The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-05-27
A STRONG PLATFORM. |
THE IOWA MEN. SPEAK OUT
BOLDLY.
Is There Courage Enough Among
the Minnesota Democrats to
Follow Their Example?

Follow Their Example?
The following is part of the plat
form adopted. by an overwhelming
majority, May 20, at Dubuque, by the
Democratic party Of Iowa in conven-
ton assembled. 1t is the more strik.
ing because less than year ago, the
same men resolved against the free
coinage of silver. Itshows the trend of
affairs. We especially commend the
clear and powerful way in which their
platform, of 1896. deals with the great
questions of the day:
1.-THE Democracy Of Iowa, in conven-
tion assembled, hereby reatfirms it's al
legiance to the time-honored Demo-
cratic doctrine of bimetallism, to the
use of 10th gold and silver as primary
money, and the coinage of both with
out charge or limit. We hold to the
use of both gold and silver as the
standard money of the country, and to
the coinage of both gold and silver,
without discrimination against either
metal or charge for mintage.
I'm the judgment of this convention
the explicit pledge of the National
Democratic party, if fairly and honor
ably kept, requires the constant effort
of every loyal Democrat to accomplish
the repeal of all laws heretofore en-
acted, through the instrume tally OF
the Republican party, which in letter
and spirit alike discriminate against
silver and in favor of gold: and the
subs titution therefor of affirmative
legislation, which shall. upon some
terms or other, restore silver to equal
rights with gold in the minis and
coinage of the country.
"We he reby affirm, as deliberate
conviction of this convention, that the
act of 1873, in so far as it demonetized
silver and established gold as the sin
gle unit of value. is a fragrant viola
tion of one of the most important
provisions of the constitution of the
United States;a violation which every
political party ought to condemn and
every good citizen should assist in ex-
punging from the statutes of the Re-
public. We, therefore, favor the i'm
mediate repeal of all laws by which
silver was demonetized, and demand
it's unqualified restoration to the
right of free and unlimited coinage, in
the minis of the United States as
money of final redemption, at the old
ration of l6 to l.
! eve recognize the fact that upon
| this ques tion the country has reached
a crisis that can be no longer evaded
or postponed. We know that the re-
suit of the conflict must be return
to the money of the constitution, or
the substitution therefor, for all time
to come, of a standard of values, born
of British aristocratic greed, that
doubles the purchasing power of
money; and, in behalf of the toiling
millions of this republic, we welcome
the conflict and pledge the Democratic
party OF Iowa to stand by the cons til
tuition, to defend the right, to beat
back with all it's strength every ag-
erosion of the money power of the
old and new world alike, and to aid, to
the utmost limit of it's ability, in re-
storing to ourselves and our posterity
the sacred heritage Of the financial
system bequeathed to the American
and which was equally fair and just
|
cordially invite the cooperation of all
citizens, without reference to political
! affiliations in the past.
We hereby enter our most earnest
protest against all schemes for the re-
tirement of our MISUNDERSTANDING
national paper currency, and the SUBJ
stitut ton therefor of $500, 0O0,0 600 of in
terest-bearing bonds, to become an
additional burden upon the producing
classes, that national banks may be
supplied with Understanding capital
! on which to transact their individual
| business. We also protest against
the further issuance and sale of gov
eminent bonds ITO acquire gold with
which to redeem such currency. and
demand of the government that here
after it shall redeem the same with
the coin of either metal it may pos
sess. in strict accord with both the
spirit and the letter Of the law.
eve denounce as transparent fal-
lacy the claim that labor can be bene-
flied by the maintenance of single
gold standard as the basis of our
financial system. The experience OF
all ages and every country alike clear
| ly demonstrates that a contracted
currency invariably compels con-
traction of business, the lessening of
industrial enterprises, the enforced
idleness of great numbers of the
working classes; and nothing of which
the human mind can conceive is more
clearly Self.evident than the naked
truth that the wages of labor must
always be adjusted to and correspond
with the prices of labor's products in
the markets in which they are sold.
TarnoctIv dncirinu tO nrOmOtp the
best interests Of the laboring people,
we favor the appointment Of cabinet
official to be known as Secretary of La
Dor, whose duty it shall be, in all
tariff-protected Industries, to investi-
gate, ascertain and report to Congress
what share, il any, of the enhanced
price for which protected products are
sold in the markets of this country is
paid by employers in these industries
to their employees, and to be clothed
with full power, in all cases where
public interests are involved or the
public is endangered, to inquire into
the merits of the controversies be-
tween employers and employees and
recommend the adjustment thereof
upon such terms as to him, or to arbi.
traitors appointed by him, shall seem
juSt,and in case of the failure of eth
er party to abide by the recomenda.
ton made, to report the facts to Con.
gress or a state Legislature, as the
case may require, with recommends
tions for additional legislation, il
such in his judgment be necessary,
and in the discharge of his several
duties to be clothed with further
power to compel the giving of testi.
mony under oath by parties inter.