Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1895-10-10


certain and gave room to caVil about
Its meaning. To remove this uncer-
tainty, requested that the word free"
be inserted before the words tonnage OF
gold and silver" etc. I distinctly
stated that l would be content to omit
the rate for such coinage, leaving that
to congress; what I did want was the
democratic party clearly committed to
true bimetallism.
Senators Villas and Mcpherson OPP
posed this and so did Mr.. Bayard.
Each gave his reason. It was not that
they opposed free coinage, on the con-
trary, they favored it,. but the word
free" as applied to coinage was so
liable to be misunderstood in the east
and northeast that 1t would, through
this ignorance, lose the party many
votes, which should not be allowed.
Mr.. Bayard 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 con-
siderable discussion, Mr.. Atkins, pro-
fessed bimetalllst, offered the follow
ing substitute for the money 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 discrimination against
either metal, or charge for mintage,"
etc.
II realized In a moment" continues
Mr.. Patterson, "that 1t was a declara-
ton for free coinage as clear as though
the word free" was used dozen times,
but before committing myself turned
to Senators Villas and Mcpherson and
Mr.. Bayard and asked:
What do you think Of 1t, gentle
menu"
They indicated that they wished to
consider 1t.
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.
Eyes, they will; they are honorable
gentlemen, and when they say they
favor free coinage and would declare
openly for 1t, but that the word free
Is dangerous and will lose the party
many votes in the east and northeast,
they mean It, This amendment avoids
their only objection and we should
adopt It."
Mr.. Daniel then urged the accept
ance Of the substitute and was much
surprised when Senator Villas an
nounced that they had decided against
accepting 1t, claiming that the original
plank was a declaration for free
silver.
Mr.. Atkins also voted against the
substitute.
Mr.. Patterson stated that Mr.. Whit
ney came to the committee-room and
IN answer to a question was told to
have the word free" inserted in the
monetary plank.
Mr.. Patterson continued:
'He studied the proposition a moment
or two and in very decided voice ex-
claimed: That's a vote getter|
They did not object to that. He
called Senators Villas and Mcpherson
aside and talked with them quite earn
estly for fully five minutes. He re-
turned apparently quite disappointed
and said:
"Its no use, they object to the word
free because it is a very Objectionable
word in the northeast in connection
with money, and to adopt it would lose
the democracy in that section of the
country"
I then explained the Atkins amend
ment, whereupon he again said:
"They will certainly consent to
that. think they will. That's vote
getler. will talk to them about it."
Again he held an earnest CONVERSE
lion with the senators, when returning,
looking more crestfallen than at first,
he remarked:
TITS no use; they will consent to no
change"
The fight before the full committee
was reported in the press at the time.
advocated the amendment inserting the
word free" in the plank. Mr.. Bayard
and Senator Villas made several earnest
speeches against 1t. The amendment
was lost. 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.. Cleve.
lands views and that they fully under,
stood each other. The money plank
was a trap with which to catch free
coinage votes for Cleveland. made
up my mind I would not walk into the
trap with my eyes open, and so as soor
as possible repudiated Mr.. Cleveland
and did what could for Genera
Weaver.
It is not thunder, but lightning, tina
kills. The gold-bugs make lots Of nois,
but the sharp, fierce lightning Of al