The San Francisco call., 1896-07-29
DEMocRArs DIsAGRRE.
Controversy Ia Wisconsin, Ouer the Deie
0dtion,s Action at Chicago

Controversy ia Wisconsin, Deer the Dele
0ation's action at Chicago.
MILWAUKEE,, WIS. July 2s.-The sill
yer delegates Ito the Democratic conven-
tion yesterday afternoon gave out their
address to the public, replying to the letter
published by the gold delegates, headed
by Villas and Bragg. 1t is devoted mainly
to answering the statements promulgated
by the gold men, but goes to some extent
into the merits OF the silver question The
point is made that the silver delegates
obeyed their instructions until the chair
man of the Wisconsin delegation refused
to allow the vote of the State to be cast for
any Presidential candidate, ana that
they then obtained permission from the
presiding officer of the convention to cast
their votes. The letter is as follows:
The Democratic party ever has and to the
end of its existence ever viii advocate honest
money and oppose its debasement To assert
that the Chicago convention declared in favor
of compelling the citizens of the United States
to receive dollars of only one-half value is a
wicked SANDER. The Democratic National
platform does not submit to the American peo-
pie a new and untried system of finance for
doption.
The great Hamilton and greater Jefferson
framed the law at the time of the birth of this
Nation, which gave to both gold ana silver the
right of free and unlimited coinage and made
both these metals fundamental and redemp-
ion money. The integrity of this American,
this Democratic monetary system, was relig-
iously preserved by all American Legislators
from 1892 TO 1878. In this latter year, when
the attention of the American people was di-
verted from the subject, dishonest legislators
surreptitiously demonetized silver-the peo-
ple's money. The great American Nation,
without its knowledge or consent, had its
monetary system changed from bimetallism
to gold monome etallism. The function of meas
uring values supporting commerce and credit
imposed upon gold and silver was by the de-
monetization OF silver shifted to gold alone.
The importance of gold was increased twofold,
as the demands upon it were doubled, and as
a result all commodities of the world declined
in value as expressed in golden dollars.
The merchant who has had bankruptcy
slowly but surely creep upon him in spite of
his every effort and economy; the tiller of the
soil who has seen the products of his farm
gradually reach price below the cost OF pro-
duction, in spite of his ceaseless care and toll
the man who depends upon his daily labor TO
furnish him necessaries of life and appeals in
vain for the privilege 10 do work-all ask why,
in land of plenty, in a nation peopled with
willing workmen, in country of imitless re-
sources, why is there widespread business dis
ester and cruel want?
History records prosperity from the birthday
of America to 1873 under bime tallic system
OF finance. A silver dollar at all times during
that period equaled and in fact exceeded
gold dollar in value. The day Congress by law
closed the doors of our mints on silver and
said thereafter gold shall measure the value of
all things, even silver, then it was that gold
grew dear and silver cheap, and as silver de-
preciated so has the price OF alt commodities
fallen as measured in gold until ruin stares
great and free America in the face. The Demo-
cratic National Convention, in response to the
call for help from the people, has promised TO
reinstate the money OF the constitution and
thereby lift the golden yoke from America s
neck.
In conclusion the Democrats of the
State are urged to get together and see to
it that silver men are sent to the State
Convention