The Butler weekly times., 1896-02-27
LETTERFROM SENATOR VEST
He Does Not Wish to Be a Dele
gate to Chicago.
Is NOT FOR ANY COMPROMISE.
He FavOrs the Free and Unlimited
Coinage of Silver, but Will Not
Leave The Democratic PARTY.

city has received letter from Sena-
tor Vest containing the following
statements of public interest, which
are certainly frank and explicit
enough to remove all doubts as to
the Senator's position:
"You ask me two questions, and l
will answer both frankly.
Your first question is whether 1
am a candidate for delegate at.large
to the National Democratic Conven-
tionf'
my answer is no. l am not a
candidate, and hope my name will
not be considered in that connec-
ton. There are many strong and
popular Democrats spoken of for
the position, and in my opinion any
of them could represent the party
as we'll or better than myself.
II am willing to make any person.
al sacrifice for the Democratic party,
but do not mean this as a sugges-
ton that desire to be appointed.
l do not wish to be delegate.
"Your second question is whether
the reports published in some of the
newspapers that 1 am for compro-
missing the silver question at Chica.
60 are true
'If any newspaper or individual
has stated or intimated that 1 have
at any time favored any adjustment
or compromise which surrendered
the free and unlimited coinage of
silver as standard money of redemp-
ton, the statement or intimation is
false. have always said, and say
now, as delegate to any conven,
ton, or member of any legislative
body, or as a citizen. I would SUP.
port the free and unlimited coinage
of silver at the ratio of Is to 1, and
if that ratio could not be had, then
at any other possible ratio. the great
and overwhelming question being
real bimetallism-the making gold
and silver standard money of re-
demption without discrimination
against either metal. As the ratio
of 16 to l is the old ratio, under
which contracts were made for &C
many years, and our people are &C
customed to consider it part of the
free coinage system, not absolutely
necessary to bimetallism. Free and
unlimited coinage at any other ratio
would secure bimetallism.
cat one time / believed the state
ments of the monometalllsts thai
they were willing to accept bimetal
lism if more silver should be put in
to the coined dollar, and l reported
from the Senate Finance Committee
a bill fixing the ratio above sixteen
bat I soon found that free coinage
OF silver and not the ratio was th'
real objection. Afterwards the silver
men in Congress proposed free coin
age at all the ratios from sixteen I,
twenty-four, and then the Bland
Allison act, but it was found impos
sible to compromise upon any ratio
have no doubt that large majori
ty OF the silver Democrats would b,
satisfied with a declaration in tn,
national platform for the free ant
unlimited coinage of gold and silve
as standard money of redemption
the ratio to be fixed by Congress
this declaration to be accompanies
by another against the exercise O
the veto power as to a measur
passed by Congress and admitted t.
be constitutional.
Il am afraid, however, that thl
would not be accepted by the advc
Gates OF single gold standard, TO
past experience demonstrates tina
they are against the free coinage Q
silver at any ratio.
"The conflict is between mono
metallism and bimetallism, and an
adjustment which does not recce
, nize the free and unlimited coinsg
OF silver as standard money of re
demption is impossible.
while I am unalterablv in fayo
of bimetallism, am not prepared I
leave the Democratic party becaus