The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-07-23


dustries OF West Virginia had been de-
pressed since 1882. he produced statistics
in favor OF protection IS the most i'm
portant issue for the development Of the
natural resources OF the mountain state
The st. Louis platform favored protec-
ton and sound money, the latter being
also Of vital importance to the business
interests OF the growing state.
He said:
'The Democratic party in its platform
adheres to the war on protection and
reciprocity, and favors restriction upon
the freedom of contract 1t declares for
free and unlimited coinge of silver; the
debaSement of the currency, for paper
money, ciaes legislation. an income tax.
larger control of the railroad by the
government. against the life Of tenure
OF federal judges, attacks the supreme
and federal courts. opposes the protec-
ton of public property and mails by
federal authority under the decision or
the federal courts, and declares for re-
pudiation and against maintaining the
public credit. The spirit or reputation
and revolution pervades the platform.
as IL guided the deliberations OF the
convention. 1t can be safely said that
the advocates of free silver. fiat money.
regulators of obligations and contracts.
enemies OF the courts, those opposed TO
sound money and against maintaining
the national credit, those opposed to the
rights Of property. the socialists, CON-
munists and anarchists, can all, with
equal consistency, stand on the support
of the Chicago platform, adopted by the
new Democratic party. Free govern
ment cannot exist with these forces in
- thar ad<,r,- :
such a platform is getting ready to die,
or the republic is. The life Of one means
the death OF the other.
This is the first time the supreme
and federal courts have been attacked
in national platform. Happily for the
perpetuity of the government. politi-
cal convention led by revolutionary
forces, though Il may assault. cannot
destroy the supreme court Congress
cannot destoy it Only the majority OF
the people can decree its destruction,
as they can that of liberty and OF the
republic. / have an abiding faith in
the people. They are not ready for an
archy. The demand for larger control
OF railroads by the government becomes
alarming when II is considered along
with the open assault on the federal
courts To make any revolution sue
cessfuI the courts must first be silent
If this platform had stopped at a decia-
ration Of tariff for revenue. for free Sill
yer, etc, and Dick Bland or some other
Old fashioned Democrat had been NOM
! mated. Ii would not have been so bad.
But when the platform favors restric-
ton upon the freedom of contracts, at
tacks federal courts and opposes the
protection of United States property by
federal power, malice, viciousness and
anarchy become too visible and the pur-
poses OF the new Democracy are uncov-
cred"
II Is we'll known that Senator Elkins
is largely interested in silver mines. He
devoted the greater part Of his argument
in showing the ruinOus results OF free
coinage He introduced his argument
against free coinage as follows:
Il have been a producer OF silver for
over sixteen years; naturally / am its
friend and favor its largest possible
use for money, consistent with sound
and stable currency. My interest would
incline me TO favor the free coinage OF
silver II l could see that il was prac-
ticable or possible, or that II rested up
on any sound principles. The people
now ag1tating the silver question and
demanding its free and unlimited coin
age at 16 to 1, when silver is only worth
81 TO 1. are its worst enemies, apart from
the injury IL would do the country.
did not favor the purchasing clause OF
the Sherman act, because felt as a
friend Of silver and as a citizen, it
would increase the product Of silver and
thereby lessen Its value IN the markets
and destroy confidence in il as money.
This was the result"
Senator Elkins then argued that free
and unlimited coinage would not only
drive gold out of circulation and de-
moraiize business. but that II would al
so debase the white metal so as TO finally
destroy il as money.
Parkersburg. W. Va, July 22.-Hon.
George Wesley Atkinson of Ohio coun-
~ was nominated for governor by the
Republican state convention tfis after
noon by reclamation. Mr.. Atkinson is
about 80 years OF age. After his nomi-
nation the convention took a resess until
$50 tonight At IL o'clock the conven-
ton nominated L. L. LaFonette OF Graf
ton for auditor. The nomination was
hotly contested The convention then
adjourned until tomorrow