Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1895 — BABB FOR GOVERNOR. [ARTICLE]

BABB FOR GOVERNOR.

lOWA DEMOCRATS CHOOSE THEIR CANDIDATE State Convention at Marshalltown Reaffirms the National Democratic Platform of 1892- Lively Conteat Over Silver. The Ticket. Governor Walter I. Babb Lieutenant GovernorS. L. Bestow Supt of InstructionL. B. Parshall Railroad CommissionerG. Jenkins Judge Supreme CourtT. G. Harper The lowa Democratic State convention was called to order by Chairman Howard at 10:30 o’clock Wednesday morning in Marshalltown. The convention was held at the Odeon Theater, and the handsome auditorium had been prettily decorated with bunting. The delegates left little room for spectators. Prayer was offered by Rev. Father Leniman. F. G. Pierce, the youthful Mayor of Marshalltown, made a brief speech of welcome and put the convention in good humor by saying he extended the freedom of the city, especially to the Scott County delegation. Temporary Chairman French, who was received with applause, attributed the special invitation of the Mayor to the known modesty of the Davenport delegates, and then launched upon his speech. He dwelt fully upon the prohibition question and scored the mulct law unmercifully. He then took up the several vital State issues in detail, together with national questions, strongly approving President Cleveland’s course during the panic. Mr. French thought silver monometallism would cut wages worse than during the war and demonstrated how free coinage would decrease the value of the workingman’s earnings in savings banks fully 50 per cent. The volume of money, he declared, was sufficient for business demands. Low prices, including the decline in wheat, were next considered, and Mr. French closed with the hope that neither the gold nor silver monometalism would drive the other coin from circulation. The convention reaffirmed the financial plank of the Democratic national convention of 1892. The silver men made a strong fight, but they were beaten. They had been claiming from 700 to 800 of the 1,179 delegates, but when it came to the test they were able to muster few more than half the number claimed. They fought for the permanent chairman and were beaten by a vote of 660 to 417. They fought for a silver plauk in the platform and went down under an adverse vote of 652 to 420. Ex-Judge Walter I. Babb, of Mount Pleasant, was nominated for without opposition. Mr. Babb is a bimetallist and indicated his position in a short speech before the convention. There was no candiate for Lieutenant Governor. Mayor Vollmer was too young and Joseph Eiboeck, of Des Moines, would not permit the use of his name. W. A. Groneweg, of Council Bluffs, ex-State Senator, had been mentioned, but without consultation with him, as he was not present. It had been designed by the old party leaders to name a representaive German for the place, but when the silver men, smarting under their defeat, sprung the name of ex-Lieut. Gov. S. L. Bestow, of Chariton, the opposition saw a good opportunity to soften the asperities of the fight and heartily joined in nominating the man who had been beaten a few minutes before for permanent chairman of the convention.

Thomas G. Harper, of Burlington, was named for judge of the Supreme Court in a contest with E. E. Hasner, an old lawyer of Independence, but Lyman B. Parshall, of Maquoketa, for superintendent of public instruction, and George Jenkins, of Dubuque, were nominated without opposition. It was a large and enthusiastic convention, with a bitter fight on the silver question, but the result was accepted with a show of grace. The Platform. The Democratic party of lowa, In convention assembled, reaffirms the national platform of the party adopted In Chicago In 1892. points with satisfaction to evidences of the wisdom of that convention, In results accomplished according to promises, to evidences of returning prosperity, restoration of wages and the re-establlshment of Industry upon a prosperous basis—conditions which have extorted congratulations from even the Republicans of lowa. We declare the rescue of the finances of the country from the baleful effects of the Sherman law the repeal of the un-American Federal election law, and the uprooting of McKlnleylsm works worthy of the history and the prestige of the great Democratic party, and of a courageous Democratic administration. We reaffirm the following portion of the seventh plank of the last national Democratic convention: “We hold to the use of both gold and silver as the standard money of the country, and to coin both gold and sliver without discrimination against either metal or charge for mintage; but the dollar unit of coinage of both metals must be of equal Intrinsic and exchangeable value, or be adjusted by International agreement or by such safeguards of legislation as shall Insure the maintenance of the parity of the two metals and the equal power of every dollar at all times, and we demand that paper currency shall be kept at par with and redeemable In such coin.” We Insist upon this policy as especially necessary for protection of farmers and laboring classes, the first and most defenseless victims of unstable money and fluctuating currency. We condemn the cowardice and trickery of the Republican party of lowa In falling to meet In Its last State platform any of the Issues Important and vital to the Interests of our State. We believe the mulct law falls to meet the requirements of a good excise statute. It Is unfair as between communities and Imposes hardship upon property owners, and compromises the honor of the State In declaring the sale of liquor a crime and condoning the offense for a money consideration. We repeat our demand of the last five years for a local option, high license law, and, on behalf of the commercial Interests of the State, we favor a law permitting the manufacture of liquor. We favor the election of United States Senators by direct vote of the people. We favor just and liberal pensions to all deserving veterans, reiterate our unflinching opposition to all monopolies and trusts ana call for enactments which will abolish combines of all kinds. We demand that State institutions be governed by a single nonpartisan board of control, which can intelligently comprehend their relative wants and economically and justly apportion among the whole that which their just requirements demand. We favor the speedy completion of the Hennepin canal and the deepening of the waterways from the great lakes to the ocean, to enable ocean vessels to pass through.