The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-09-25
AN OLD REPUBLICAN
REPUDIATES HIS PARTY AND
JOINS THE POPULISTS.
Has a Candidate for the Presidency
Tells Great Deal of Truth
In a Few Words.

Editor Representative:
Sir: In answer to an invitation to
meet with friends of free silver, 16 to l.,
replied:
"H. O. Stocker, Jr.,-Dear Sir: Your
invitation to attend a meeting OF the
friends of bimettalism Aug. "a, only
reached me today Aug. PSI. / should
certainly have met with them had the
notice reached me in time as am in full
and hearty accord with all without re-
gard to past party differences, who are
now joining hands for the free and un-
limited coinage of silver at 16 to l ratio,
as was the case before that crime of the
century, silver decentralization in 1873.
1.-THE fight now is the West and South
against the Eastern Gold Bugs of the
Depew stripe, and Wall street, that nest
of shylocks; with the congenial COM
bine Cleveland, Rothschild, Morgan &
Co.
"I have no doubt about the result, sill
yer will win. am too much of an Amer
lean to be willing that England chat
notion of shopkeepers) shall regulate our
currency.
cover 100 years ago we substituted
dollars and cents for pounds, shillings
and pence, when we were only 100000;
it is shame and disgrace if we cannot
when near 10000 900 regulate our cur
rency without old England's dictation.
"Yours for silver at 16 to 1,
Major Geo. Blight Halstead."
Mr.. Editor-Since sending the above
have seen published report of that
meeting, it's proceedings, etc.. and its
officers elected I confess am surprised
at one feature in the constitution, that q
pledge should be taken from it's officers,
not while in Office to exercise any po-
litical power as means to promote the
object we have in view, but must confine
himself only to the school teaching bust
ress and for how long? l ask.
Differing from my colleagues, believe
schooling has been going on for long
time only not in the Republican and
Democratic parties, they have both been
successfully playing the hoodwinking
game; while we have had for several
years a we'll organized party which in
its first declaration of principles was
clear and outspoken for the free and un-
limited coinage of silver at 16 to 1, and
has among it's members a leader form
erly Republican, who when sent by his
state-Nebraska- the highest legisla-
tive body Of our country proved himself
giant mentally as he Is physically 6
feet 3 inches) and ridiculing and laugh
ing at that custom or tradition of the
senate by which the old Gold Bugs Of
that body, Shermans, Hoars, electra,
would oyerawe new member, taught
them in his first session that he was
there for business, and that business was
the interests of the masses. not the
classes, and when the bill to repeal the
Sherman law was before the senate in
1893, he promptly offered an amendment
which showed where he was then, is
now. and will be to the end. I quote:
"To the bill proposing the repeal of the
Sherman act Senator William Allen OF
Nebraska Immediately offered an amend
ment for the opening of the minis for
the free coinage Of silver at the ratio Of
16 to /, and for the coinage at that ratio
of all the silver owned by the govern
ment"
His amendment was defeated by Re-
publican and Democratic Gold Bugs.
Now we have no difficulty in naming
presidential candidate who will cheer
fully work for politically and think it
good political sagacity to join party
which has already an organization and
which on the subject / have most at
heart; reconciliation Of silver has been
for it for years past while I have been
hoping that the party-Republican
which have been a member for long
time, was neither in earnest in their
bimettalic platforms.
The scales have fallen from my eyes,
/ would not take Harrison, Mckinley, AL
lison. Alger, Reed and expect them to go
with me for free silver 16 to 1 any sooner
than should expect Cleveland, If nomin-
ated for third term and elected, to
change from a gold bug to bimettalsn.
l, an old soldier, have another and very
strong prediction for William Allen of
Nebraska (they know good thing when
they see 1t and appreciate it) at Is years
of age Private w. v. Allen took a mus
ket, entered the Union army and served
his country well and faithfully and l
would like to show my appreciation of
and admiration for private soldier
what a proud boast for our country that
from the ranks we can find presidential
candidate equal to the best, superior to
some generals who have been presi-
dents.
From Washington to Harrison (don't
think mean to draw any parallel except
the amendment of title) we have thought
no one should be named for president OF
military title below general, with two ex-
ceptions, Capt. James Munroe of the Rev.
dictionary war and Capt. Abraham Lin
coin of the Black Hawk war. Wash
ington, Jackson, Taylor, Scott, Pierce
Grant, Mcclellan, Hayes, Hancock, Gar
field, Harrison, and now the Republican
party Generals Harrison and Alger are
at the front, the first seeking another
chance at the public crib. His nominal
ton in 1892 defeated the Republican
party.
with this private soldier on the gold