The San Francisco call., 1896-06-19

lower prices, greater distress and further
accumulation of the entire property of the
world in the hands of the owners of credit.
sI believe that reciprocity, protection
and silver are absolutely essential to each
other. and can see no sense or reason in
authorizing financial unity with the
nation against whom we wage industrial
warfare. The gold using nations of the
world are the creditors, the producers of
the things we produce, and 1t Is against
them we build tariff wall.
"The issue of protection, however. is no
longer one of principle, but simply ques-
ton of rates of duty, for the Wilson bill is
protective tariff measure with
rates of duty slightly below those
imposed by the Mckinley act,
and while am still earnestly in favor of
the protective tariff, and shall vote to per-
petuate it on any occasion, still my action
to-day does not prevent me from voting
for an increase of either ad valorem or
specific duties.
1.-THE delegation from my State was not
instructed on the financial question. We
were instructed only for Mckinley. The
convention decided that whereas there
was a difference of opinion among the
Republicans of our State on the
financial question, it would make no
deliverance on that subject until after the
National Convention, thereby leaving me
absolutely free to exercise my independ-
ent judgment. l did not feel,
after plank had been adopted
which 1 could not support either
in the campaign or at the polls-and which
is the only essential question before the
American people-that I could remain
aud participate thereafter in this conven-
ton. These are my reasons for joining
Mr.. Teller to-day"
Congressman Charles Towne of Mime
sofa spoke very bitterly of the action Of
the convention.
"l was Republican at /: :45 o'clock this
my opinion. If 1 have not somebody else
has, and that somebody else is the con-
Yention that to-day declared for gold.
believe l am modest when I say that
at least 75 per cent of the people
are against the adoption of the gold stand.
ard, and believe a very large percentage
of the Republican voters of the country
will repudiate the platform adopted by
their convention in st. Louis"
Congressman Hartman of Montana made
the positive declaration that not one of the
Western States could be carried for Nc
Kinley on the platform provided for it,
and he believes that California, Oregon
and Washington will all go hand in hand
with the silver producing States that lie
Immediately east of the Pacific Coast.
A sample OF the messages being re-
ceived by the silver men from their con-
stituents in the West is found in mes
sage received by Mr.. Hartman from ex-
State Senator w. E. Thompson, Repub-
lican leader in one of the largest wool
growing counties in that State. Mr..
Thompson says:
We.are with you. No straddle. Walk out
and nomina te Teller and protection.
"All care to say" remarked Senator
Dubois of Idaho, ''is that a very dig
nified statement was being made
that neither the Republican nor any
other party could coerce the con-
sciences of men, and Mr.. Thurston replied
in very dramatic manner that the
voters in November next would show
whether they could coerce our con-
sciences or not. We could not agree
to support a ticket on the platform
that was adopted, and the only consistent
thing left for US to do was to walk out.
That We did, and every man who walked
| out of that convention at once removed
his badge and threw of his loyalty to the
Republican party until such time as it
shall return to the principles that have
been its guide during all these years"
Senators Mantle and Carter and Hon. T.
G. Marshall of the Montana delegation
jointly stated after the convention that
their refusal to walk out of the conven-
tion should not be construed as in any
manner constituting an acceptance of the
terms of the platform on the financial
question.
They further stated that the entire dele
CATION was united in unaltera BILE and un-
qualified opposition to the platform
adopted in so far as the financial question
is concerned. They disagreed with their
colleague, Mr.. Hartman, only as to the
extent of their authority to act for the Re-
publicans of their State.
Five of the delegation felt that they
would be most faithfully and correctly dis
charging their trust by entering their
protest against the platform and reserv-
ing the right unto themselves and
the Republicans they represented to
either accept or repudiate the platform and
the candidates after full and free confer
ence in such manner and at such time as
the party of the State of Montana might
assemble to confer and act.
Mr.. Hartman felt that he could properly
| walk out of the convention, notwithstand-
ing his representative capacity. The five
who remained would as personal mat
ter have gone out. As representatives of
their State they felt they were not
authorized to leave the convention if the
convention would permit them to stand
mute on the question, while renouncing
the platform and reserving for the Re-
publicans of the State the right to act as
they pleased.
SILVER AGAINST GOLD.