The San Francisco call., 1896-04-17
COLONEL GIBSON
FOR PRESIDENT.
Mayor Sutro Promises to
Support Him at st.
Louis.
MANY REQUESTS MADE.
Populist Organs in Many Dis.
trlctS Booming the Alameda
County Man.
ASKED TO GIVE HIS VIEWS.
He Critics the Omaha Platform and
Declares That 1t Is the Long.
Looked.For Panacea.
ASKED TO GIVE HIS VIEWS.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL
Il


Colonel E. NJ. Gibson, an ex-Judge and
ex-Dictrict Attorney of Alameda County.
has received many letters and newspaper
articles during the past few days asking
MIN about and referring to his candidacy
as Peoples party candidate for President
before the st. Louis Convention.
Many organs of the party have already
selected the old soldier as q likely candi-
date, and are already booming him. Mayor
Sutro has seen Colonel Gibson and has
promised him his support, and he is now
actively pushing the name of the Alameda
County man.
81 have been asked by men high in the
councils OF the party to go before the con-
yention," said the colonel to-day, land
am not at all opposed to doing so. Mr..
Sutro told me recently that he had heard
my name mentioned in connection with
the st. Louis Convention, and he has prom
ised to vote for me. should he go as dele
gate. l do not care to discuss the matter
q great deal, but l have been asked re-
Gently 10 outline my ideas, so that the
party leaders may be sure of their man.
Whether my opinion of the Omaha plat
form proves satisfactory or not l do not
know, but this is copy of the declaration
that will either take me to the White
House or leave me here:
Money is a creature of law. It is money be-
cause the law makes it money, and not other
wise. Money rot made by Congress as the con-
stltutlon directs is not legal. Ali OF our money,
whether gold, silver paper, should be OF
equal Yalue-that is, a silver or paper dollar
should be equal in value TO gold dollar and
legal tender in payment OF all debts.
The law should be that any contract or prom
ise TO pay an obligation in any particular kind
OF money is void, and Notwithstanding such
agreement, payable in lawful money of the
United Ststes.
l am strongly devoted to the Omaha plat
form. It is brief-more so than the platform of
any other party. 1t is unequiyocal and sound.
Lincoln's idea was that party should take up
only the most important issues and dispose Of
one at time, which think is correct. 1t is
. not Wei 10 have too many irons in the fire at
one time. We should not scatter, but unite
ana concentrate our forces on one or two of the
most important issues.
The Omaha platform demands the free and
unlimited coinage OF silver and gold at the
ratio of 10 to l, and we must not swerve from
this position. We further demand National
currency, safe, sound and flexible, issued by
the government only, full legal tender for
all debts, public and private. This is strictly
in harmony with our National constitution,
which provides that Congress shall have power
TO com money and regulate the value thereof
which correctly interpreted, means that Con-
gress Is the only power that can make legal
money, whether II be gold, silver or paper
The Omaha platform demands that the
amount OF money be speedily increased to $50
per capita. This would immediately relieve
the distressed condition of our country and re-
OF money per capita which was caused by de-
InonetiZing silver, the destruction OF green
backs and our increase in population is the
principal cause OF our hard times. Remove the
cause by increasing the volume of money and
hard times viii vanish. The policy OF the two
old parties IS Oppressive. Its fruits are shrink
age In property values, reduction of wages, de-
creased demand for labor, idleness, tramps,
sIeepIess nights worry, gray hairs, premature
2,a 23a age, bankruptcy, decay, gloom and despair.
Inc fruits OF our policy are increase in prop
erty values, increased demand for labor bet
ter wages, increased consumption OF food
products and clothing, payment of debts gen
eral prosperity, confidence, courage. patriot-
ism. health, life and happiness. One is slow
death, the other vigorous life.
The constitution says Congress shall have
power 10 establish postoffices and post roads
Congcess has established postoffices, and our
postal system Is an honor and blessing to the
country, ana we believe that Congress should
now establish post roads. In other words. that
the Government should own all railroad
telegraph and telephone lines, aud that the
management of the same should be taken ab-
soIutely out OF politics; that uniform system
Of frelghts and fares should be fixed. and there
would be no favoritism shown 10 any person,
party or class; no secret rebates by means of
which some are dishonesty enriched while
others are ruined; no travelling on passes bv
oloated. scheming politicians wi hile the honest
toiler pays three fares In other words, we are
IN favor OF the enforcement of the constitution
lnd laws, fully, justly and fairly.
We believe in the teachings OF Washington
ienerson and Lincoln. They were wise pa-
+rloue and honest. They believed in honestly
administering the constitution and laws for
The protection and benefit of all. Now the cor
porations, trusts and plutocrats are running
The Government in their own interest, and the
people are crushed and suffering. This condi-
non cannot last | have faith that our party
will succeed The great body of the people are
nonest. The work OF education is going on.
The struggle may be long and tedious and bur-
iensome, but let US, each one of US, do our
duty as good citizens-be faithful to the CON
Itttntion and the laws, and the Just God to
Ehom Washington and Lincoln appealed in
bar
'ofore Will ultimately lead us TO q higher,
stronger and firmer National life.