Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-01-30
PLATFORM PROMULGATED.

The following is the declaration of
the conference:
The paramount issue at this time in the
Cnited States is indisputably the money ques-
ton. 1t is between the GOLD standard. gold
bonds and bank currency on one side. and the
bImetalfc standard, no bonds and government
currency on the other.
On this issue we declare ourselves to be in
favor OF q distinctive American financial sys-
tenn We are unalterably opposed to the single
gold standard. and demand the immediate re-
turn to the constitutional standard of gold
and silver. by the restoration by the govern
ment. independently OF any foreign power of
the unrestricted power of both gold and silver
into standard money, at the ratio of IS to |.
and upon terms Of exac: equality. as the; ex-
isted prior TO 1873 the silver coin to be of full
legal tender equality with gold for all debts
and dues public and private.
We mold that the power 10 control and regu-
late d paper currency is inseparable from the
power TO col- money: and. hence. that all cur
Tency intended to circulate money should be
issued and its volume controlled. by the gen
erai government only, and should be legal
tender.
We are unalterably opposed to the issue by
the United States of interest bearing bonds in
time of peace, and we denounce as n blunder
worse than q crime the present treasury policy.
eoncurred in by republican house, of pluneing
The country in debt by hundreds of millions in
the vain attempt to maintain the gold standard
by borrowing gold: and we demand the pay
ment of all the coin obligations of the United
States as provided by existing laws, in either
gold or silver coin, at the option of the govern
mens. and not at the option of the creditors.
WHEREAS. The decentralization of silver in
1873 enormously increased the demand for gold.
enhancing its purchasing power and lowering
all prices measured by that Standard: and.
WHEREAS. Since that ur lust and indefensi-
bic act. the prices of American products have
fallen upon an average nearly 80 per cent.
carrying down with them proportionatelv the
money value OF all other forms of property. ex-
cept in peculiarly-favored localities; and,
WHEREAS. Such fall of prices has destroyed
the profits of legitimate industry. injuring the
producer for the benefit of the nonproducer.
increasing the burden of the debtor and SWELL
ing the gains of the creditor paralyzlng the
productive energies of the American people.
RELOCATING to idleness vast numbers of willing
workers. sending the shadows of despair into
the home of the honest toiler. filling the land
with trampS and pauperS, and building up
colossal fortunes at the money centers: and,
WHEREAS, In the effort to maintain the gold
standard the country has, within the last
eighteen months, in a time of profound peace
and plenty, been loaded down with sl62, O0o 600
of additional Understanding debt, under such
circumstances as to allow a syndicate of ma
tive an foreign bankers to realize a net profit
OF 100000 on single deal: and,
WHEREAS, Another call is now pending for
further gold loan of S10O COO O00 which, but for
an OutburSt of popular Indignation, would also
have been negotiated in the same secret man
ner and through the same syndicate: and,
WHEREAS 1t stands confessed that the gold
standard can only be upheld by depicting
our paper currency to force the prices of our
products below the Europeans. and even below
the Asiatic level. in order that we may sell in
foreisn markets. thus aggrevating the very
evils OF which OUR people so bitterly complain
degrading American labor and striking At the
very foundations of our civilization itself: and.
WHEREAS. The advocates of the gold stand
ard persistently claim that the real cause of
our distress and overproduction. that we have
produced so much that it has made us poor,
which implies that the trade remedy is to
close the factory. abandon the farm and throw
Il multitude of people out of employment-a
doctrine that leaves absolutely without hope
for the future: and.
WHEREAS, The difference of exchange be-
tween silver standard countries and gold stand
ara countries is equivalent to a bounty equal
to the difference between the value of gold and
silver In favor of the products of silver stand
ard countries exported in gold standard coun-
tries. and corresponding tariff against the
products of gold standard countries exported
to silver using countries; and
WHEREAS. The cost OF production otherwise
in the Old World, and particularly in China
and Japan. is far less than the cost at which
similar products can be produced or manufac
tured in this country by American labor. with
out reducing our farmers miners, mechanics.
manufacturers and other industrial workers to
the level OF Chinese coolies: therefore, be It
Resofred. That. over and above all other queS-
lions of policy. We are in favor Of restoring 10
the people Of the United States the time-hon-