The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-14
Free Coinage Boldly Defended
by Chairman Hinrichsen.
He Replies to Letter OF Post
master HeSlng.
CAUSES OF DEFEAT.
Democrats Beaten Because of a
Goldbug President.
ForeignPolicy, Courts in Strikes
Are Other Reasons.

esLing and somewhat acrimonious CORE
spordence has sprung up since the last
election, between POSTMASTER Washing
ton Hesing of Chicago and Vim. Hin
richsen, secretary of state and chairman
of the Democratic state central commit
tee.
It was begun by Mr. Hesing, who, IN
an effort to harmoniz5 the factions OF
the Democratic party of Illinois, invited
MIR, Hinrichsen TO abandon the So called
40 to 1 heresy" and bring his crowd
back into the fold OF orsh odox Democra-
cy and sound money.
Mr. Hinrichsen did not take kindly to
the insinuation that 'I6 to I" doctrine
was a heresy. He also took exceptions
to several other passages in Mr.. Hes
ing's letter and said some things which
might be considered harsh in reply.
Today Mr.. HInrlchsen gave out both
letters for publication MI Hesing wrote
as editor OF the Illinois Staats Zsitung to
Mr.. Hinrichsen as chairman of the Dem
ocratic state central committee. After a
brief formal Introduction the editor
launched out after the chairman as fol
lows:
"Let me as an editor say word to you
and as one who is interested in Demo
cratic success. The Democratic party is
possible chance of winning if the princi-
pies of the party are adhered to.
From the day that vou and others saw
fl to call meeting ofthe Democratic state
central committee for the purpose of con-
vening a silver convention. said to you
and to tho citizens of this state that that
act meant political suicide.
From the day that | called together
the first meeting of Democrats in this
cifKy fO form honorary loa 7 havo
bsen unalterably opposed to the 16 to l
heresy.
The defeat in the Eighteenth con
gressiOnal district is not II Democratic de-
feat, it is defeat of free coinage. Had
the Democratic convention maintained
an honest money standard and the Dem
Gratis made honest money fight and
not imported Bland, Bryan and Stone, not
only honest money Democrats, but the
independent vote would have gone for
such candidates.
81 want to say here most emp phatically
that the 10000 German American votes
in this state can never be won over to the
Democratic party next year if any of lis
candidates, congressional, state or ma
tional, advocate free coinage or stand on
a free coinage platform.
There should be an early understand
ing among the Democrats of this state in
regard to the policy to be pursued next
year, and it seems to me that after the
experience of last Tuesday sound judy
ment and common sense would prompt
the abandoning of free coinage as being
impolitic unwise and against the inter
ests of the Democratic party"
In reply to this Chairman II inrichsen
OF the Democratic state committee be-
gins by saying that he had read it over
several times, and that he had carefully
considered and investigated its contents.
Then continuing he says: 81 am truly
pleased with the feeling which evident
ly prompted you to write it. If YOUR
premises were correct, no doubt your ad-
vice would be excellent but as you are
mistaken in so many of your supposi-
tions, one can hardly be expected to ac-
cept your conclusions
81 fully agree with you that the Dem
ocratic party is not dead and that the
Democratic party has some chance of
winning if the old principles of the party
are adhered to, but you and l evidently
look at the situation from different
points of view. Il is to be expected that
you servant, or as part of the national
administration, will be expected to up-
hold the policy of President Cleveland.
but that you can be expected to pass on
what constitutes real Democratic prin-
ciples, is absurd.
"Your connection with the Democratic
party has been Intermittent and spas-
modic and while l can freely give YOU
credit for having been, as a rule, with
the party when it has been successful.
yet this does not prove your fidelity to
party principles.
81 was born a Democrat and have been
actively connected with the organization
Tor 20 years, and have never scratched a
Democratic ticket l cannot be expected
to follow blindly the directions of few
men when l know they propose taking
rs away from true Democracy.
In calling together the state committee
last April and in submitting to them the
proposition to call a state convention to
consider the money question, | was
Achng IN response to the popular de-
mano from the Democratic masses in the
state, aud the fact that every member of
the committee who was present voted
Tor the calling of that convention ia
proof that l was correct in nv action.
Inc response made by the Democracy of
tne state to that call is proof that | was
no. mistaken In my Judgment as to the
WISHES OIL the democracy in the state.
There has been no falling off in the
silver sentiment in the Democratic mar
y In this state. Ninety per cent of the
democrats still favor the free and nm
limited coinage of silver at the ratio of
10 to l, and while I am aware that the
metropolitan press and many federal of
nee holders are energetically maintain.
Ing that the silver sentiment is disan-
pearlng, yet l have positive evidence to
the contrary, "
You ascribe the defeat of the marty
In the 18th congressional district to IN =
AGoptlon OF free silver plank in the
RAA'i0Em' 1nis IL absurd, and can say