Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1895-09-07
CLEVELAND'S WORK
Tom Patterson Tolls of the Blow
at Silver in 1892.
WAS DONE BY FALSE FRIENDS
Villas, Mcpherson and Bayard Laid the
Trap in the Democrats
Platform Plank.

Denver, Sept. LINE ROCKY Moun-
tain News today published an editorial
in which Thomas M. Patterson, editor
of that paper, gives a full account or
the proceedings of the subcommittee
of the committee on resolutions at the
last democratic convention relating to
the financial plank. The subcommittee
consisted Of Mr.. Bayard. Senators Nc
Pherson, Villas and Daniel. John D. c.
Atkins Of Tennessee, L. F. Garrard or
Georgia, Mr.. Jones of Missouri and Mr..
Patterson Of Colorado.
Mr.. Patterson says: when the
plank was first read and analysed |
suggested that it was uncertain and
gave room to cavil about Its meaning
To remove this uncertainty | requested
that the word free be inserted before
the words coinage of gold and silver
etc. 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 1t-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"
Mr.. Patterson says that after consid-
cradle discussion Mr.. Atkins, profess
ed bimetallist, offered the following
substitution for the monetary plank:
1--WE 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 a moment" continues
Mr.. Patterson, that it was a declara
ton for free coinage as clear and en-
phatic as though the word free were
used a dozen times, but before commit
ting myself, turned to Senators Villas
and Mcpherson and Mr.. Bayard and
asked: What do you think of 1t, gen
tlemen?' They indicated that they
wished to consider it. / then cOnferr
ed with Mr.. Daniel, who approved of
the substitution, and who said in re-
Spouse to the assertion that the other
side would not accept it, Yes they
will. They are honorable gentlemen,
and when they say they favor free
coinage, and would declare openly for
it but that the word free is danger
Gus and will lose the party many votes
in the east and northeast, they meant
it. This amendment avoids their only
objection, and they will adopt It, Mr..
Daniel then urged the acceptance Of
the substitution, and was much surpris-
ed when Senator Villas announced that
they had decided against accepting it,
claiming that the original plank was a
declaration for free silver Mr.. Atkins
also voted against the substitution"
WHITNEY FAILED.
Mr.. Patterson says that Mr.. Whitney
came to the committee room, and in
answer to a question was told of the
effort to have the word free" inserted
in the monetary plank. Mr. Patterson
continues:
He studied the proposition 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 the
senators aside and talked with them
quite earnestly for fully five minutes.
He returned apparently quite disap-
pointed, and said, It's no use, they OBJ
Ject to the word free being a very
Objectionable word in the northwest in
connection with money, and to adopt it
would lose the democracy Of that Sec
ton of the country.
Il then explained the Atkins amend
ment, whereupon he again said in most
emphatic language, They will certain