Tom Johnson's Minority Report

When the applause had subsided Hon. Torn Johnson submitted the following rainority report, signed by six members of the committee: "We favor the selection of United States senators by direct vota of the people; and for the purpose of practically efïecting that end we hereby direct that the Democratio state central committee, in lssuing the cali for the state convention for the nomination of state officers in the year 1895, include therein the annouucement that a candidato for United States senator will be named by said convention, who shall receive the 3upport of the Democratie members of tha legislature thereafter to be elected." As the resolution had been discussedand defeated in the meeting of the committee on resolutions as an anti-Brice measure tuere was considerable demonstratiou among the Brice men when it was read in tha couventiou. Johusou spoke briefly upon the minority report. He said the election of senators by direct vote would bring them closer to the people and citad the case of Palmer of Illinois, who was the first Democratie senator elected in that state since the war. John J. Claik, of Mahoning county, secured the floor a the applause following Johnson's speech had subsided and threw the couvention iuto an uproar by stating that worth and ability were no longer required in the selection of United States senators, but the main consideration was the length of the purse. Miugled hisses and applaue almost drowned the speaker's voice, but at intervals bis voice rang out olear aud decisivo. An effort to declare hii out of order was ruled out by Chairman Hurd. Jessa Lewis, of Urbana, wanted tbe couvention to defer the question of el?ctin? United States senator by vote of the people for one year, which was met by cries of "Nol Nol" General Finlay spoke in the interest oL harmony. Cries for Johnson brought tbe free trade congressman again to the front, and he said he did not believe that Brice had bought his seat in the jenate, and lie did not believe there was any occasion for the ill feellng which seemed to exist. Virgil P. Cline, of Cleveland, thought the people should be a little nearer to the lenate, and there was nothing to prevent the people making their wants kuown to their representatives. James P. Seward same to the front with an amendment to take the sting out of the minority report. This proposed to strike out all which followed the simple declaration in favor of alecting Uuited States senators by direct vote. The amendment was strouüly opposed, but was adopted by a vote of 4Ö7 lo 3!28. The minority report was theii Qiade a part of the majonty report. Tüe free silver plank was also the3ouroe ot contention. Seven members of tbe committee on resolutions, amoug them Tom L. Johnson, Virgil P. Cline, Krank Hurd and ConKressman Pearsoa,