The Record Union

ME-TOO CONVENTION MEETS.

FORTY FORMER REPUBLICANS FLOCK TOGETHER.

Meekly They Gather Up the Crumbs Left From the Democratic Feast.

The Silver Republican County Convention was held at Pythian Hall, at Ninth and I streets, yesterday afternoon, about forty delegates being present. The only real business of the convention was to indorse the county ticket recently nominated by the Democrats and Populists. If the little gathering did not make much noise, it made all the flourish and parade of a real party, including a platform of unusual dimensions.

At 2:30 o'clock the convention was called to order by Dr. H. E. Wright, who stated its object and announced that it was the first Silver Republican Convention ever held in Sacramento.

The election of temporary Chairman being in order. Dr. G. M. Dixon placed in nomination M. M. Drew, who. he said. had voted with the Republican party from Fremont down the line. but who could not fall down and worship at the shrine of the golden standard.

B. N. Bugbee seconded the nomination of Mr. Drew.

On motion of W. F. Purnell. nominations were closed, and Mr. Drew was chosen by a unanimous rising vote.

On taking the chair Mr. Drew thanked the convention for the honor conferred. He said he had been a Republican always, and would be with the party yet if it had stayed where it was placed by Lincoln and Grant. He believed in both gold and silver for money, and in the free coinage of both metals. He was glad to see persons present who had the courage of their convictions.

W. W. Coons. George Lighthart and J. M. McClellan were elected Secretaries pro tem.

As seventy-five proxies were held by the delegates present. the appointment of a Committee on Credentials was dispensed with. and the list as appointed was made the accredited list of the convention.

While Chairman Drew was arranging his Committees on Permanent Organization, Order of Business and Platform and Resolutions. W. W. Coons. who attended the Silver Republican State Convention held at Los Angeles, was called to the platform. and recounted some of the incidents that occurred at that gathering. He took up the subject of the free and unlimited coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1. and said it had been asserted that the financial question was dead. but he prophesied that if it was dead it would prove to be a live corpse before the campaign ended.

It is said. Mr. Coons continued, that the Silver Republicans were cranks who had been kicked out of the party. but he asserted that the kick had landed them back on the platform upon which Lincoln stood.

Chairman Drew announced his committees as follows:

Permanent Organization and Order of Business-W. F. Purnell, P. D. Green, E. M. Leitch. A. T. Ames and J. B. McCov.

Platform and Resolutions-Dr. H. E. Wright. W. W. Coons. E. J. Croly. G. Cox and B. N. Bugbee.

The Committee on Permanent Organization and Order of Business reported recommending:

First-That the temporary officers be made the permanent officers of the convention.

Second-Collection of 50 cents from each delegate, to cover expenses.

Third-Nomination of candidate for District Attorney.

Fourth-Indorsement of nominees of the Democratic and Populist parties.

Fifth-Election of a County Central Committee

Sixth-Election of a Finance Committee.

The report was adopted.

The Committee on Platform and Resolutions reported. submitting the following platform. which was unanimously adopted:

THE PLATFORM.

We. the Republicans of the county of Sacramento, believing the financial question to be the great and paramount issue before the American people at the present time, in this our first County Convention. assembled at the city of Sacramento, this 3d day of September. 1898. most heartily indorse the principles embodied in the platform adopted by the State Convention of "Silver Republicans." at the city of Los Angeles. Cal., on the 21th day of August. 1898.

We are in full accord with their declaration of fealty to the principles of true Republicanism. as declared and promulgated by the immortal Abraham Lincoln and James G. Blaine.

It is with feelings of pride. and the most profound admiration, that we turn for inspiration to the prophetic words of our loved Lincoln, who declared "When a nation contracts a debt with a given amount of money in circulation. and then contracts the circulating medium before that debt is paid, it is the most heinous crime a government can commit against its people."

We reiterate the words of that greatest American statesman, James G. Blaine, who, in advocating the remonetization of silver. declared: "The responsibility of re-establishing silver in its ancient and honorable place, as money in Europe and America, devolves really upon the Congress of the United States. If we act here with wisdom and firmness, we shall not only successfully remonetize silver, and bring it into general use as money in our own country. but the influence of our example will be potential among European nations.

I do not think that this country- holding so vast a proportion of the world's supply of silver in its mountains and its mines-can afford to reduce the metal to the situation of mere merchandise. If silver ceases to be used as money the mines of the Pacific Slope will be closed and dead. A source of incalculable wealth to this entire country is destroyed the moment silver is disused as money. It is for us to check that tendency, and bring the continent of Europe back to the full recognition of the value of the metal as a medium of exchange

"We want both gold and silver, in full value, in equal honor, in whatever abundance the bountiful earth will yield them to the searching eye of science and to the hard hand of labor."

We are in favor of a tariff law so framed and adjusted as to protect the farmer and producer generally, and the day laborer as well as the importer, the wholesaler and the manufacturer.

We favor the early construction of the Nicaragua Canal. also cable lines to our recently acquired island possessions; said canal and cable lines to be owned and controlled by the Government of the United States. We are in favor of strengthening our navy and improving our coast defenses.

We believe it to be the duty of the General Government to inaugurate a system of storage reservoirs and canals for the purpose of husbanding the unlimited supply of water now going to waste, and conducting it upon the arid lands of our vast domain, thus making it possible for millions of our fellow- Americans to build happy and prosperous homes.

We favor public improvements by the Government, thereby giving honest employment to all classes of American laborers.

We believe that all charters and franchises granted to corporations by the State or General Government should contain a clause that would prevent such corporations from importing and employing foreign contract or coolie labor

We favor the rigid enforcement of the laws restricting a day's labor on public works to eight hours.

We favor liberal pensions for all disabled and deserving soldiers and sailors

We favor the election of United States Senator by direct vote of the people.

We are heartily in favor of the State continuing the publishing. of her own school books at the State Printing Office, thereby saving thousands of dollars to the patrons of our schools, relieving them from the oppression of the "book rings." and giving employment to home labor

We feel an honest pride in our brave soldiers and sailors who have so bravely defended their country's honor. and by their heroic achievements on land and sea have taught all nations of the earth to respect and honor the Stars and Stripes.

We tender our heartfelt sympathies to the families and friends of those who so nobly sacrificed their lives in their country's cause.

We most heartily commend President William McKinley for the spirit of true Americanism displayed by him in rising above party in the prosecution of the war with Spain. thus putting to shame those demagogues who would arrogate to their own political party or faction the laurels that should rest on those who have earned them. without regard to creed or political affiliations.

Recognizing as we do. that the remonetization of silver is the most important of all questions agitating the minds of the American people to-day. and that the one great and paramount issue to be presented in 1900 will be monometallism, or the "single gold standard," representing the allied corporations and money powers of the world on one side, and bimetallism and the remonetization of silver. representing the producing and laboring classes on the other, we align ourselves squarely on the side of bimetallism and the remonetization of silver. In so doing we claim to be true Republicans. who adhere to the principles and traditions of the grand old Republican party upon this most important question.

We most cordially invite all who agree with us on this great question to join with us in our efforts to free the masses of struggling producers and laborers from the oppression of the allied money powers of the world.

We plant our banner firmly on that plank of the platform adopted by the California State Republican Conventions of 1894 and 1896. which in clear and unmistakable language says: "We favor the free and unlimited coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1, and the making of silver as well as gold a legal tender in payment of all debts. both public and private."

OTHER BUSINESS.

The nomination of a candidate for District Attorney being in order, W. F. Purnell named C. W. Baker. who two weeks ago received the nomination of the Populists, acting in accordance with the wishes of the Silver Republicans, represented by a committee appointed from the ranks of the last named body.

Mr. Baker was nominated by acclamation. He expressed his thanks and political convictions at considerable length. He indorsed the platform as adopted. and urged that the question of finance be made the important issue of the campaign.

A vote of thanks was extended to Mrs. T. L. Acock for contributing to the convention four typewritten copies of the platform.

With respect to the indorsement of the candidates nominated by the Democratic and Populist parties at their respective County Conventions, Dr. G. M. Dixon offered the following resolution, which was adopted:

"Resolved by the Silver Republican Convention of Sacramento County, assembled on this 3d day of September 1898. That we hereby indorse the nominations of the Democratic and Populist parties for the following offices of this county, in conformity with the fusion agreement entered into by the Democratic. Populist and Silver Republican parties."

Sheriff-James M. Morrison

County Clerk-Henry N. Baumann.

Treasurer-Erskine Greer.

Coroner-William F. Gormley

Public Administrator-M. Fay

Surveyor-A. G. Winn.

Assemblyman Twentieth District- John J. Dwyer.

Assemblyman Twenty-first District- Captain W. T. Forsman,

Assemblyman Twenty-second District -Morris Brooke

Supervisor First District-Daniel McKay.

Supervisor Fifth District-Bruce F. Knott.

Township Justice-W. A. Henry

Erskine Greer. the nominee for Treasurer, was called to the platform. He said he wanted plenty of silver and let the gold men have the gold. He thanked the convention for its indorsement of his nomination, and said he believed he would be elected.

On motion of Dr. G. M. Dixon, the Chairman of the convention was instructed to select a County Central Committee, to consist of five members from each Supervisor District.

M. M. Drew was unanimously elected County Committeeman at large, to act as Chairman of the County Central Committee.

H. N. Baumann. candidate for Assessor, and W. F. Gormley, candidate for Coroner. came before the convention and returned thanks for their indorsement.

As a Finance Committee the Chairman appointed Dr. G. M. Dixon (Chairman). P. D. Green, O. P. Dodge. David Jenkins and A. T. Ames.

Chairman Drew named the following County Central Committee:

First Supervisor District-Dr. H. E. Wright, W. H. Cass, Cal E. Crocker, T. J. Waldron, E. J. Rother.

Second Supervisor District-W. W Coons. A. Caselli. E. M. Leitch. John Donnelly. F. B. Brown.

Third Supervisor District-B. N. Bugbee. J. B. McCy. George H. W. Lighthart, J. E. Croly and W. F. Purnell.

Fourth Supervisor District-G. Cox, Florin: Ed. Lynch. Walsh's Station; James F. Gladbury, Antelope: George E. Mails, J street road; Henry Merwin, Sutterville.

Fifth Supervisor District-J. M. McClaughan, Galt: Peter B. Green. Courtland; Dave Jenkins, Conley Station; James Sims, Union House, and A. J. Lougenecker. Elk Grove.

The convention adjourned. after which three cheers were given for the ticket from Maguire down the line.