The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-03
SENATOR WOLCOTT
STICKS TO PARTY
Though Q Silverite. He will Support
Mckinley and Hobart.
The SENATOR STATES HIS REASONS
Says That He Is as Ardent as Ever
for Free Silver, but He Declines to
Indorse the Rest Of Bryan's Plat.
form. ..His Statement In Full.

Denver, COL, Aug. Z.-On InurSuay
evening Senator f. o. Wolcott stated
bis political position. He is for Nc
Kinley, and he gives his reasons as fol-
lows:
"The people of Colorado are entitled
20 know at such a juncture as this the
Views OF their representatives at WASH
ington. Among the greatest privileges
We enjoy under republican institutions
are freedom of conscience and freedom
Of speech, and If l should hesitate on
this or on any other occasion to declare
my belief and my convictions on any
public question should despise myself
even moro than l deSpise those incen-
diary newspapers and hysterical indi-
viduals. who assume that threats and
vituperation can choke the utterances
Of any self-respectng citizen of Colo
RADIO who has an opinion to express or a
principle to declare.
THE silver question is most vital. In
ternational bimetallism at the former
ratio would. OF course, be the most de-
sirable method of restoring silver as a
money metal, because the disturbance
Of values which might follow the in
auguratiOn of free coinage by the Unit
cd States alone would be avoided and
the question as to the expectation or
boarding Of gold would be eliminated.
In my opinion. however, the United
States alone could. under wise and con-
servative guidance-such guidance as
should deserve and receive the conf
dence of all classes of our people-open
Its mints to the unlimited coinage of sill
Yer and successfully maintain that met
al at parity with gold. at the ratio
OF l6 to Independently of the other ma
tions Of the world. During the seven
years Of my public service in the senate
] have always held this view: my vote
on all questions affecting the currency
has been identical with those of the
other senator's usually known as silver
senator's, and while my utterances on
the silver question may not have been
as frequent or as long as those of 9TH
ers, / share their views nevertheless.
My record on this subject is clear and
consistent. and the views | hold i eX-
pect always to maintain.
DISLIKES THE GOLD PLANK.
The financial plank of the national
Republican platform is, in my opinion,
y,
bers of the party who believe, as l be-
lieve, will struggle earnestly and hope
fully for the full and complete recogni-
tion and adoption by the Republican
party of the humane principle of bi-
metallism, animated by the belief that
the party which, on every other great
question involving human freedom and
the welfare of mankind, has stood for
all that was uplifting and ennobling
will yet realize that continuance of
the gold standard means only further
impoverishment and suffering.
THE platform contains, however, a
most important statement, pledging
the party to the furtherance of bimet-
allism by international agreement. To
the good faith of this pledge the his
tory of the party on other questions re-
quires the fullest credence. The over
shadowing importance of the silver
question makes /. certain to my mind
that every effort will be earnestly made
by the Republican party to secure to
this country the blessings of bimetal
ism, and it Is my sincere conviction
that silver will again be restored to
its place as a money metal, at the old
ratio, and that when this restoration
comes 1t will be accomplished through
the action and efforts of the Republican
party.
Except on the money question, no man
in Colorado who believes in the pro-
lection of American labor and American
products and American Industries, and
who loves his country, can read the
platform without hearty approval, and
no man doubts that Major Mckinley
will bring to his high office every quail
ty needed by a president of this great
people.
REFERS TO MIR. BRYAN.
"Mr. Bryan has been nominated for
the presidency on three separate plat
forms-by the Democratic party. the
POpulist party and the Silver party.
The last named party, the Silver party.
does not deserve serious consideration.
Most of it's members were present at its
recent convention at st. Louis, and the
newspapers report the convention hall
as being less than half full.
''The Democratic party nominated
Mr. Bryan upon platform, the finan-
cial portion of which was everything
that could be desired, and the rest of 1t
everything that is, in my opinion, un-
desirable and hostile to the interests
of our country. ] decline to stand upon
this platform and vote for this candi-
date. even with the alluring free-coin-
age plank. i cannot do II. l am a be-
liever in protection and shall not aban-
don that belief. The supreme court Of
the United States is n pure and able
tribunal, the highest judicial tribunal
in the world. I will not help smirch it.
This government must be enabled to
I'ay its running expenses, and when
ever my vote Is needed for that purpose
and ! fail to vote it supplies to keep
alive, and I shall consider that vio-
late my oath as senator.
''The recent Republican congresses
have been neither wasteful nor eXtrav-
agant. and must decline to certify to a
statement know to be untrue.
when. some months ago, the great
railway strike at Chicago got beyond
control, and innocent lives were being
sacrificed and millions of dollars worth
of property was being destroyed by law
less men, when the sheriff was power
less and the governor failed to perform
his duty, the president of the United
States. with federal troops, under sane
tion Of law, saved further bloodshed and
destruction, and thereby deserved the
thanks Of every man who values our
liberties and believes that the rights
guaranteed us by the constitution ought
to be sacre lily guarded against every
form Of lawlcssness.
"The recent travesty at st. Louis, the
Populist convention, has but illustrat-
ed the elements which naturally gravi-
tate toward the candidacy Of Mr. Bry-
an. Every cranky quirk. every incon-
rruous and iudicrous and misShapen