The Anaconda standard., 1895-05-17

"A 0teaof0St fr1end OF tne Stauuaru
sends to this Office a letter with the
question: do you mean to imply In
your editorial of this morning that the
Salt Lake convention ought to form
new silver party?" The reference Is to
the comment that appeared on this
page yesterday morning.
No, we do not think that the meet
ing at Salt Lake should be new
party's birthplace. There are parties
and parties-the signs are that there
will be several silver parties. The pre-
liminaries to the meeting In Salt Lake
were not such as to warrant the or
ganization OF a new party; the meeting
was held on the suggestion OF an indi-
vidual who did not announce any new
party proposition In the call.
Our criticism related, In the hrst
place, to the makeup Of the meeting.
It was a conference. and the idea was.
as recited In the call. to consider ways
and means for the spreading OF litera-
ture and information regarding the sill
yer question. 1t Is true that the call
provided for the naming Of three dele
gates by the governor of each state to
whom the call was addressed. but It Is
also true that cities and boards OF
trade were urged TO send men to Salt
Lake. The response from Montana
towns was fairly good; 1t seems to us
that Il had been wiser to invite every
body who went to sit In the meeting
and share IN its proceedings. 1t was
merely a conference-it must be quite
lnlr rIA q
ant impression would have been left
on the public II those who were doomed
into going had been offered seats.
Yesterday the day was spent In gen.
erai talk, many OF the speakers being
gentlemen who hold Office. They all
talked in a brave way. many Of them
made a declaration of intentions; when
the resolutions are given out we shall
all know how to Judge OF the confer
ence. One sentence In the news from
the convention reads: THE delegates
agreed that IL both parties could be m.
duced to adopt a silver platform. vic.
tory would be more certain" What q
remarkable observation. or course. II
both parties were to bind themselves tc
the free coinage of silver. victory would
he absolutely certain. But to assume
that both parties will be squarely and
fairly for free coinage Is like lunacy
The important question Is. can either
party be persuaded to come out nat
footed for free coinage. There is doub
whether either can be. but II is worth
while for the friends of silver to tr,
for Il. Therefore we shall feel cheeret
~ the Salt Lake conference announces
in the hearing OF all republicans ant
democrats: 1--WE declare that we will
choose between your two parties. an'
we will work and vote Tor the one o
YOU that goes squarely on record 70
free silver"
II both parties "could be induced Z
adopt a silver platform" indeed! I
both parties could be induced to adop
a free trade platform Fancy a con
vention representing several states Il
the year 1859. expressing the hope tina
both parties might be induced in ls6
10 adopt an anti-slavery platform!
This is not criticism on the confer
ence. Il Is comment on some of tn
news that comes from there. The con
ference cannot be judged until II dc
clares itself. 1t will have done goo
work II its members pledge themselve
that they will get outside the lines c
whichever party is not outspoken 70
free coinage. and that IL both partie
fail, silver will have their support In
party of its own. Our suspicion Is tha
there are hereabouts too many gentle
men who are unduly worried about I'll
party lines.