Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-04
Iowa Democratic Convention
Hall Rang With Impas-
stoned Harangues.
FIERCE WAR WAS WAGED
Gold Men Defeat Kansas City Plat
form by 40 Votes.
NAME CANDIDATES BY ACCLAMATION

peal for Reaffirmation-Ex-Gov
Boies of Waterloo Heads Forces for
Reputation and Wins Fight.
Des Moines, Sept 4.-(Special.) -
The expected came to pass. There
was a fight on the floor of the demo-
cratic state convention but the "repu-
diators" won out and not only refused
endorsement of the silver plank in the
Kansas City platform but the plat
form itself. The margin was by forty
votes, close enough to show that the
free silver sentiment in the conVen-
ton and among the democrats in Iowa
is not dead yet lmpassioned speech
es were made both for and against re-
affirmation, enough to have split the
democratic party in twain worse than
it was previously, if the voters at
large could have heard them.
But now it is all over. After the
fight the men who battled for reaftirm-
alton, that is some of them, made
speeches declaring that they are as
good democrats as they ever were.
1t is freely prophesied that the ac-
llOn Ol Tie COHNSuliOu uledHS lue po-
litical death of Charles A. Walsh, of
Ottumwa 1t is just as freely said
that the ghost of free silver is yet a
long way from being laid away and
will yet arise to haunt the party.
Everybody told me yesterday fore
noon that reaffirmation was beaten
and cited the fact that it had lost in
the committee on resolutions. | refus
ed to believe it and the result shows
that my judgment was wrong Just for
ty votes. Enough to make it wrong,
of course, yet the margin gives a pro-
phet some satisfaction.
The fight on the floor when the mi
nority resolution was brought in was
about as hot as anything ever gets.
Such wheelhorses as Ex-Governor
Boies, Judge Van Wagenan. of Sioux
City, and others, led the charge. They
said it was not reputation to main
tain silence on the silver plank in the
Kansas City platform. They alleged
that it was good business Judgment
and that the party could again take it
up when conditions were ripe. The
other fellows swoTe that it was repu-
diation and said if it was left out of
the platform 100000 democratic voters
We're read out of the party. Amid in
tense excitement the poll of counties
was taken and when the result was
announced there was mighty demon.
straticn. The other fellows
who lost felt that they had
put up a good fight and
the men who won We're jubilant at the
thought that they had laid the spectre
which has haunted the party since the
rise of Mr.. Bryan. They reason that
If they can keep the money question
out of politics until the next national
convenuon that Iowa democrats will
have forgotten all about it.
Will they?
1t is up to the men who cast the bal
lots.
The Convention.
At the outset it should be stated
that all the candidates for state Off
GERS We're named by acclamation. The
only contest in the meeting was over
the adoption of the silver plank in the
Kansas City platform but this bump
in the political road was not crossed
until after more than twenty-four
hours effort including caucuses, polit-
ical wire pulling and debate, both in
the committee chamber and on the
floor of the convention.
Called to Order.
At IL o'clock the convention was
called to order. Hon. S. F. McCon-
nell, of Bloomfield, was introduced as
temporary chairman. 1t was not his
fault that his address was not more
frequently punctured with applause.
The reason was plain. When near the
end he mentioned the name of Bry-
an and the delegates went wild. If it
had been in terms more enthusiastic
there would have been much more do
ing. But the mere mention of the
name sufficed to bring forth most
enthusiastic demonstration.
Nineteen Counties Not Represented.
Between $50 and 400 delegates were
on the floor. 1t should be said in rass-
ing that nineteen counties We're not
represented when vote was taken on
the reaffirmation of the silver plank.
They are Adams, Cherokee, Clay,
Dickinson, Floyd, Hancock Humboldt,
Louisa, Plymouth, Mitchell, Osceola,
Warren Wayne, Webster, Winnebago,
Winneshiek and Worth.
Adjournment.
The divine blessing was asked by
Rev. Frank w. Evans. of Des Moines.
prior to the address of the Temporary
chairman, after both of which the Gus.
tomary announcements were made
and the convention adjourned until af-
ter dinner when the fireworks were
expected to commence. And thy did
but they We're some hours in coming.
Fight in Committee.
Meanwhile the committee on resolu-
tions was closeted III one of the par
TORS of the Savery hotel. Knots of
men In sympathy with each other
sought secluded corners to talk over