Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-07-31
GEO. G. VEST.
His Views Plainly Expressed Oh
Many Important Subjects.

His Views Plainly Expressed on
Many Important Subjects.
Senator Vest has written the
following letter to some OF his Sa-
line county constituents, which
will explain itself:
"UNITED STATES SENATE, WASH
INGToN, D. c., July Is, 1890
GENTLEMEN: Yours of July T.
with annexed platform of the
Farmers and Laborers' Union of
Missouri, adopted at St. Louis, has
been received.
81 understand from your letter
that you request me to state my
views as to the platform. I shall
do SO with great pleasure.
GAS to the first clause, I have
simply to state that 1 have always
been opposed to the national bank
ing system and especially to that
feature of it which gives to these
corporations the power to expand
or contract the currency of the
country by issuing their notes
based upon government ponds. l
believe all money should be issued
by the government itself and every
vote l have given upon financial
questions during my public life has
been in the direction indicated. l
have nc doubt that notes, made a
legal tender for all debts public
and private and payable in coin,
should be issued by the govern
ment in such quantity as will meet
all the necessities of business.
GAS to the second clause in the
platform I have no hesitation In
stating that 1 shall take great
pleasure In supporting all legisla-
ton looking to the prevention of
dealing in futures as to agricultur.
al productions. 1 assume that, of
course, I am not requested or ex-
pected to support any measure
outside of the constitutional juris-
dictlon of Congress. Within that
limit l shall be glad to do every
thing possible against this great
evil.
IN FAVOR OF FREE COINAGE.
SIN regard to the third clause of
the platform I will simply reply
by saying that I have always sup
ported the free and unlimited
coinage of silver and expect to do
80 in the future.
"The fourth clause refers to the
ownership of land by aliens, and 1
have nc hesitation in replying that
in every instance when the oppor-
tunity presented 1 have voted for
all measures prohibiting the alien
ownership of land in. the United
States. One of the objections 1
urged to the bill admitting Wyom-
ing into the union, which was
passed a few days ago, was that the
constitution of the new state ex-
pressly permitted the ownership
and inheritance of lands by aliens.
I have always persistently urged
that the public domain should be
held for actual settlers only.
SIN regard to the fifth clause of
the platform, I assume that no
declaration on my part is necessa-
ry to convince you that I am in
hearty accord with the principles
therein declared. I am opposed to
the legislation which is intended
to put the government in partner
ship with any class or individual,
and I believe with Mr. Jefferson
that a free government must be
based on the fundamental idea of
equal rights to all and exclusive
privileges to none.' I believe that
all revenues, national, state and
county, should be limited to the
necessary expenses of government
economically and honestly admin
istered.
"As to the sixth clause, I have
no hesitation in saying that I favor
a sufficient amount of fractional
paper currency to facilitate ex-
change through the medium of the
United States mail.
OWNERSHIP OF RAILROADS.
"The seventh and last clause of
the platform is not so clear in its
enunciation as to put the meaning
beyond doubt. If it is meant that
the railroad systems of the United
States shall be owned and con-
troIled by the government [ must
be permitted to enter my respect
full dissent from the opinion there
in expressed. I have no doubt
that the placing of all the railroads
of the United States under the con-
troll of the national government
would bring about a state of Or
ruption and disintegration which
would appall every honest man in
the country.
"The great danger to u free
institutions now is in the tendency
towards Capitalization Of power
and patronage at Washington City,
and if the vast transportation sys-
tenn of the..United States, with its
enormous patronage, should be
placed under the control of the ma
| tional government it would at once