The herald., 1895-09-02
PATTERSON'S V|ND|CAT|ON
Relates the Work of the Sub.
Committee on Finance
WHY "FREE" WAS LEFT OUT
Fear Of the Loss of the East and
Northeast
WHY "FREE" WAS LEFT OUT
The natter Aired In His Paper to square
HimseIf-Why He Deserted Cleveland
and Supported Weaver
Associated Press Special Wire.

henoCiutou TIosS opcClul WlTG
DENVER, Sept. 1.-The Rocky Noun
tain News today publishes an editorial in
which Mr.. Thomas M. Patterson, editor
of the newspaper, gives full account of
the proceedings of the subcommittee on
resolutions at the last National Demo
cratic convention relating to the financia.
plank. The subcommittee consisted of
Mr.. Bayard, Senators Mcpherson, Villas
and Daniel. John u. G. Atkins Of Tenn
essee, L. F. Garrard of Georgia, Mr.. j ones
of Missouri and Mr.. Patterson of Colo.
RADIO.
| Mr.. Patterson says:
! "When the plank was first read and
| analyzed. suggested that it was uncer-
| tain and gave room to cavil about its
meanirg; to remove this uncertainty
requested tnat the word Gree DO in
serted before the words "coinage of gold
and silver, etc. 1 distinctly stated that
would be content to omis the ratio for
such coinage, leaving that to congress; /;
| what did want was the Democratic par.
| ty clearly and unequiyocally committed
to true bimetaliism. Senators Villas and
| Mcpherson opposed this and 50 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 il would through
| this ignorance lose the party many votes,
which should not be allowed. Mr.. Bay
ard was particularly earnest in asserting
| his fealty to silver and told in graphic
and pathetic language the services he had
| performed for the white metal"
Mr.. Patterson says that after consider
lok loA NJ tlv.,
bimetallist. offered the following substi-
tute for the monetary pla1k:
I'VE 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 owners thereof without dis
cri III ination against eigther metal or
charges for mintage, etc.
Il realized in moment" continues
Mr.. Patterson, THAT 1t was a declaration
| for free coinage as clear and emphatic as
| though the word free were used dozen
| times, but before com mittng myself, l
tui ined to Senators Villas and MCPHERSON
and Mr.. Bayard ana asked: What do
| you think of it, gentlemenP They indl-
Gated 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 it: "Yes they will.
| They are honorable gentlemen, anu when
| they saySthey would favor free coinage
and would declare openly for it, but that
the word free is dangerous and will lose
the party many votes in the east ana
northeast, they mean it. This amend
ment avoids Sheir only objection, and
they will apopt IT..
Mr.. Daniel then urged the acceptance
of the substitute and was surprised when
Senator Villas announced that thev had
decided against accepting it, claiming
that the original plank was a declaration
for free silver.
Mr.: Atkins also voted. against the sub
Mr.. Patterson states that Mr.. Whitney
came to the committee room and in an
swer co question was told OF the effort
to have the word free inserted in TIE mo-
etary plank.
Mr.. Patterson continues: "Hs studied
the proposition moment or two, and IN
a very decided voice exclaimed That's
a vote-getter; they should not object to
that; let me talk with them about it,
He called Senators Villas and Mcpherson
aside and talked with them quite earn
estly for fully five minutes. He returned,
apparently quite disappointed, and said:
It's no use; they object to the word free
because it is very unreasonable word in
the northwest in connection with money.
and to adopt it would lose the Democracy
that section OF the country explained
the Atkins amendment Thereupon he
again said in most emphatic language:
They will certainly consent to that; l
think they will; that is vote-getter; l
will talk to them about it, Again he
held an earnest conversation with the
senators; when, returning. looking more
crestfallen than at first, he remarked:
It's no use; they will consent to no
CHANGE
1.-The fight before the full committee
was reported in the press at that time. l
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. | carried the amendment into
the convention; 1t was again defeated. I
became convinced that Senators Villas and
MCPHERSON, with ex-Secrstary Bayard,
epresented Mr.. Cleveland views and
that they fully understood each other.
The money plank was trap with which
to carry free coinage Democrats for Mr..
Cleveland. l made DIP my mind that 1
would not walk into the trap with my
eyes open, and so as soon as possible I
repudialed Mr. Cleveland and did what
| could for General Weaver"