The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1892-05-13
cuNcREssMAN w1NN-
He Tells Why He Has Joined the Party OF
the People.


He Tells why He Has Joined the Party OF
the People.
The Southern Alliance Farmer pub
fishes q card from Congressman VIM
in which he gives his reasons for Join
ing the Peoples party. He says:
Il deem it my duty as the represen-
tative of 1.-THE people of the ninth dis
trict of Georgia who have delegated
the duty to me for the time being of
representing them in the house OF
representatives. to state to them can
didly and unreservedly the situation
of affairs with regard to remedial leg
islation. which they demand at the
hands of congress- and as a faithful
Waterman and guardian of their in
terests / deem it necessary to give
them candid statement of the situa-
ton and what-can be reasonably ex-
pected at the hands of congress
Il state to you now. as l have on
previous occasions that in my opinion
the financial question is the great and
overshadowing question before the
American people, and through it's
rightfui solution the people look for
that relief which they so much need,
and in which they are so deeply in
terested. The first measure reported
to congress looking to financial reform
and which has been discussed, was the
bill for the reconciliation of free
coinage of silver known as the Bland
bill TO that bill / gave. my hearty
support in speech delivered on the
22d of March. / favored the bill not
as complete remedy by any means
for the evils which affect the people,
but because l considered it step in
the right direction. and would Indicate
the purpose OF the Democratic party
to meet the demands of the people in
the line Of financial reform.
had confidently expected that the
great Democratic majority-amount-
ing to about one hundred and fifty
could be confidently looked to to full
fill its promise to the people to sue
cessfully and satisfactorily grapple
with all these great questions and
solve them in the interest of the peo-
pie. but l am compelled to state to
you candidly that from their action
on this bill the people cannot expect
any reliefin the line of financial reform
If the present house, with its over
whelming majority ignores the great
financial questions. which it has done
by the defeat of the Bland silver BILL
with its slight concessions towards
financial reform. it can we'll be mag
ined what its action will be on the de-
mand Of the people for the abolition
of national banks and the issue of
treasury notes sufficient to raise the
per capita circulation to $50, as our
people are demanding. What favor
able action can be expected on our
subtreasury bill or the loan of money
by the government on farm products?
| must confess to you see no indica-
ton on the part of the house of repre-
sentatlves to make single concession
to the people on the lire of their de-
mands and it is with sorrow that
have to admit the fact because have
believed that all the needed reforms
would come through the Democratic
party in time.
Il did not expect that all our de-
mands would be obtained at once. be-
cause all reform in our national leg.s-
lat on moves slowly. In the light OF
recent developments. 1 cannot close
my eyes to the fact that the money
power of this country absolutely con-
troll both political part rs of the east.
and there is no possible hope of that
wing of the party giving the people
any relief. Indeed l can see no diff
ference between the Eastern Demo-
Gratis and the Eastern Republicans on
tn financial issue.
In view Of these facts if our peo-
pie decide that it is necessary for us
to act Independently OF the national
Democratic party in order to obtain
these demands | stand ready to go
with my people. and say in the lam
guage of Ruth to Naomi, 'Entreat me
not to leave thee. For whittier thou
goest [ will go; and where thou lodg-
est l VIII lodge. Thy people shall be
my people and thy God my God
Where thou diest will i G, and there
will be buried. The Lord do so to me
and more also if aught but death part
me and thee"