The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1896-07-09
HAMILTON Lewis
He Writes an Open Letter Defining His
Position on The Great Issues.
HIS VIEWS ON FUSION OUTLINED
Conditions Under which he Would
Accept the Democratic Nomina-
sion for Governor Of she state
Of Washington.

The following letter to the editor OF the
Walla Walla Statesman from Hon. James
Hamilton LIE will be read with much
interest as it defines his position on the
issues of the day and his attitude in re-
lation TO the democratic nomination for
governor:
SEATTLE, WASH, June 80, 1896.
Hon. F. J. Parker, editor Statesman,
Walla Walla, Wash.
MY DEAR CoLoNEL:--I am in receipt
OF your late letter in which you inquire
of me and seek public reply as to wheth.
or am a candidate for the nomination of
governor at the hands of the democratic
party second, whether / will accept the
nomination for the Office Of governor II
rendered to me by the democratic party !;
and, third, il favor what is commonly
known as fusion? answer seriatim:
lam not candidate seeking any office,
and trust may not be regarded as can
didate seeking at the hands OF my party
to be given an office, or as one who IL
seeking at the hands OF the people some
place or position as mere honor to him.
self.
Second-Referring to your second ques-
ton, have to say that there are condi
tions under which l would accept the
nomination for governor, II rendered me
by the democratic party, and should the
honor be rendered me nron those condi-
tons and with the understanding OF my
views upon the questions which are in.
volved and necessarily must be consider.
ed as being involved in my acceptance of
such nomination, then | would accept
such and 90 before the people with the
absolute confidence OF election, when
they were brought to understand the con-
ditions which the nomination admitted
and the remedies which the election
would offer.
Third-These conditions as view them
will be explained in my answer to your
last suggestion |. e., on the question OF
fusion. have to answer that the condi-
tons of this country as ] view them have
been produced by two causes, which have
served in more instrumental manner
than all the other causes combined.
refer in the use OF the word "country' to
the nation and also to the state. As to
the nation am firmly convinced that
the contraction Of the currency, which
has been produced as the result of legis-
lation in this country has been RESPONSE.
bic for the greatest evil the nation has
been compelled to suffer. Money has
become SO dear that the toiler has had to
give 30 much labor and the farmer 80
great quantity of his product to buy 80
small quantity of that money, that it
has practically placed him where he gets
no return for his labor or bis product in
anywise adequate to the amount OF pro.
duct given. These have made IL wholly
Improbable to him either AZ laborer In
his wage or as farmer in his product.
am aware that many respectable gen.
tlemen of rare intelligence disagree with
me on the views / hold on this noney
problem. In your own county there are
such. and granting to them the respect
for their intelligence as I have for their
character, nevertheless am compelled
to write you that in my opinion at this
time the nearest remedy at hand which
is means to the proper end, which end
l think is likewise in view, and as an in
strument to the obtaining and reaching
OF that end, is the free and unlimited
coinage of silver and gold in this country,
the silver to be at that ratio which has
been tried and which ia in consonance
with silver countries 16-to-l; and that
our nation should proceed at once to the
adoption OF this plan irrespective OF the
cooperation of any other nation, and
without fear of the effect of their disap-
provaI, just as it would exercise any other
function in government of an independ-
ent country. am aware that the relief
does not from this mere fact arise, and /
am not one who asserts that the mere
coinage of silver In the ratio and form
that urge will be of itself a relief, but
insist that with the circulation Of such
money with the increased per capita
which would arise from it, the relief
would to some extent be had. Now
am aware that the employment of such
money and the manner of the employ
ment is subject OF dispute, and / am
aware of the many reasonable questions
which on this proposition, as upon any
other proposition of experiment might
arise. But am content with urging that
this country needs Notifications; this
country needs its due protection this
country needs improvements; the build
ing Of these Notifications on this coast !;
the improvement OF the waterways; the
purchasing of material essential to such |;
the opening OF roads through the coun-
try to make travel by wagon reasonably
expeditions and economical that produce
may be carried to stations and products
of mines and mills be conveyed 10 the
waterways, and in many other instances
which it is unnecessary to enter upon in.
detail here, this money 80 coined would