The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-09-02

itorial in which Mr.. Thomas NJ. Pat
terson, editor Of the newspaper. gives
a full account of the proceedings OF
resolutions at the last Democratic con-
vention, relating to the financial plank.
The subcommittee consisted of Mr..
Bayard, Senators Mcpherson, Villas
and Daniel John d. c. Atkins. of Ten
nessee; L. p. Garrard. of Georgia; Mr..
Zones. of Missouri, and Mr.. Patterson,
Of Colorado.
Mr.. Patterson Says;
when the plank was first read and
analysed l suggested that it was I'M
certain and gave room for caviI about
it's meaning. To remove this uncer-
tainty L requested that the word free"
be inserted before the words coinage
of gold and silver" etc. I distinctly
stated that 1 would be content to omit
the ratio for such coinage, leaving that
to Congress. What did want was the
Democratic party clearly and unequiv-
ocaliy committed 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 it. But the
word free" as applied to coinage.
was so liable to be misunderstood in
the east and northeast that it 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, and told in graphic and pathetic
language the services he had per-
formed for the white metal"
Atkins Amendment.
Mr.. Patterson says that after consid-
cradle discussion Mr.. Atkins, a profess
sionaI binetallist, offered the following
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 mintage," etc.
Il realized in moment" continues
Mr.. Patterson that it was declaration
for free coinage as clear and empk attic
as though the word free" were used
a dozen times. But before committing
myself 1 turned to Senators Villas and
Mcpherson and Mr.. Bayard and asked,
What do you think of it, gentlemen"
They indicated they wished to consider
it,"
He then conferred with Mr.. Daniel.
who approved of the substitution, and
who said in response to the assertion
that the other side would not accept It:
Yes they will: they are honorable gen
tIemen. and when they say they favor
free coinage and would declare openly
for il, but that the word free is dan
gerous and will lose the party many
votes in the east and northeast, they
mean it. This amendment avoids their
only objection and they will adopt it.
Daniel Urges.
Mr.. Daniel then urged the acceptance
of the substitution and was much sur
prised when Senator Villas announced
that they had decided against accept
ing it. claiming that the original plank
was a declaration for free silver MT.
Atkins also voted against the substitu-
ton.
Mr.. Patterson states that Mr.. Whit
ney came to the committee room and
in answer to a question was told of
the effort to have the word free IN
serted in the monetary plank.
Mr.. Patterson continues: He stu
died the proposition a moment or two.
and in a very decided tone exclaimed;
That's a vote getter; they should not
object to that; let me talk with them
about it
HE called Senator Villas aside and
talked with him quite earnestly for
fully five minutes. He returned APP
parentIy quite disappointed, and said:
It's no use, they object to the word
free because it is a very objectiona-
BILE word in the northwest in connec-
ton with money, and to adopt it would
lose the Democracy that section Of the
country.
Would Have No Change.
'I then explained the Atkins amend
ment. Thereupon he again said in
most emphatic language: They will
certainly consent to that 1 think they
will That's a vote getter. I will talk
to them about it. Again he held an
earnest conversation with the sena-
tors; when, returning, looking more
crestfaIlen than before he remarked:
It's no use. They will consent TO no
change
''The fight before the full COMMITTEES
was reported in the press at the time.
I advocated the amendment inserting
the word free in the plank. Mr.. Bay
ard and Senator Villas made several
earnest speeches against it. The
amendment was lost. I carried the
amendment into the convention; it was
again defeated. I became convinced
that Senators Villas and Mcpherson,
with ex-Secretary Of State Bayard.
represented Mr.. Cleveland's views, and
that they fully understood each other.
The money plank was a trap with
which to catch free coinage Demo
Gratis for Mr.. Cleveland. I made up
my mind I would not walk into the
trap with my eyes open, and so as
soon as possible 1 repudiated Mr..
Cleveland and did what I could for