The herald., 1896-07-23
THE PLATFORM
The Democratic 1oney Plank Is Neither Broad
=Nnza Nor Long Enough

ETE NUT LoHS LhouSh
ST. LOUIS, July 22.-The committee on
resolutions of the Silver party met to-
night, and a subcommittee was ap-
pointed to recommend the platform
passed at the Washington, D. c., BIZ
metallic conference in January last.
There was hard fight on the part of
Gen. Weaver, the Ohio member, for the
Endorsement of the Democratic silver
plank in toto.
The platform which Gen. Warner
sought to have recommended recited
that it had been adopted at the Wash
ington conference, which called the
present convention, and the Democratic
party had incorporated a plank in its
platform in accordance Herewith, and
further set forth that the Silver party's
platform should indorse both the DEM
ocratic platform and nominees.
Judge C. r. Scott of Nebraska was on
his feet Immediately and offered the
platform as above as a substitute.
Dr. Frank Powell made a speech
strongly urging the adoption of the sub
-stitute as a distinct Silver party plat
form. He said that many silver Republ
cans would not vote for the Warner
platform, and inasmuch as the Demo-
cratic party had passed it, on that ac
count would be prejudiced against it.
He was followed by G. w. Baker of
California, who contended that the
Democratic candidates would be in
dorsed, and that was as much as the
Democrats should insist on.
Gen. Warner said the Democrats had
adopted practically the same platform
as the conference at Washington and
the only change was in the phraseol-
ogy. 1t had been adopted to unity the
Democrats and all silverites, and, in his
judgment, the Democratic platform
should be indorsed.
There We're several other speakers
along the same lines, when Judge Scott
made the motion that a sub committee
of five be appointed and instructed to
report as indicated, and his motion was
agreed to. The same subcommittee
was authorized to issue an address to
the citizens of the United States ex-
planning the attitude of the Silver party
The committee appointed was:
W. G. Baker of California, w II. Har-
vey of Illinois, Judge c. r. Scott of
Nebraska, j. w. Thompson of Washing
ton, Hallet Kilburne of Washington. ID.
c.. and DIR. Frank Powell of Wisconsin.
By vote of 16 to Is the sub commit
| tee was instructed to report the follow
| ing platform:
THE PLATFORM
The national Silver party in conven-
| ton assembled hereby adopts the follow
| ing declaration of principles:
First-The paramount issue at this
| time in the United States is indisputab blv
| the money question 1t is between the
| gold standard, gold bonds and bank cur
rency on one side and the bimetallic
| standard, no bonds and government cur
| rency on the other.
On this issue we declare ourselves to
| be in favor of a distinctively American
| financial system. We are unaltera bly
| opposed to the single gold standard and
| demand the immediate return to the
| constitutional standard of gold and sill
| yer by the restoration by this govern
| ment. independently of any foreign DOW
| er, Of the unrestricted coinage of gold
and silver as the standard money at the
ratio of 16 to l, and upon terms of exact
| equality as they existed prior to 1873
| the silver coin to be a full legal tender,
equally with gold for all debts and dues.
| public and private, and we favor such
| legislation as will prevent for the future
| the demonetzation of any kind of legal
| tender money by private contract
We hold that the power to control and
regulate paper currency is inseparable
| from the power to coin money, and hence
| that all currency intended to circulate
] as money should be issued and it's vol