The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-05-17

The following resolutions, introduced
in the silver conference yesterday, will
be considered in that body today:
Resolved, That after the business OF
this conference has been finished, we
do and by this resolution are consti-
tuted an executive committee for the
purpose of devising ways and means of
electing to the Presidency and Con-
gress Of the United States, men who
are known to be absolutely in favor of
free and unlimited coinage of silver.
and hereby pledge ourselves. to work
and vote for no party or candidate
who is not pledged to the free and un-
limited coinage of silver at the ratio
Of 16 to 1, irrespective of internationa,
agreement.
The conference is an bipartisan
body. 1t was not convened to discuss
party politics. Such party sentiments
as have been expressed were in advert
encies. which may be passed by with
out further comment. The rehabilita-
ton of silver is the purpose in view
and to that the delegates eyes must
be single while the conference con-
tinues.
But when the body is dissolved and
its elements separate, what course
shall the Democrats, Republicans and
Populists each pursue? 1t is scarcely
to be expected that they will fuse on
any other question than that of free
silver coinage. Can they do that with
out violating party pledges or break
ing down party lines?
As proposed in the above resolution,
they can refuse to support any candi-
date for the Presidency or for Con-
gress who is not straight, square
silver man, pledged as worded in the
resolution. But If the Democratic
party should nominate genuine silver
man for President, and the Repub-
lican party should nominate strad-
dler or gold monometallist, would the
Republicans of the silver conference
be bound to support the silver Demo-
crat? That is a serious question for
strong partisaus to consider. OF course
the same rule should work as to DEM
ocrats and a Republican silver nonl-
inee, but the probabilities are that the
Republican candidate for the Presi-
ent bimetallist.
The same question arises in reference
to Democratic and Republican candi-
dates for Congress. In the west there
will be very little trouble on that ac-
count, because whether they be Demo-
Gratis, Republicans or Populists, they
will be straight silver men. No others
could gain a nomination. But silver
men, pledged to the restoration of the
white metal irrespective of interna-
tional agreement, must be sent to the
national legislature. for silver Presi-
dent will be of little help to the cause
without a silver Congress.
1t appears to US that the pledge
ought to be and can consistently be,
that not only will the members refuse
to work for a presidential candidate
who is not free silver man, but that
they will work for silver candidate
of the opposite party if their own party
should nominate an anti-silver man or
a straddler.
The silver question is the over
and vital issue before the
In agreeing to vote for
sound silver candidate nominated by
the Democratic party, if their own
party should fail in that respect. Re-
publicans might feel as though they
were doing violence to political con-
science, and so with Democrats If
placed in a similar position. But that
need not be an endorsement of the
principles and policy of the opposite
party. it would be q temporary move
ment justified by an emergency. And
it would be only in reference to the
Individual candidate as the champion
and standard bearer of the silver
cause. 1t would not mean apostacy
from the party.
This may have the appearance of
to party obligations.
But that need not be so. Men of each
party may justly determine that they
will support silver nominee for Presi-
lent and be the one most likely to be
elected by the silver voters, and hold
hat above other or party considera-
ions and so declare themselves and
and be consistent.
1t is very clear that without union
among ..e silver men Of the west and
he south there will be little hope for
he election of a silver President.
There is no need for men to leave
heir respective parties to do this
They can work along their own lines at
present, and when it comes to the
crucial test then let them unite on the
straight silver candidate whom they
nay possibly elect, and so place first
md foremost in their suffrages the
nan who will represent that which
s first and foremost in the public in
crest.
This is the turning point in the
welfare. If silver is lost in
he next campaign the golden chains
hat bind the nation will become
heavier and tighter. They must be
ourst asunder by united effort and
he cause of true bimetallism be made