The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-10

A Question of Fact

]
raised by the statements of Congressman
Moses, of the Fourth district, and Con-
gresham Vim, Of the Ninth district, re-
lstive to what is known as the soldier
plank in the st. Louis platform. That
plank provides for paying union veterans
the difference between the value OF the
greeqbacks ia which they were paid and
gold.
Congressman Moses, In a letter over his
own signature, published in the MORNING
News last Monday says that the plank in
question was adopted at the st. Louis con-
vention and was made part of the plat
form.
Congressman VIM, In speech delivered
at Lawrenceville last Thursday, denied that
the soldier plank is part Of the st. Louis
platform. Thus the two congressman have
made directly opposite statements relative
to question of fact. They cannot both be
right. Which of them is mistaken9 The
soldier plank is either part of the platform
or 1t is not Congressman Moses was a
delegate to the st. Louis convention and
ought to know what was done. There is no
reason whatever why be should endeavor to
mlslead allianoemen. He is al, allianceman
himself in good standing and afso asterling
democrat. He recognizes the fact that he
was elected to congress as a democrat by
the Democratic party. 1t is pretty safe to
say that if he should leave the Democratic
party and join the Peoples party he would
resign his place in congress. He would
adopt that course even though ne believed
four-6fths Of his constituents approved his
course in leaving the Democratic party.
He has no doubt that the soldier plank is
in the st. Louis platform. In the letter
referred to, after stating the plank is in the
platform, he says: al copied the platform
from the Knights Of Labor journal of
Mar Oh 8, published ten days after the meet
ing The secretary OF the Knights OF La
Dor was the secretary Of the convention. 1t
was 80 published in nearly all the alliance
papers In the country. The editor Of the
National Economist, in the issue Of March
u, admits that the division Of (the
platform) into three parts has been done
since the adjournment Of the convention
and that he did it at the suggestion OF
Marion Bueler of North Carolina. The
truth Of the matter Is when they saw the
south would not accept it the bosses here
in Washington patched it up and issued a
special edition for southern consumption.
They don't deny the pension plank in the
north and west. Mr.. Turner, the secretary,
says he favors 1t. Why do they want to
deny it, The third party congressman
favor it. Just the other day eight Of them
voted 70 add about II, o00, 900 more to PEN
sion bill that was already too large"
What other evidence is necessary to
satisfy any one that the soldier pIank-a
plank that, If it should become a law. would
take out Of the treasury hundreds Of mill
lions of dollars, a large part of which the
south would have to pay without receiving
any benefit Of oonsequenoe-was adoptedlas
q part Of the platform. The secretary of
the convention published 1t as a part
Of the platform, and the National
Economist says 1t was left out Of
the copies of the platform intended for dis
tribution in the south, for the reason that
it was not acceptable in the southern states.
According to this admission of the National
Economist there was a deliberate purpose
to mislead southern ALLAN cemen. The
platform, as it was adopted is being circu-
lated in the north, but doctored edition Of
1t is being circulated in the south. Does this
look as if the Peoples party leaders are the
kind Of men southern alliancemen can af-
ford TO followl II these leaders at
tempt to deceive alliancemen on one matter
will they not try to do so in other matters
If it suits their purpose to do sol
No doubt Congressman VIM believes
what he says with respect to the soldier
plank, but in view of the evidence which
Congressman Moses produces the conclusion
that he is mistaken cannot be avoided. AL
lianoemen who are inclined to favor the
Peoples party should study this soldier
plank carefully, and they should also bear
in mind the efforts made to mislead them
with regard to it. II they will do this they
will have little inclination to leave the
Democratic party-the party that has served
the south so long and so faithfully.