The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-06-29
HARTMAN TO MANTLE
The Bolter Serves Notics That Hes
Not in the GOldbug lo.ump.
HIS PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
In His Judgment Henry M. Teller
Possesses All the requirements
of Presidential Candidate
His Position Defined.
Hon. Lee Mantle. Chairman Repuoli-

Hon. Lee Mantle. Chairman Repuoli-
can State Committee. Butte, Mont:
J Dear Slr-The action OF the repub-
lican national convention at st. Louis
In adopting q platform declaring for
the gold standard and the refusal OF
delegates from certain states to ap-
prove that platform presents a subject
now uppermost In the minds OF our
people. upon which I desire to submit
some observations for publication.
Prior to the convention Of June l6.
1885, the national republican party was
pledged to the support Of the two great
principles OF protection and blmetal-
lism. As humble member OF that or
ganization l have always cordially sup
ported by voice and vote those two
principles. The republican party OF
Montana In Its various platforms has
announced Its fidelity to both protec-
cation has In effect adopted as It's def
inition Of bimetallism "the free and un-
limited coinage of both gold and sill
yer at the existing ratio"
| Aside from the question of ratio this
Is In effect the definition given that
word by every writer OF prominence
or authority prior to the year 1895. The
national republican party has now re-
pudiated blmetallism. From Its de-
mand for the use Of both gold and sill
ver as standard money" in Its plat
form Of 1892 II has receded and declar-
ed for gold as the sole standard Of
money.
1t has the undoubted right to change
the party tenets whenever II sees ut
so to do. II, has the right to forsake
either bimetallism or protection. or
both. II has forsaken bimetallism. re-
pudiated gold and silver as standard
money" and declared for the single
standard Of gold. 1t Is the right Of
every republican who does not believe
In blmetallism to follow the national
convention In Its desertion of bimetal-
lism and In Its adherence to the gold
standard. It Is equally the right and
duty OF every republican who honestly
and sincerely believes In bimetallism as
an essential prerequisite to prosperity
In this country to refuse to follow. As
q republican OF Montana in exercise Of
that right. deeply regretting the neces-
sity which impels me to this course.
respectfully but positively decline to
aid In perpetuatirg the gold standard
with Its legitimate and consequent
. evils upon the producers and wage
earners Of this country.
Believing sincerely. as I do. that no
general or permanent prosperity can
exist In this country so long as we at
tempt to maintain the gold standard.
cannot consistently. with that convic-
tion and my sense OF duty. support
any man for president who will direct
ly or Indirectly contribute to the main-
tenance of that standard.
The United States is the greatest pro-
duclng nation on the face of the earth.
We are also a debtor nation. In our
products consists our wealth. From
these products our debts. both individ-
ual and national. are paid. How We
are to become weather. by reducing
the prices OF everything We produce is
a proposition ] am unable to compre-
hend and yet the Affirmative OF that
proposition must be sustained In order
to justify the continued existence OF
the gold standard.
How we will be able upon a basis
alike fair, equitable and honorable to
debtor and creditor. to liquidate our
Indebtedness from the proceeds of the
sale Of our products when the price Of
such products are continually decreas-
ing Is a question or equal Importance
and equal difficulty? To say that II Is
just to require larger quantity OF a
given product to pay a debt than the
amount that the debt would have pur-
chased at the time Of its contraction.
Is to assert that falling prices are to
the interest of the producer or else to
assert that the right OF the producer
and debtor are not TO be considered
and are to be wholly subordinated to
the demands and desires of the cred
itor and consumer. I thoroughly deny
the oft-repeated assertion OF the ad-
vocate Of the gold STANDARD that al
though falling prices do give the pro-
ducer less for his product, yet such re-
duced price rebounds to the benefit Of
the wage Garner who has to purchase
that product to supply his daily neces-
stiles. I place my denial upon the
broad principle that the interest OF tie
producer and the wage Garner are In
separable: that Il the producer IL COM
relled to take less price for the thing
produced that his employe must suf-
fer his proportion TO the lessened price
In a reduced scale of wages.
During the ensuing campaign ! shall.
IL an opportunity offers itself. take oc-
casion TO discuss In more extended de-
tail than is practicable In this letter
the question of the inexpediency OF at
tempting TO longer maintain the gold
standard in this country.
I am advised that some republicans
In Montana question the expediency or
propriety Of the course which I have
outlined in this letter. and who believe
that we should In our state republican
organization surrender our convictions
so often and so plainly announced and
repudiate the pledges made 10 our peo-
pie upon which some NJ us hold COM
missions to represent Montana In var
ious political capacities. That this sur
render ard reputation should be made
to the end that we may be In harmony
with the national organization. I ad-
init the right OF the majority to control
in matters Of mere method, but | deny
the right Of the majority TO compel the
minority to abandon and surrender
principles for any reason whatever.
As a protectlonist. believing In that
principle now as I have always be-
lieved in Il. I would refuse TO follow
the dictates OF the national convention
had Il declared for free trade. There
fore. believing as I do believe that the
great question Of bimetallism Is Of
vastly more Importance even than the
other great question ot protection.
cannot and viii not consent 10 follow
the national organization In the gold
standard camp.
have no complaint to make Of fell
low Republicans in Montana who differ
I with me as 70 the proprlcty OF this