Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-09-01
THE sILv'En FLANK.
Hon. j. w. Dini<e OF the Executive
Committee Gives His views.

Waco. Tex, Aug. al Hon Cullen f,
Thomas received today the following
letter from Hon. j. W. Blake of Mexia,
member of the Democratic state execu-
| tive committee.
Mexia, Tex. Aug. 27.-pear Sir. You
! say you desire my construction OF the
! adoption OF the majority report by
/ the state convention. and ask III that
/ body preoludes free silver l6 10
/ construction Of the financial plank
adopted and II those who have advo-
Gated the free coinage OF silver at the
ratio of l6 TO ] will now have to sur
render that conviction to be In har-
mony with the state PLATFORM"
In reply permit me TO say that the
aston of the state convention IN adop-
ting the majority report clearly leaves
the financial question where the nation-
al Democratic convention placed II in
the platform adopted at Chicago in
la9si and certainly no one can consis-
tently claim that this plank preoludes
You or any other Democrat from advo-
eating the free and unlimited coinage
of oliver at the ratio of 10 to /. or any
other ratio at which gold and silver
would circulate on a parity and every
dollar possess the same debt paying
and purchasing power In the markets.
As you are aware, there are some
Democrats who are opposed to the
free and unlimited coinage OF silver
except at a ratio to he fixed by inter-
national agreement; there are some who
oppose the coinage Of silver unless tile
dollar unit OF coinage of both
metals is Of equal intrinsic value. while
bther and very large element OF the
rarity believe that congress should by
legislation provide for the free and
unlimited coinage Of both gold and
silver at n fixed ratio, and they be-
lieve that this ratio should be 10 TO !,
believing that both metals would clrcu-
late on parity at such ration. II was
thought best by majority Of the
platform committee TO adopt a plank
on which all OF these three elements
In the party could stand. and this they
believe could only be accomplished by
the declaration made by the national
convention on this question, which
was adopted and which clearly permits
either construction above referred TO.
The minority Of said committee while
heartily indorsing the national plat
forb, believed that upon the silver
question, the Iarty In Texas should de-
eide which OF the three methods, al
lowed in the national platform decla-
ration. II favored, and that we should
no longer "straddle." or give forth any
uncertain declaration on this important
question, but should declare for some
definite and immediate action by con-
gress,
a small majority OF the delegates In
the interest OF harmony" decided TO
let the matter stand In the uncertain
and unsettled attitude In which the
national convention placed II, giving TO
each member OF the party the right TO
continue to construct said plank as he |
thinks right or beat
Personally I believe In the use OF |
both gold ard silver as the STANDARD" |
money Of the country and In the free |
and unlimited coinage OF both metals 1
without discrimination against either /
metals: and I believe in the coinage OF |
both metals at the ratio which existed |
in 1873 when silver was demonetized. |
and believe that coinage Mt said ratio
with proper safeguards OF legislation
would restore and maintain the parity |
OF both metals and give TO each dollar,
equal power ir the markets and In the
payment Of debts. ] have advocated
this doctrine for many years on the
stump prior 10 the recent state conven-
tIon and will continue to do so IN the
present campaign. and In taking this
position. believe ] win be In harmony
with both the state and national plat
forms and not only this, but VIII be
h perfect accord with the Views on this
1lesiion which are held by such emil
mont statesmen as Senators Coke, Vest.
Morgan. Harrison. Voorhees,, and by
.wo-thirds Of the Democratic members
y congress, many OF whom have given
his question years OF careful fnvesti-
ration and research, many OF whom
believe to be men Of equal II not
hyperion learning and ability, as Presi-
lent Cleveland, who are equally as
,lncere and honest. and who believe In
IN honest dollar. and IN preserving the
,rAnit OF our colNtry Just as
itrongly as the president This con-
,tr7iotion Is. am cure, In accord
Win the views Of all the members who
igned the minority report with me. I
.now that an who supported the ma
GRITTY report with whom ! talked on the
ubject. took the position (which you
giiI remember was also the argument
lsed by the speakers who advocated
he majority report) that II the minori-
v report was adopted. II would commit
hs marty TO one construction OF the
'aiIonal plank. which was not In ac-
ord with the convictions OF a large
lernent and would therefore be the ,
neans Of continuing ciscord In the
anks OF the party. and. therefore In
no Interest Of harmony which was 50
fuch desired at this time. n was best
. sdopt the national plank, upon
Inch an elements could stand without
and each feel free to adj
ncafe. as heretofore. his own con-
trncfson OF said plank Whit. 4, Is
npossihie IN this letter 10 discuss the
liver question 7 wish to say that
eiieve 1, would be folly for the p4onle
4 tho United states TO permit the
lonetary Ersten 10 ha dominated by