Great Falls weekly tribune., 1896-08-14
HARTMAN TALKS
The Doughty Free Coinage Montana
Congressman Explains His
Position.
HAS BEEN MISREPRESENTED
Will Battle for Bryan and Let His
Own Candidacy Take Care
of Itself

The following letter explains itself,
and in justice to Mr.. Hartman ie cheer
fully given space:
BOHEMIAN, Mont, Aug. 10, 1896
TO THE PEOPLE OF MONTANA: The |
persistent efforts of the Miner, in com
menting upon its report OF the Butte
conference, to place me in false posi-
ton with the people of Montana, will
be apparent to every one who under
stands the true position occupied by
myself with reference to congressional
candidacy.
The newspaper report Of the incom-
plete statement Of my position, and the
construction placed upon it by the Miner,
is mseading. In justice to the many
friends that | am proud to claim among
all political organizations in this state,
who have not only been just
but generous in their teaetment
OF me, and in justice to my.
self, repel the unfouuded charges con-
tanned in the Miner that by any word or
deed of mine any insult or slight has
been offered or intended to any man or
political party in this state. 1t is also
due to those friends and to myself that
a plain statement of my position upon
this matter be given to the public.
circumstances of recent occurrence
have served to create condition which,
to my mind, and to the minds of others,
seems to demand subordlnation of par
tisanship to the support of what we be-
lieve to be the greatest issue presented
to the American people since the civil
war.
| repeat what have said in public
addresses before, that the cause of bi
metalism is tho cause Of humanity and
civilization; it is greater than any po.
litical party; it is greater than all politi-
cal parties. TO contribute my mite to
the SUCCESS of that great principle |, like
some others, have believed it my duty to
refuse to support the gold standard
nominees of the republican party for
president and vice president. | claim
no credit for that course. The act was
but the performance OF what believed
to be solemn duty and no man has Il
right to claim credit for the performance
of duty.
In other fields than Montana, where
work in support of bimetallism is need
ed, shall be found from the Goth day
of September until election day doing
whatever duty may be assigned me in
support of that cause. My name will
be submitted to the silver wing of the
republican party at its state convention
at Helena on the 9th day of September
next, as candidate for representative
in congress. cannot anticipate the &C
| tion of that convention. belong to the
republican party of Montana, of which,
IN my judgment, 81 per cent OF its men,
bcrship agree with me that the free
coinage of silver at the existing ratio,
independent of any nation on earth, is
the paramount issue. | agree with the
other declarations in the republican
state platform of 1894, and cordially and
heartily indorsc the free coinage plank
in the democratic national platform OF
| 1896.
| have not been offered d nomination
by the democratic party OF Montana,
and do not presume such offer will be
made, because among other reasons the
democratic party of Montana knows that
| | have not changed my belief upon other
questions contained in their platform,
and that acceptance Of Il nomination by
them without expressly disapproving
| those planks with which ! disagree,
, would be in the nature Ct an indorse-
ment on my part Of thoee planks. This
] cannot consistently do. Hence nomi-
nation by That party could not properly
be offered nor accepted However kindly
disposed the convention might feel to-
ward any one occupying my position, an
indore"ment is all THAT could properly he
giver by it, and all t.at could properly
be accepted. This is the idea which
entertained when the remark was made
though imperfectly stated 49, which
gave the excuse To the Miner to PLACE
upon it the unfair and unwarranted
construction of my having "diedained"
the AID Of democrats and "uFereu
gratuitous insult to them.
! am constrained to believe that the
"vautjng ambition Of my friend Quinn
has rather "o'er leaped ltsclf.' tic Is
also candidate for congress. Permit
me to say to him in all Kindness that he
will not do his candidacy any good by
adopting unfair methods with his adver-
sHrles. His own selfrespect and the
| confidence and esteem of the public will
be secured and retained much more
surely by adopting course marked by
| fairness and fidelity at all times, and by
"A courage which does not waver when
| the supreme test comes. After al! is
said, of what importance arc the politi-
cal fortunes OF any one man except rs
| they may tend to promote the success Of
| the great cause upon which depends the
welfare of the entire people?
| At the present time il happens to be
my lot 10 represent Montana in the
| lower house of congress, 1T is but just
and proper in view of the recent unfair
utteranccs Of the Miner, that publicly
acknowledge my obligations to the Ieo-
rith hllt fAuy nyppT,tipnc