The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-02
BRYAN'S NEW SILVER BATTLE.
A BOLD MOVE TO GET CONTROL OF
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

Democratic Members of the senate
aud House Asked 10 Sign "a CAN in
FAVOR of BimetaIIism and Urging
the silver Men 10 Gain Control of
the Party Organization Through
out the COuntry-OnIy Fifteen Sig
natures Secured so Far.
Washington. March 1.-Representative
BRYAN of Nebraska abandoned at late
rour this afternoon his intention Of Sc
curing a conference of the free silver
represe eutatlves and senators with a view
TO issuing a call to the democrats of the
country laying down the proposition that
a majority of the democrats favor the
free and unlimited coinage of silver and
calling upon this majority to take con-
troll of the party organization. He de-
cidel. instead to circulate the call among
such of the House democrats as favor the
free coinage of silver with view to Sc
curing their Endorsement. About twenty
gentlemen had signed at the hour of ad-
iournment. These were representatives,
of fifteen states. Mr. Bryan's purpose be-
ing TO widen the interest in the call as
much as possible. A number of demo-
Gratis declined to sign for one reason or
another but Mr.. Bryan believes that in
tha end a very considerable number will
affx their signatures to the paper. y
copy of the call will be also circulated in
the Senate tomorrow. 1t is presented
only TO democrats and not to populists or
10 free silver republicans. Mr.. Bryan be-
lievcs that If this matter be squarely pre-
scented to the democratic voters Of the
country the effect win be seen in the party
organizations in future campaigns and
that il will result in giving the control of
the party machinery 10 the men who
really represent the majority, namely,
the free silver element.
The call is addressed ITO the demo-
Gratis of the United States" and reads as
follows. "We the undersigned democrats.
present for your consideration the fol-
lowing statement: We believe that the es-
tablishment of gold as the only monetary
standard and the elimination of silver as
a full legal tender money will increase the
purchasing power of each dollar. add to
the burden of all debts. decrease the mar
ket value of all other forms of property,
continue and intensity the business de-
preston and. finally, reduce the ma
jority of the people to financial bondage.
"We believe that no party can hope for
enduring success in the United States so
long as il advocates a single gold stand
ard, and that the advocacy Of such tnan-
cial policy would be especially fatal to a
party which, like the Democratic party,
derives its voting strength from those
who may without reproach be called the
common people, and we point to the over
whelming defeat of the party in 1894, to
the opposition aroused by the veto OF the
seignorage bill, and to the still more unan-
imous protest against the issue of gold
bonds as proof that the Democratic party
1., fo = of 1aa
gold standard policy.
We believe that the money question viii
be the paramount issue in 1896 and will so
remain till it is settled by the intelligence
and patriotism of the American voters.
We believe that a large majority of the
democrats of the United States favor BIZ
metallsm, and realize that it can only be
secured by the restoration of the free and
unlimited coinage of gold and silver at the
present ratio, and we assert that the ma
jority have, and should exercise, the right
10 control the policy of the party and re-
tain the party name. We believe that it
is the duty of the majority, and within
their power, to take charge Of the party
organization and make the Democratic
party an effective instrument in the ac-
complishment of needed reforms. 1t is not
necessary that the democrats should sur
render their convictions on other ques-
uons in order to take an active part in
the settlement of the question, which, at
thls time, surpasses all Others in impor-
tance.
we believe the rank and file Of the
democratic party should at once assert
themselves in the Democratic party and
place the party on record in favor of the
immediate restoration of the free and un-
limited coinage of gold and silver at the
present ratio of IS to l, as such coinage
existed prior to 1873 without waiting for
the aid or consent of any nation, such
gold and silver coin to be a full legal
tender for all debts, public and private.
we urge all democrats who favor the
hnancial policy above set forth to asso-
clate themselves and impress their views
upon the party organization; we urge
al newspapers in harmony with the above
hnancial policy to place it at the head
OIL the editorial column and assist in the
immediate restoration of bimetallism."
Inc signatures to the call were not
made public, but it can be stated that
Evan 2. Howell. editor of the Atlanta
constitution, while in the city tonight,
ssnel the document and said the Con-
,uluuon would take up the fight on the
mes laid down in the call The Omaha
!, oild-Herald, of which Congressman
DIyan is editor, will also indorse it.