The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-07-23
PLATFORM.
Committee ON Resolutions Adopt

one ny Il vote OF lG TO j.
ST. LOUIS. July 22.-The committee on
resolutions of the silver party convention
met tonight and subcommittee was an
| pointed to recommend the platform passed
at the Washington, D. c., timetable con-
ference IN January last. There was a
hard fight on the part of General Warner.
the Ohio member, for the endorsement of
| Inc democratic silver plank in toto, but
| ny vote of 10 10 5, the subcommittee
was instructed to report the following
! platform:
IT, The national silver party, in conven-
lon assembled, hereby adopts the fol-
lowing declaration of principles.
F1rst-The paramount issue at this
time in the United States is indisputably
the money question. 1t is between the
goId standard, gold bonds and bank cur
rency on one side and the bimetallic
standard, no bonds and government cur
rency on the other.
On this issue, we declare ourselves to
be IN favor OF a distinctly American finan-
clal system: We are unalterably opposed
10 the single gold standard, and demand
the immaculate return to the constitutional
standard OF gold and silver by the reStora-
tloh by this government, independently of
any foreign power, of the unrestricted
coinage OF gold and silver as the standard
money at the ratio of 16 to l, and upon
terms or exact equality as they existed
prior to 1873; the silver coin to be a. full
legal tender, equally with gold for all
depts and dues, public and private, and We
favor SUCH legislation as will prevent for
.lie IuluTe the demOnetiZation of any
Kind of legal tender money by private
contract.
we hold that the power to control and
regulate a paper currency is inseparable
from the power to coin money, and hence
that all currency intended to circulate
as money should be issued and its volume
co1trolled by the general government only
and should be legal tender.
!
issue by the United States of interest,"
bearing bonds in time of peace, and we
oenounce as blunder worse than a crime
ahe present treasury policy, incurred by
aept by hundreds OF millions in the vain
attempt to maintain the gold standard
by borrowing gold; and we demand the
payment of all coin obligations of the
United States as provided by EXISTING
laws, IN either gold or silver coin, at the
option OF the government and not at the
option of the creditor.
Second-Ihat over and above all other
questions of policy we are in favor of re-
storing TO the people Of the United States
tnv Eme-honored money of the constitu-
tion-sold and silver, not one but both
the money of Washington and Hamilton
and JEFFERSON and Monroe and Jackson
and L-ncoln-to the end that the Ameri-
can people may receive honest pay for an
honest product; that the American debtor
may pay MS just obligations in an honest
Standard and not in a standard that has
appreciated 100 per cent. above all the
great staples of our country; and to the
end, further, that silver-standard coun-
tries may be deprived of the unjust adj
vantage they now enjoy in the difference
in exchange between gold and silver
an advantage which tariff legislation can
not overcome
I'VE therefore confidently appeal to the
people of the United States to leave IN
allegiance for the moment all other ques-
TONS however important and even mo-
fn ,Jn,. 8
need be all former party ties and affilia-
tons, and unite in one supreme effort to
free themselves and their children from
the domination of the money poWer-a
has ever been fastened upon the civilized
men OF any race or in any age. And upon
the contamination of our desires and eff
forts. we invoke the gracious favor of
divine providence.
The platform which General Warner
sought to have recommended recited that
it had been adopted at the Washington
conference which called the present con-
vention, and the Democratic party had
incorporated g plank in it's platform in
accordance herewith; and further set
forth that the Silver party's platform
should endorse both the Democratic plat
form and the nominees.
Judge c. r. Scott of Nebraska was on
his feet Immediately and offered the plat
form above as a, substitute
DIR. Frank Powell of Wisconsin made a
speech, strongly urging the adoption of
the substitute as a distinct Silver party
platform. He said that many silver Re
publicans would not vote for the Warner
Platform, inasmuch as the Democratic
party had passed it, and on that account
would be prejudced against it.
He was followed by G.. w. Baker of
California, who contended that the Dem
ocratic candidates would be endorsed, and
that was as much as the Democrats
should insist on.
General Warner said the Democrats
adopted practically the same platform as
the conference at Washington and the
only change was in the phraseology. 1t
had been adopted to unity the Democrats
and all silverites, and in his Judgment
the Democratic platform should be en-
dorsed.
There were several other speakers along
the same lines when Judge Scott made
tn motion that a subcommittee of five
be appointed and instructed to report as
indicated, and his motion was agreed to.
The same subcommittee was authorized
to issue an address TO the citizens of the
United States explaining the attitude OF
the Silver party. The committee appoint
ed was: w. G. Baker of California, w.
H. Harvey of Illinois, Judge c. R. Scott
of Nebra ska, G. w. Thompson of Wash
ington, Hallett Kiiburne Of Washington
D. c., and D. Frank Powell of Wiscon-
sin.