People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-01-05

Governor Pennoyer, Of Oregon, IN
til within two years past Democrat,
has written the following open letter
to President Cleveland. Let all
American citizens, both Democrats
and Republicans, read it, and let
them ponder over the fact that Kan.
sas has not the only governor who
feels and realizes the condition of the
people. The spirit OF liberty, is
spreading, and all who detest tyranny
will soon gather under one banner
and our country Will be saved:
"The extraordinary circumstances
which greet the return of this holi.
day must be my excuse for writing
you.
Today is the first Christmas in the
history of Oregon when more than
twO-thirdS OF the people are without
employment and more than one-third
are without sufficient means of SUD-
port. Business is almost completely
Stagnant. Money is not to be O6.
tanned and debtors are powerleSs to
avoid seizure Of their property and
their homes to satisfy a small per-
centage OF the claims Of creditors.
Repeated appeals have been made
to me as governor of Oregon to as
semble the legislature to alleviate
this condition of affairs and avert the
impending calamity. The redress is,
however, not in our hands, but in
yours, hence this appeal to you. The
laws Of congress which have diScrim-
mated against silver and made gold
alone full legal tender money, giving
to the money lender the privilege of
refusing both the silver dollar and
silver certificates, thus rendering IN
available more than One-half of the
national currency, as absolute debt
payingi'mOney, are the sole cause of
the decline of prices, paralysis of bus
mess and consequent idlenesS of the
army of working men with the i'm
pending starvation Of their wives and
children.
When you stood upon the eastern
pOrticO of the capitol on the 4th of
last March you had announced to the
people that you would speedily con-
vene congress in extra session to car
ry out the pledges of the platform TO
winch you gave your assent, and upon
which you were elected, and which
declared for both silver and gold as
standard money without diScrimina-
tion against either metal.
The widespread depression of bust
ness which has diminished the value
Of the property of the nation by fully
One-half would never have occurred,
and if now you would heed this ad.
vice the further downward tendency
would be checked and with favorable
congressional legislation business
would revive and prosperity would
again visit our land. 1t is honorable
to carry out the pledges of the party
to the people, and is it not most dis
honorable not to do so?
The responsibility lies entirely with
you. Complete obedience of the low
er house OF congress to your wishes
has been observed throughout the
world. 1t would be your behest and
in this the senate would give you sup
port. You are a father and you no
doubt feel grateful to God when you,
Upon retiring to rest, look upon your
sleeping babies in their touches, the
pictures of health and consequent
upon their having sufficient Of food
and clothing.
! pray you, however, to enlarge tie
scope vi your vision and behold, as
you can, many and many a cOt-chil-
dren loved as much by their parents
as yours are by you; weak and sickly
from insufficient food and clothing;
the innocent victims OF vicious Hnan-
cial legislation, whose sleeping forms
are bathed by the scalding tears OF
mothers bending over them In sorrow
and despair and there resolve as you
should to faithfully carry out the
pledges which your party gave to a
cenfding people. II you will do so,
God will bless you and a grateful IA.
tion viii applaud you"