The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-01
FORCE THE FIGHTING
Mr.. Merrill Thinks the Time Has
Come for Independent Action.
THE SILVER CONSOLIDATION
A United Front Is Presented and IL
the Old Parties Ignore Us
There'll Be a Third
In the Field.

Thomas @. Merrill was in Butte yes
terday on his return from Chicago,
where he attended a conference of OFF,
GERS ard delegates from the National
Bimetallic union. National Bimetallic
league and the National silver COM
mittee, which was appointed by the
free silver convention held In Memphis
several months ago. The purpose OF
the Chicago conference was to CONSOLE
date the three silver organizations into
one solid working organization. The
consolidation was effected and General
Warner, president of the Bimetallic
league. was elected president Of the
new organization; r. G. Chambers,
president of the Bimetallic union, was
elected first vice president, and Judge
c. II. Miller, president of the national
silver committee, was elected second
vice president. r. B. Light. secretary
of the National Bimetallic union, who
has had charge of the unions educa-
tional work at Chicago. was elected
secretary of the consolidated organiZa-
lions. Mr.. Light will retain his head
quarters at Chicago, and will have
charge of the educational work in the
central and western states. The or
ganization will also maintain an office
in Washington and the work in general
will be directed from that Office and
will be under the supervision of Gen
eral Warner, who will to a large extent
conduct the educational work in the
South and East What work may be
necessary on the Pacific coast will be
directed from an Office that will be
opened in San Francisco.
1.-THE time has come when in order to
succeed in 1896, we must give notice to
the voters of the country that they
will have an opportunity next year of
joining a political organization that
will have for it's platform opposition to
the foreign control of the American
financial policy and Independent bimet-
allism at a ratio of is to l." said Mr..
Merrill to a Standard reporter in
speaking of the aims and hopes of the
consolidated silver forces. THAT is the
| object, as i understand II, of the con-
ference which is to be held in Wash
ington on Jan. %, and II neither the
democrats nor republicans adopt a plat
for to include independent BIZ
| metallism, there will be a
new party organization on that Issue.
The people are ready for ii. They re-
| alize that since silver was demonetized
and the country placed on a gold ba-
sis one-half the value of their property
| has been destroyed. They realize that
| every promise and profession of the
gold men with Grover Cleveland at
! their head has proved false and this
feeling is general. The people say
| that although they don't thoroughly
| understand the financial question yet
| they do understand that since the
country has been on a gold basis the
value of their property has decreased
one-half and they say: 1t can't be
worse and let's try bimetallism.' With
| a new party organization based on the
financial question and with leaders
| who will commend the confidence and
respect of all the business men and
| other voters of the country there will,
I believe. be many surprises when the
votes are counted next November. But
much depends on pushing this educa-
tional work with the greatest possible
vigor. The feeling among the leading
| silver men Is very encouraging. The
cause of bimetallism has never been
growing among the voters as II is at
present. We had at the Chicago con-
ference delegates from a number of
states and all were enthusiastic as to
the future. 1t was the opinion of those
| well posted as to the feeling among
the voters in the Mississippi valley
states and especially in the agricul-
tural districts, that IL the opportunity
were presented TO vote their convic-
lions to-day. there would be a very
large majority in favor of independent
bimetallism."
Mr.. Merrill left yesterday afternoon
for Salt Lake and other southern
points in the interests OF the silver
cause.