The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-09-02
ALL OVER ONE WORD
A Bit Of History About the Last DEM
ocratic Convention.
WHY PATTERSON SWITCHED
Free" Was an Objectionable
Word to Put In the Financial
Plank. So Coinage" Went
In Without II.

Denver. Colo. Sept. 1.-The Rocky
Mountain News to-day published an
editorial In which Thomas NJ. Patter-
son, editor OF the newspaper, gives a
full account OF the proceedings Of tha
subcommittee OF the committee on res
olutlons at the last democratic conven-
ton relating to the financial plank.
The subcommittee consisted OF Mr..
5ayard. Senators Mcpherson. Villas
and Daniel. John ID. C. Atkins OF Ten.
nessee. l.. +. Carrard of Georgia, Mr..
Jones OF Missouri and Mr.. Patterson OF
Colorado. Mr.. Patterson says: when
the plank was first read and analysed
suggested that II was uncertain and
gave room to cavil about Its meaning;
to remove this uncertainty l requested
that the word free be inserted before
the word coinage OF gold and silver,
ETC. Senator's Villas and Mcpherson
opposed this and so did Mr.. Bayard.
Each gave his reason. II was not that
they were opposed to free coinage; on
the contrary. they favored II. but the
word free as applied % coinage, was
SO liable to be misunderstood in the
East and Northeast that II would,
through this ignorance, lose the party
many votes. which should not be al
lowed. Mr.. Bayard was particularly
earnest in asserting his fealty TO Sill
YER"
Mr.. Patterson says that after consid-
cradle discussion Mr.. Atkins. a pro-
fessed blmetalllst. offered the follow
Ing substitution for the monetary
plank: I'VE hold To the use Of both
gold and silver as the standard money
OF the country. and to the coinage OF
both gold and silver for the owners
thereof without discriminating against
either metal or charge for mlntage.
etc"
II realized In a moment" continues
Mr.. Patterson. that II was declara-
tIon for free coinage as clear and EN-
phatlc as though the word free were
used dozen times: but before commit.
ting myself. | turned to Senators vi.
las and Mcpherson and Mr. Bayard
and asked: What do you think Of II
gentlemen They Indicated that the,
wished to consider It,"
Patterson then conferred with Mr.
Daniel. who approved OF the substltu
ton. and who said In response to tn,
assertion that the other side would no
accept II: Yes. they will. They ar,
honorable gentlemen: and when they
say they favor free coinage and would
declare openly for It. but that the word
free Is dangerous and will lose tn,
party many votes In the East and
Northeast. they mean II. This amend
ment avoids their only objection. ant
they will adopt It,"
Mr.. Daniel then urged the acceptanc,
of the substitute and was much sur
prised when Senator Villas announced
that they had decided against accept
ing 1t claiming that the original planl
was a declaration for free silver. Mr.
| Atkins also voted against the substitu
tion. Mr.. Patterson states that Mr.
| whitney came to the committee room
and In answer to a question was told o
| the effort TO have the word free" In
serted In the monetary plank.
Mr.. Patterson continues: He stud
led the proposition a minute or two
and In n very decided tone exclaimed
That's a vote-getter: they should no
| ohioc, 10 tb,t. Ia, m. ,,ik with the,
,hon, n. Vie called the senator. os,d
ana ,,Ikaa Win them ou,,o e,rre.t,,
for fully five minutes. He returned ap
ms mo- ,sa. ,bsv ah,ac, ;, ,ha wor,
..,ra, :" hsca,sa !, "a a ysrv oh,s.,,or
IT. ,ora e., ,,a Nor,,a,s, q, conna,
,Inn ,vt,h ro,av ana 10 aaon, 4, wo,,l
,asa ,ha 5e.r,ocracv % ,h,t s.c,,or !,
~ oorr,r,. ,,s, axrI,,,oa ,ha A,
S,ns .mandrsr, vnsrannor ha og,I
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