Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1895-01-25

tern in a hurry. Ever since I came here,
ten years ago, all tho talk has been that
business was dependent on the next cleo
ton and we must make a change. Well,
I cannot remember Il time when business
depended so much on the next election as
now md all the wisdom Of all the wise
men cannot tell how the ncxt election is
going. Business is gambling, and politics
Is trlckcry, and SO thcy will continue so
long as their adulterous union lasts"
After listening to this and q good deal
more of the same kind it was like a comic
aftcrpiece following a tragedy to hear tho
talk of the Populists who had lately at
tended tho national caucus of their party
at St. Louis. 1t is noticeable that those
who have served even one term i'll congress
were earnest in that caucus i'll favor of a
short platform and only one or two promi-
nent issues, while those without expert
enca were in favor of sweeping the whole
field. Jerry Simpson says that all the lib
eral elements of the west9including nearly
all the Democrats west of Ohio, could be
combined in 1896 on a platform with three
planks-free coinage of silver, with dis
continuance of national banks; reduction
OF the tariff to a real revenue basis, and
such government control of railroads and
telcgraphs as will ultimately lead to gov
eminent ownership. Jerry says that the
railroad charged his constituents last sum-
mcr from three to seven times as much
per car of watermelons to Kansas City as
per car of wheat simply because tho farm
er could wait with the wheat and couldn't
with the watermelons, and so 1.-THE traffic
would bear it,"
Prospects of Legislation.
If I may judge the whole from those
who talk freely to me, the faction in favor
OF doing nothing but routine business at
this session has grown rapidly during the
holidays. By the Same test the unwilling
ness to see Il called session of the Fifty
fourth congress has grown rapidly less.
Western Democrats of the type Of Mr..
Bryan, Mr.. Geary of California, Mr.. Nc
Gam Of Chicago and Champ Clark say
that no banking and currency bill what.
ever can prove Il Success, and with them
agree, as I think, a majority of the repre-
sentatives from the gulf states. They
think this year is to give our financial sys-
tenn the severest trial it has had in our
time, II while tho best attainable bill
would fail to do good there are inherent
defects in all the bills proposed. AS any
bill passed this year is certain to fail, they
very naturally prefer to have the Repub-
licans take the responsibility of it. OF
course most of these lnen maintain that
the gold basis is steadily contracting, and
that on that basis no human wisdom can
insure a large paper currency. They arc
for moro silver in some form and most of
them for FREQ coinage. Nevertheless Mr..
Bland does not hope to get his amendment
or substitute adopted. There is not much
news in the statement that this congress
Is very much at sea on the finances, but
the fact, as shown by tho talk Of all the
members who have recently conferred with
their constituents, that it is moro at sen
now than ever is important and makes me
wonder at the confident statements of
some of tho leading metropolitan papers
that a satisfactory bill will soon be passed.
j. B. PARKE.