Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-01-05
OPEN LETTER TO GROVER.

Governor Penuoyer hforms the Presi-
dent That oregon Ia Starving.
Gov. Pennoyer has addressed the fol-
lowing letter to President Cleveland:
"The extraordinary circumstances
which greet the return OF this holiday
must be my excuse for writing to YOU.
Today is the first Christmas in the his
tory of Oregon when more than two
thirds OF it's people are without employ
ment and more than one-third without
sufficient means Of support. Business is
almost completely stagnated, money is
not to be obtained, and debtors are
powerless to avert SEIZURE of their prop
erty and their homes to satisfy, at a
small percentage OF their value, the
claims of creditors. Repeated appeals
have been made to me as governor OF
Oregon to assemble the legislature in
order to alleviate this condition Of affairs
and avert impending calamity. Redress
is, however, not in our hands, but in
yours, and hence this appeal to you.
The laws Of congress which have dis
eliminated against silver and made gold
alone full legal tender money, giving to
the money lender the privilege OF refus-
ing both the silver dollar and silver certif-
icate, thus rendering unavailable more
than one-half Of the national currency as
absolute debt-paying money, are the sole
causes OF the decline OF values, paralysis
Of business and consequent impoverish-
ment of the great army Of wage earners
and of the impending starvation OF their
wives and children.
IF, when you stood upon the eastern
portico OF the capitol on March last,
you had announced to the people that
you would speedily convene congress in
extra session to carry out the pledges Of
the platform to which you gave your
assent and upon which you were elected,
which declared for the use OF both gold
and silver as standard money, without
discrimination against either metal the
widespread revulsion OF business, which
has diminished the value Of the property
of the nation by fully one-half, would
never have occurred, and if now you
would give such advice to congress the
further downward tendency would be
checked, and with favorable congress.
sional legislation business would again
revive and prosperity would again visit
our land.
1t is honorable to carry out the pledges
Of u party Of the people, and is it not
most dishonorable not to do 80? The re.
sponsibility lies entirely with you. The
complete obedience of the lower house o.
congress to your wishes has been OBJ
served throughout the world. 1t woult
obey your behest, and in this the senate
would give you support. You are {
father, and you no doubt feel grateful t.
God when you, upon retiring to rest
look upon your sleeping babes in thei
couches, the pictures of health conse
, quent upon their having q sufiiciency O
, food and clothing. pray you, however
, to enlarge the scope Of your vision ant
behold, rs you can, in many and many
, COT, children loved rs much by thei
. parents as yours are by you, weak ant
sickly from insufficient food and cloth
ing, the innocent victims of vicious finan
. cial legislation, whose sleeping forms ar
: bathed by the scslding tears Of mother
p bending over them IN sorrow and des
l pair, and then resolve, as you should, t
l faithfully carry out pledges which you
q party gave to a contiding people. II 20
will do 80 God will bless you and CRATE
full people will applaud YOU"