The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-04-20
THE oHAUNoEY F. BLACK PLAN.

Mr.. Chauncey F. Black is chairman
of the National League of Democratic
Clubs and in the past has done good
work for the Democratic party. He
has attained a certain eminence in
the party councils and whenever he
speaks, what he says receives atten-
ton. He has been formulating a plan
for the nomination of a Democratic
candidate who shall be in harmony
with the party on all financial legisla-
ton. II is an amusing plan and can
only be told in Mr.. Blacks own words.
He says:
It seems to me that the matter might
be settled in a very fair and honorable
manner to both sides by an agreement
respecting the exercise of the veto
power by the president. Let it be
agreed that our candidate for presi-
dent is not, if elected, to interpose his
veto to embarrass or defeat any finan-
cial legislation which may be sent to.
him by the votes of majority of the
Democratic members of congress. There
ought to be no objection to that. 1t
provides for leaving the question where
it properly belongs-with the represent
tatives of the people, chosen to legislate
in their own wisdom for the peoples
best interests
I believe in popular government I
am opposed to the free coinage of sill
yer. I hold that the adoption of such
policy would be injurious to credit
and business. But, if majority of my
party DEGREES free coinage, I am willing
to accept it. There is more in Dem
ocracy for me than the money question
The great question of taxation is yet
to be settled properly in this country,
and I am utterly opposed to parting
company with men so sound on that
es are Morgan, Vest, Crisp, McMillin,
and many others, simply because of
difference of opinion as to money.
They are men of the highest character
and very eminent ability, and l con-
cede them the same right to their opin-
ions and the same sincerity in form
ing them that / claim for myself !
think they are mistaken about silver,
but I'm sure they are sincere.
That such plan should have ema-
mated from the brain of any American
citizen at all conversant with the the
DRY and practice of our government is
truly astonishing. A national conven-
tion that would make such demands on
a candidate would disgrace the consti-
tuencies which sent the delegates to it,
while any man who would consent to
accept a nomination on such stultifying
terms would not be fit to fill the mean
est Office in a city ward
Mr.. Blacks plan contemplates the
surrender by the president of one of his
highest constitutional functions, func-
ton the surrender of which might be
the cause of allowing both unconstitu-
tional and injurious legislation to be
placed upon the statute book.
This plan ignores that which the con-
stitution contemplates and which is a
primary characteristic of our form of
governmental balance of power be-
tween the three departments of govern
ment, the legislative, judicial and exec
utive. What Mr.. Black proposes is
simply revolution.
Mr. Black must have had terrible
stroke of some kind to have lost his
usual political acumen, for his plan
is a very midsummer's madness. 1t.
asks the Democrats to adopt scheme
that would invite the derision and con-
tempt of all people, including Indians
not taxed.