The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-03-24
THIS IS CONFIDENTIAL.
CONGRESSMAN HARTER'S Ed
ITORIAL POINTERS.
Where Ansi-Silvcr Editors Get Their
Thunder-The Congressman Mt Work to
Prevent the Party from Committing
Suicide.
ODpoScs Free Coinage.

Michael d. Hartcr, Democratic men,
Der Of Congress from Ohio, is engaged
in the private and confidential business
Of furnishing ready made fodder for the
Democratic cribs. Some of MichaCfS
confidential circulars have fallen into
the hands of the reform press and here
is one of them:
"PERSoNAL AND rRIyATE-"
To the Editor:
You may entirely disagree with the views
expressed in the pamphlet inclo>ed. Free
Com of judgment in such matters lclongs
10 every citizen. On one thing. and that u
pure matter OF policy, wc undoubtedly do
agree. which is: That it will be suicidal
Tor the democratic party To pass Il free
coinage bill through the House this session.
, You can do muc!. To prevent ii through
your cditoria! utterauce-, and especially by
personal letters 10 such Dcmocra ic mem
ber> of Congress as you happen to know.
Permit me TO aid that time is to be
lost as there never was time when the
lobby lists and paid forces of the silver ring
we,e more active than now.
With he tariff rs he central issue OF the
Presidential fight, We will carr all the
sure Democratic states. and Ne" iamp-
shire. Massachusetts l;hodc Island. Cen
nett!cut. New York. New jersey. Indiana.
Wisconsin. Illinois and Iowa. with some
snow for Ohio: with "flee silver" In our
latform. tho record behind Us. and Il
&C silver bill passing the House. "c can
carry Il solitary state in tn" entire
except Indiana. and it Is likely to lose
hat state also.
is apparent to every thinking man
the ,niy safe course for the party is
y the silver question out CT Congress
out of the platform Your services to
e party at this .uncturr are OF the high
est value. am certain you VIII pardon
my asking You to exert TIA N In two drec-
ton- suggested, rs we'll as in any other you
think. of.
E9cry man. who looks ahead can see that,
il we permit the silver issue to creep into
our campaign, we shall be 81 badly defeat
ed - to ma Ike sorry we nominated or
ado. .tcd "a platform in 1892. We have cd
ucaced the party against class-legislation
by the tariff discussions of the past fifteen
years and it cannot be driven into the
support OF this still worse class-legislatiOn.
whi h would authorize any mine owner or
luilion SpeculatOr to take what averages
In cost TO pIoduce) but ~ cents, To the
mint. and get Il coin. which any other man
must take In exchange for 100 cents worth
Of his labor. or his savings The Germans
have, to their great honor. always stood
for sound and honest money. They would
leave in 4 drove. ani instead of taking
to tie woods would go into the Republican
party. The enormous Hebrew vote. always
extremely intelligent upon such issues.
would also ali be cast against us. and Be-
fore we had been engaged five weeks in the
campaign most OF the reading Democrats
and the bulk OF the other thoughtful voters
among Us would be ready to smother the
frea->ilver swindle with their ballots,
Ther. is not Il Republican In the Unit I'd
States tuuIess lie IS specially patriotic
one, but wishes the Democratic party to
espou>o the cause OF the silver kings
against the people.
Whatever you feel your duty to the
party and to the country, ought to be done
Ut once Yours truly.
MICHAEL. u. HARTEa