The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-09-03

The Des Moines Leader speaking Of
the convention very sagely remarks:
There was no compromise in the diff
ferent propositions submitted to yester-
days convention. Both sides seemed
instinctively to recognize that there
was no possible middle ground Silver
was to be voted up or voted down. The
record stands that it was voted up and
the democratic party of Iowa has again
declared itself to be free silver or
entitled to the opposition that such an
attitude warrants. Mr.. Murphy and
Mr.. Walsh and the other silver leaders
had their way and were able to hold In
their hands the organization which
many former and many present demo-
Gratis believe they have practically
wrecked.
| Some Of the democratic leaders came
up to Des Moines with the idea of talk
ing candidates and state issues to the
exclusion of national matters. 1t was
hoped that there would be no active
hostility to mild reaff1rmation of the
Kansas City platform, and that then
emphasis could be laid on other mat
tiers and thus party harmony preserved
and perhaps some votes gained. But
although the leaders proposed, the rank
and file Of the delegates disposed. It
was not possible to keep the silver
question in the background. To many
a most disagreeabIe apparition, It
thrust itself forward. In lobby and
caucus room discussion of it proceeded.
Everything else was engulfed The
carefully planned state issue campaign
was forgotten. The makeup of the
ticket was hardly mentioned. For
/ twenty-four hours the informal debate
went on, and it became more and more
manifest that an irresponsible conflict
was on which must meet in decisive
roll call. Such compromisers as Mr..
Sells appealed in vain for common
devise something which would discreet
ly dodge the main issue. There was
not squarer division line between sill
yer and anti-silver in the national
democratic convention of 1896.
The anti-silver men were beaten, al
though they succeeded in capturing the
committee on resolutions and brought
ir majority report whose language
J betrayed no knowledge that such a
document as the Kansas City platform
had ever existed. The Second district
and other portions of the state stood
up and made most gallant fight, but
; they were overborne. The influence
of General Weaver was greater in the
convention than that of old time demo-
Gratis who had come to the convention
; ir the hope that they could do some
: thing toward lifting the party out OF
the slough of despond. The victory was
with the populistic and free silver re-
publican elements which have largely
: controlled the democratic organiza lion
since 1885,
The result of the platform contest of
course means that the political lineup
, of Iowa will be substantially what 1t
has been during recent years years In
which the republican majority has
gone up from practically nothing to a
majority that nearly reaches the 100,-
900 mark. The democrats and inde-
pendents, who have looked to the
democratic party to abandon policy
S which experience and reason alike con-
i dennis, have practically no recourse
e left but to vote as they have voted.
9 Manifestly 1t requires the discipline OF
= additional defeats to teach the demo-
cratic party the lesson which 1t has
been so slow in learning.