The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-09-04
INSIDE HISTORY
Editor Patterson, Of Denver, Gives
Some facts About the Last Dem.
ocratic Convention.
Why It Was That Silver Had No
Chance With the Platform
Architects.

| tain News publishes an editorial in which
Thomas M. Patterson gives full account
of the action Of the subcommittee on res
olutions at the last Democratic national
| convention. The subcommittee consisted
of Mr.. Bayard, Senators Mcpherson, vi
las and Daniels, John Atkins, of Ten
nessee; L. F. Garad of Georgia; Mr. Jones
of Missouri, and Mr.. Patterson of Colo
| RADIO. Mr.. Patterson says:
when the plank was first read and
| analysed suggested that it was uncer-
tain and gave room to cavil about its
meaning. To remove this uncertainty, I
| requested that the word free be in
serted before the words coinage of gold
and silver etc. I distinctly stated that
l would be content to omit the ratio for
such coinage, leaving that to congress;
what l did want was the Democratic
| party clearly and unequivocally commit
! ted to true bimetallism. Senators Villas
| and Mcpherson opposed this, and so did
Mr.. Bayard. Each gave his reason. 1t
was not that they were opposed to free
coinage; on the contrary, they favored
| 1t, but the word free as applied to coin
| age was SO liable to be misunderstood in
the East and Northeast that it would,
through this ignorance lose the party
good many votes, which should not be
allowed Mr.. Bayard was particularly
| earnest in asserting his fealty to silver
| In told in graphic and pathetic language
| the services he had performed for the
white metal"
Mr.. Patterson says that after consider
able discussion Mr.. Atkins, a professed
bimetallist, offered the following substi-
| tute for the money plank:
1--WE hold to the use of both gold and
silver as the standard money of the coun-
try, and to the coinage Of both gold and
silver for the Owenrs thereof without dis
eliminating against either metal or
| charge for mintage," etc.
Il realized in a moment said Mr. Pat
terSon, that it was a declaration for
free coinage as clear as though the word
free was used dozen times, but before
committing myself, I turned to Senators
Villas and Mcpherson and Mr.. Bayard
| and asked: What do you think of it,
gentlemen? They indicated that they
wished to consider it,
He then conferred with Mr.. Daniel, who
approved of the substitute and who said,
IN response to the assertion that the
other side would not accept: Yes, they
Will. They are honorable gentlemen, and
when they say they favor free coinage
and would declare openly for it, but that
the party many votes in the East and
Northeast. they meant yes. The amend
| ment voices their only objection, and we
should adopt it,
Mr.. Daniels then moved the acceptance
or the substitute and was much surprised
Wnen Senator Villas announced that they
had decided against accepting it, claim
| ing that the original plank was a decla.
| ration for free silver Mr.. Atkins also
voted against the substitute.
Mr.. Patterson cntinues: "He studied
came to the committee room and in an
swer to question, was told that it was
proposed to have the word "free" inserted
| in the monetary plank.
Mr.. Pattersoncontinues: "IIe studied
the proposition a moment or two, and
then in a very decided Tone exclaimed:
That's vote-getter.' They did not OBJ
| ject to that. Let me talk with them
about it,.
HE called Senators Villas and McPher-
son aside and talked with them quite
earnestly for fully five minutes. He re-
turned, apparently disappointed, and
said: It's no use; they object to the
word free" because it is a very objec>
| tionable word in the Northeast in COM
| nection with money, and to adopt it
of the country
II then explained the Atkins amend
| ment whereupon he again said: They
will certainly consent to that. I think
they VIII. Ihat'S VOte-getter. l will
talk to them about it.
again he held an earnest conversation
with the senators, when, returning, look
ing more crestfallen than at first he re-
marked: It's no use; they will consent to
no change.
1.-The fight before the full committee
| was reported in the press at the time.
advocated the amendment, inserting the
word free in the plank. Mr.. Bayard
and Senator Villas made several earnest
speeches against it. The amendment
| was lost. I carried the amendment into
the convention. 1t was again defeated.
I became convinced that Senators Villas
and Mcpherson, with ex-Secretary of
State Bayard, represented Mr.. C1eve-
lands views, and that they fully UNDER
stood each other. The money plank was
trap with which to catch free coinage
votes for Mr.. Cleveland I made up my
mind would not walk into the trap with
my eyes open, and so as soon as possible
I repudiated Mr.. Cleveland and did what
l could for Gen. Weaver"
THE PRICE OF CORN, PAST AND