People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 August 1895 — FREE SILVER CONFERENCE. [ARTICLE]

FREE SILVER CONFERENCE.

First Day's Session of White Metal Democrats Does Little, Washington, Aug. 15. —One hundred men, representing nineteen states, composed the conference of free silver democrats here yesterday. There are no New England states represented, nor is there anyone from New York. Pennsylvania, lowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota. Nebraska, or Kansas. Missouri, however, is well represented and there are thirteen delegates from Illinois. At the afternoon session the committee on program and platform reported through Senator Daniel that it was unable to report, whereupon the conference decided to adjourn until today at 10 a. m.

It is generally understood that the report when made will recommend the issuance of an address to the democratic party of the country urging in very strong terms the maintenance of the silver cause in the democratic ranks, and also outline a plan for the organization of the silver forces in the party with a view to the selection of delegates to the next national convention. This plan will probably embrace the appointment of a central committee with a member from each state and territory, who shall in turn select a member from every county, the latter to have the power to appoint a member from every voting precinct in his county. The plan includes a provision for a national headquarters, probably at Washington. The report will recommend the appointment of a committee to consist of Senators Harris, Turpie and Jones of Arkansas, and others who signed the call for the present conference, who are to select a provisional national committee to consist of one member from each state, whose duties are to be similar in scope and authority to those of the national committees of the republican and democratic parties. The present understanding is that no other subject but that of finance will be embodied in the address.