The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-08-01
EDWARD 0. WOLCOTT
The Colorado McKinleyits Cones Out
With a Long Address.
DEFINING HIS POSITION

He's for Blmetailism m, but Says 1t
WIN Not Come From the Chi
cago Platform or Bryan,
Who Is No Good on Earth.
Denver. July Silver since the Col
orado delegates led by Senator Teller,
walked out OF the republican national
convention Senator Edward o. Wolcott
has persistently refused to be inter-
viewed In regard to his position in this
campaign. Tonight he issued the fol-
lowing address. giving his reasons for
supporting Mckinley for president
ITO the voters OF the state of Colora-
do: The people OF Colorado are entitled
to know at such juncture as this the
views OF their representative at WASH
ington. Among the great privileges we
enjoy under republican institutions are
freedom Of conscience and freedom of
speech. and II should hesitate on this,
or on any other proper occasion to de-
clare my belief and my convictions on
any public question, l should despise
| myself even more than despise those
incendiary newspapers and hysterical
individuals who assume that threats
and vituperation can choke the utter
ances of any self-respecting citizen in
Colorado who has an opinion to ex-
press or principle to declare.
The silver question Is most vital. In
| ternational bimetallism at the former
ratio would, OF course. be the most de-
sirable method Of restoring silver as a
money metal, because the disturbance
Of values. which might follow the in
auguration OF free coinage by the Unit
ed States alone. would be avoided. and
the question as to the expectation or
boarding of gold would be eliminated.
In my opinion, however. the United
States alone could. under wise and con-
| servative guidance-such guidance as
should deserve the confidence of all
classes of our people-open Its mints to
the unlimited coinage of silver and sue
cessfully maintain that metal at n par
| ity with gold, at the ratio OF 16 to 1.
Independently OF the other nations of
the world. During the seven years Of
my public service in the senate. I have
always held this view: my vote on all
questions affecting the currency has
been Identical with that Of the other
senators usually known as silver sena-
| tors. and while my utterances on the
silver question may not have been as
frequent or as long as those OF others
| whose services I share. nevertheless
my record on this subject Is clear and
consistent. and the views I hold ex-
pect always to maintain.
"The financial plank of the national
republican platform IL. in my opinion,
/ FAR from satisfactory. and those men,
bers Of the party who believe as be-
heve will struggle earnestly and hope
fully for the full and complete recogni-
tion and adoption by the republican
party of the humane principles OF bi-
metaliism, animated by the belief that
| the party which on every other great
question involving human freedom and
| the welfare Of mankind. has stood for
| will vet realize that a continuance of
the gold standard means only further
| impoverishment and suffering. The
| platform contains. however. o most i'm
portant statement. pledging the party
to the furtherance of bimetallism by
| international agreement. To the good
faith Of this pledge. the history Of the
party on other questions requires the
| fullest credence; the overshadowing I'M
portance Of the silver question makes
| II certain to my mind that every effort
will be earnestly made by the repub-
| lican party to secure to this country
| the blessings of bimetallism. and Il Is
my sincere conviction that silver will
| again be restored to its place as a mon
ey metal. at the old ratio, and that
when this restoration comes II will be
accomplished through the action and
| efforts OF the republican party.
Except on the money question. no
man in Colorado who believes In the
protection Of American labor and
| -I L.,
dustries. and who loves his country,
can read the platform without the
hearty approval: and no man doubts
that Major Mckinley will bring to his
high office every quality needed by a
president OF this great people. Mr..
Bryan has been nominated for the
presidency on three separate platforms.
by the democratic party. the popullst
party and the silver party. The last
| named party-the silver party-does
not deserve serious consideration. Mos,
Of its members were present at Its re-
cent convention in st. Louis. and the
newspapers report the convention hall
as being less than half full.
"The democratic party nominated
Mr.. Bryan upon a platform, the finan-
cial portion OF which was everything
that could be desired. and the rest OF II
| everything tnat Is. IN my opinion, un-
desirable and hostile to the interests oi
our country. decline to stand upon
this platform and vote for this candi.
date. even with the alluring free coin
age plank. I am a believer In protec.
tion and shall not abandon that belief
| The supreme court OF the United States
is a pure and able tribunal. the highest
judicial tribunal In the world: l will
not help smirch II. This government
must he enabled to pay its running ex.
penses. and whenever my vote Is need.
ed for that purpose and I fail to vote
II supplies to keep II alive. shall con.
sider that violate my oath as senator
The recent republican congresses
have been neither wasteful nor extrav-
agant. and ! must decline to certify tc
n statement know to be untrue. When
some months ago. the great railway
strike at Chicago grew beyond control
and innocent lives were being sacrlhc-
ed and millions OF dollars worth OF
property being destroyed by iawless
men; when the sheriff was powerless
and the governor failed 10 perform his
duty. the president Of the United
States. with federal troops. under tn,
sanction OF law. saved further blood
shed and destruction. and thereby de-