The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-13

ne DOESN'T Like the POSITION OF some
~ the Republican Party Leaders on
silver.
A Z. Agrelius, banker at Lindsborg,
Mcpherson county, and Secretary Bris-
tow Of the Republican central commit
tee, have recently had q correspondence
which ia interesting.
Secretary Bristow wrote to Mr.. Agre-
illus asking for a contribution, to which
he replied:
81 can almost say, not one cent for
tribute, but millions for Defense be-
cause contributions to a fund to elect
monometallists, OF 30 weak bimetallists
as to amount to the same thing. is more
like tribute to an oPpressor than aid to
our business interests. our recOmmen-
dations are correct I am reliable Re-
publican and have voted the ticket
and worked for il for twenty years,
never having voted for any other
party. The party, its welfare and
success are dear to me, but my own in
terests and those of my family and
friends are Of more consequence to me
than any party, and if the nominees of
the Republican party, their organ, the
Topeka Capital and other papers sup
porting them do not change front on the
silver question, favor free coinage, stop
ping the increase of value in the dollar
and consequent depreciation of all prop
erty except money, which will bring
bankruptcy and ruin to our farmers and
business men, l Will give my little con-
tributions to some party that can see the
hand Of oppression and cast it Oft
sit is not my intention to do as some
others do. go out of the ranks and herd
with party that while it might be right
on this question in radically wrong on
some other questions of great moment,
but to appeal to those who are in the
lead to heed the cries of distressed peo-
pie, and like the grand Republicans of
'61 TO '63, take and hold the position of
friend to the oppressed, retrieve
their now imperiled fortune as a
party, following the advice of J..
~ Cameron and place four
words in the platform: High tariff and
free silver and pIedging themselves to
work for the success of that principle
and all that it implies, restriction of emil
grafton, arbitration of disputes between
capital and labor and pleading the cause
of the common people.
Give US a guaranty that our money
shall be used for our interests, as we'll as
for party success, and / pledge you as
much az 4 can spare, and viii try to get
others to aid"
Secretary BristOw repliex to Mr.. Ag-
relius as follows:
TOPEKA, Kan, A-Ug.4, S94.
Mr.. A. E. Agrelius. Lindsborg, Kan.
my DEAR SIR:-Yours of August is
received and contents noted Your clos
ing sentence Is, Give US the guaranty
terests as we'll as for party success. and 1
pledge you as much as I can spare and
will try to get others to aid This is
just what we pledge to you. We do not
know Of single Republican in Kansas
that is not in favor Of the restoration of
silver az money metal know there
is not one on the state ticket. As to the
manner Of restoring it, that would be a
question of compromise as all legisla-
ton Is where there is such a wide diff
ference of opinion.
81 do not agree with you in your more
radical statements, but l believe there is
no material difference between your
ideas and those entertained by NJ jor
Morrill, and Mr. Blue in regard to their
views on the silver question. With best
wishes, am, very truly,
(signed) J. T. BRIsTow,
Secretary"
Mr.. Agrelius, however, refused to be
.eomforted and has joined the Populists.
The correspondence was sent 10 T. L.
Bond of Salina who it is said, is to stump
the state for the POpulists as a free sill
yer ReUu blicau