Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-06-25
SILVER MEN.

SILVER MEN.
| Dramatic Scene Before the Resolutions
Committee of the Republican Conven-
ton.
| ST LOUIS, June 16-The committee
| On resolutions of the national repub-
| Iican convention was in continuous
session for over five hours yesterday
| considering the platform 1t was final
" agreed to.
The feature of the day was the ac-
ton of Senator Teller and other silver
members of the committee on the
| financial flank. Senator Teller
opened the opposition to the platform
by offering his amendment for free
and independent coinage at the
ratio of sixteen to one. Neither
he nor his colleagues had any
hope that Mr., Teller's PROPOSE.
ton would prevail. and the Colorado
senator took the floor to formally an
nounce that they could no longer act
with the republican party if gold
plank was placed in the platform. His
address was most effecting. His OK
preston of regret that he had reached
the parting of the ways moved some of
his colleagues to tears. He displayed
no bitterness, but he was impressively
sad in expressing regret at what he
termed the act of the party in '1eav-
ing him and his associates"
The financial plank was reached
about noon and after offering his sub
stitutes Mr.. Teller made vigorous
speech in support of them.
He spoke vehementIy in opp osition
to the gold standard plank, declaring
his belief that in taking this course
the party was departing from it's
vaunted position of defender of the
rights of the people and putting itself
in the hands of bond-clippers of Lom-
bard and Wall streets. This policy he
denounced as un-American, unpatriotic
and opp osed to all the best interests Of
humanity. He expressed his sincere
regret that such a course should be
adopted-not because it affected him
personally. but because it was a step
that would seriously affect the welfare
of the people of the entire country.
AS for himself, he had been repub-
lican since the anti-bellum days He
had assisted in securing the nomina-
ton of Lincoln and had supported him
in the campaign. Naturally, there
fore. the step now proposed was re-
garded by him in the most serious
light, and he sincerely hoped that the
step would not be taken.
Mr.. Teller. in the course of his re-
marks, said that if the gold standard
plank proposed was adopted he would
consider it incum bent upon him to
sever his connection with the conven-
ton. Believing. as he did, upon this
subject. which was of all questions the
nearest to his heart, he could not con-
sistently continue his relations with a
body which was so determined to an
tagonize his convictions of right and
duty, and, as he believed. stultify its
own record.
Mr.. Darlington, of Pennsylvania, re-
piled briefly to Senator Teller. cha1-
longing the position of the senator's
address referring to the dictation of
LON bard street, and saying this was a
poor return for the money-amounting
to many millions of dollars-which had
been invested in the west by the men
of the east in building railroads and
other enterprises. 1--WE have given
you our money freely" he said, land
are surprised that you should now
want to pay US in money worth only so
cents on the dollar
Colorado" responded Mr.. Teller,
"has always paid her debts and will
continue to pay them. What we OBJ
ject to is the paying of So for 81 re-
ceived.'' He then proceeded briefly to
show that silver had not deprecated,
but that it was gold that had increased
in value.
Senator Lodge spoke briefly, but
largely in way personal to Senator
Teller. He spoke of the esteem in
which the Colorado senator was held
and the respect felt for him. but said
that, Notwithstanding this feeling, it
was impossible to follow his idea of
financial policy.
Senator Dubois followed in an ear
nest speech. He dwelt especially upon
the service the west had been to the
republican party, showing that that
section had never in it's hour of need
been untrue to the party call He
dwelt especially upon the strength Of
the west in the senate, and showed
how the repu blican party had owed
the maintenance of its protective tariff
policy and all other party policies to
the votes of that section in the senate.
Often when their own sectional in
terests were in no wise involved, he
asserted that the inter-mountain states
had been regular in supplying two
senator's for the support of these lines
of policy while New York with not