Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-06-02
TAKES A STAND.
Gov. Matthews Of Indiana Gives
His Views on Silver.
Willing to Rest His Chances of Presi.
dental Nomination on His Declara-
tion-Prohbitionis Ticket.

Indianapolis, Ind, May 29.--Gov. Mat
thews has given out prepared state.
ment of his views on the money ques-
ton. 1t is announced that he proposes
to rest his chances for the nomination
for president on this statement, which
is the last and only one" he will make.
lie says:
Interest in the money question is be-
coming active and earnest. The silver SEN
timent in this state is by no means of sud
den growth. 1t has been with us for sew
eral years, but without organization or a
direct issue. Now the people have deter
mined to bring 1t to the front, and every
interest demands its settlement The forces
operating against silver to degrade and
drive 1t out of use have been persistently
and stealthily aggressive, and now the peo-
pie realize that the time has come to take
firm stand, or all is lost. There is not the
least doubt that the silver sentiment over
whelmingly prevails in Indiana; fully three
fourths of the democrats favor the free
coinage of silver, and the disaffection In
the republican party is greater than many
imagine.
THE gold influence is nearly altogether
confined to three or four trade centers. Full
ly 70 per cent. of all the voters in the state.
irrespective of party, / believe to be OPP
posed to the continuance or maintenance of
the single gold standard. We have prac-
tically been upon this basis for some time
past under republican and democratic ad-
ministrations. under high protective and
moderate tariff. and vet matters have con-
tinued to go from bad to worse; values of
farm property seriously deprecated in
value, farm products close to or below the
cost of production. manufacturing inter-
ests dropping and a vast army of honest,
willing men unemployed. Only the money
lender or the bond speculator has been uni
formly prosperous. There is need for a
remedy, and the peopl. feel that change
will be of decided benefit.
Danger Is Not Exaggerated.
"They wisely rebel against this Last step
they are asked to take, which means the
surrender of all the money interests in
fastening upon themselves, in all legisla-
ton, gold as the sole standard or redemp-
ton money. They foresee the danger in
the rapid appreciation OF gold and hesitate
to place the interests of all the people at the
mercy of the few even making ii possible
for cold, greedy and selfish syndicates in
this country, cooperating with similar syn
dicates abroad, to bring the commercial
world to their feet. The danger is not eX-
aggerated, nor is the cornerng of the gold
of the world impossible. When we consider
the necessity Of all governments and the i'm
menSe reserve fund each will be compelled
.sact the business of the world.
Wants Gold Standard Denounced.
II hope that our party In state convention
will be faithful to the will of the party by
adopting strong resolutions denouncing the
single gold standard as vicious and danger
Gus to the interests of the American people,
condemn the cruel and unjust dscrimina-
ton against silver. and the secretaries of
the treasury in ignoring laws giving to them
discretionary power whereby they might
protect the public treasury from the on
slaught of gold SPECTATORS, specializing
upon the necessities of their government
Favors Independent Action.
II do not underestimate the Importance
of international agreement if this were
possible. But international bimetallism has
been so often used in an insincere manner,
merely as a cloak for delay, that it will not
be we'll received Lift the cloak of the in
ternational bimetallism, and in the majori-
ty of cases you find it conceals the gold
standard man. believe positive action by
this country convincing the commercial
world that we do not propose to longer wait
on them will do more to bring about an
international agreement than anything
else. With such a platform we will carry
Indiana and elect the nominee of the Chi
cago convention. The single gold or an
evasive, doubtful platform will put the re.
suit In doubt and possibly bring defeat"
Silver Men Rejoice.
There is great rejoicing among the
free silver democrats over the stand of
the governor. The mass meeting of adj
ministration democrats Thursday night
was well attended. There were
speeches by eS-AttorneyGenera A. 6.
Smith, John w. Kern and ex-Congress-
man William ID. Bynum. 1t was de-
cided to make the best fight possible
against the free silver wing of the
Darty