash Of
Dallas county; reading clerk, J. H. Gill
1espie of Des Noines county Chairman
Sharon then began his address to the
convention which was in part as fol-
lows:
SHARON'S ADDRESS
THE Democratic party must not be a
sition. It can not be a party Of calam-
ity which draws vitality and success
from industrial or financial depression.
1T will merit success because it
grapples the problems of the present
and brings to their solution wise states
manship. the wisdom that comes from
Democratic principles, because it is
guided by the compass of the consti- |
tuition ever pointing to the great de- |
claratiOn of human rights which the |
fathers proclaimed at the beginning
and fixed in the armament of our nat
ural life. From that guide and that OBJ
ject We get our cardinal principles of
equality of all men-natural and cor
porate, to enjoy the rights and bear the !
burdens of government
while it remedies the wrongs of
special legislation for favored classes, /
it will labor for the upbuilding of right |
industrial and commercial progress. for |
real expansion from within that will i
make our country the great political I
and commercial power of the world /
while all of our people viii share in its |
ings of free government and the nOblest |
citizenship
We are facing today conditions that I
are momentous, destructive to our in
dustries, our commerce, and the vel /
fare of our peOple-conditiOns that have /
been created by the Republican party !
in violation Of the Democratic doctrine /
of equal rights to all and special privi-
leges to nOne-that it was the destiny !
of the United States to be the great /
American power, the dominant power /
of the western hemisphere.
imperialism and trusts are the two /
great dominant evils of our national |
life. They produce the two great is
sues which the Democrat party must
meet
.'The colonial policy Of the admins
tration had its inspiration and its de- /
mand from place hunters. concession |
grabbers. from those who have or seek I
special privileges in our acquired Dos
sessions. If the administration had said |
to thos who sought concessions in !
Havana and Manila. that its policy /
was equal rights to all and special 1
privileges to none, we would have had 1
no war in the Philippines and our /
army of occupation would long ago /
have left Cuba. There can be no solu- 1
tic.a of the trust problem there can be /
no brea king down of monopoly until 1
government favor is withdrawn from /
them Commerce in the patent Office. |
the fountain head of legalized mo- /
nopoly. if the government at Washing !
ton would demand that the stock of I
every corporation licensed by it repre-
sents money or property at its actual L
yvorth-if it viii care that it gets no I
undue advantage from transportation I
eompanies-that it used no unfair
means to destroy legitimate competi-
tion-that it sells its products for fair
price-that it treats its employees hon
estly and pays fair wages for q fair
days Work-f it viii oblige it to pay
an income. tax upon its possible earn