The Saint Paul globe., 1896-09-21
DECLARES FOR SOUND MONEY,
AGAINST THE FREE SILVER IDEAS
OF THE CONVENTIONS THAT
NOMINATED HIM.
CURIOUS STATE OF AFFAIRS,
Which David ID. Hi1l Is Given the
Credit of Creatfng-Thacher's
Statement.

| tion and by declaring in that statement
| that he is unalterably for gold, John
| Boyd Thaeher. Democratic nominee for
governor creates one of the most GU
rious situations ever known in politics
in this state.
The statement was isued after long
conference with Senator Hill, Elliot G.
! Danforth, who was at Senator Hills
house. and D. Cady Herrick, the Demo-
cratic leader in this county. It was ad-
dressed to the chairman of the state
committee. 1t is believed that this
course is approved by Senator Hill,
VIM. F. Sheehan and others not in at
tendance at the state convention and
| is Intended to try and fend off any
nomination of a second Democratic
ticket at Brooklyn and enforce a fight
at the polls upon state issues leaving
the national ticket entirely out of the
/ question. Mr.. Thacher declares that
he Is against free silver but will vote
for Bryan and SewaI for regularity,
and fight the campaign ON state issues
only. The letter says !:
- am informed that the Democratic party of
the state, In convention assembled at Buff
falo, on Sept. II, 1896, did me the honor Of
! naming me as its candidate for the high
/ once OF governor. | now learn that the state
committee Is to meet on Tuesday for the mr.
pose of appointing a committee to oficia1Iv
not1y me OF that fact 1t has seemed to me
due to your committee that before it takes
ina .nat step l should make statement. can
not ask for the support OF the people of the
state without frankly declaring nv position
upon the fnaacial issue now agitating the
public stand tnday where stood in the
month or June. in the presence of a conyen-
ton or the state Democracy. 1 have not
changeo an 1ota In my belief nor deviated
step In my course. The commercial honor
OF this country is pledged to the world. and
4 honor. 80
l took part in the state convention which
sent delegates to represent the party in ma
uonal convention at Chicago. These dele
! gates, by participation, acquiesced in the
action OF the national convention by present.
ing candidates for the offices of president and
vice president of the United States The state
convention of the Democratic party has rati-
ned the nomination Of these candidates. 1
| have endeavored to teach that the Democratic
party Is vehicle to carry the will of the
! people into effect. Such vehicle is con-
structed with difficulty but is easily de-
stroyed. Failure now and then to perform
| absolutely satisfactory service will not justify
| the utter destruction of the vehicle. 1t was
| not constructed to bear one burden, but many
| and various burdens. Wnen the financial
| burden is finally disposed of the people will
still employ the Democratic party to support
! their purposes and to carry them into effect
| When they do thus employ that party, l,
for one, do not want it to be shattered and
dismembered but to be strong, united and
| efficient. Therefore, shall cast my vote for
| William Jennings Bryan and Arthur Sewall,
| the candidates in due and regular form
chosen by majority of that convention.
regret that l cannot be in full accord on the
question of finance with the sentiment of the
late convention, but if my position seems in
| harmonious with the usual attitude of can
| didate towards his party 1t should be remem-
bered that the conditions are also unusual.
In nominating me- must assume that the
| convention was not unaware OF my financial
| views as expressed in my public utterances,
| and that 1t was induced to accord me that
| distinguished honor in view of the fact that
under the constitution governor of this
state has official connection whatever with
| matters pertaining to the national currency.
| 1t was apparent at Chicago and Buffalo, and
is expressed at every gathering OF citizens
| where public questions are discussed, that
| the people are dissatisfied with the present
condition of public affairs, and 4 am n SYM
pathy. with every movement, not revolution
| ary in character which seeks to take bur-
dens off the shoulders OF the masses and to
restore prosperity and peace to all the peo-
pie. When the Republican legislature al,
journed in May, 1885, it left a record behind
it which every Democrat and Independent
voter in the state believed would be an issue
before the people this fall No question
vert our people in this state from pronounc-
ing, by a change Of administration, YER
| dict against this record. Included in the rec
ord Of the Republican legislature was
shameful disregard for the interest of the
municipalities of the state
| Sixty-fve percent of our population dwels
in cities, and this population possesses 40
per cent of the wealth Of the state. AS OBJ
served closely the work of the legislature
and was myself an official victim Of some Of
it's legislation, I perhaps entitled to be
heard as to its record. It was guilty of
grievous sin Of omission. The new consti-
tuition requires that uniform charters shall be
granted to cities of the same class. A COM
mission reported early in the session proper
forms of charters for cities OF the second
and third classes. The Republican legislature
! made no further attempts to comply with the
constitutions directions, but, on the contrary,
proceeded to amend charters already existing
by taking power from officials in Democratic
| cities and clothing with unusual power the
officials in Republican cities.
The Republican memberssin the legislature
| by force of arms and against the protests of
honorable members Of their own party passed
| Albany all power over the police of that city.
Without power to control the police. mayor
is powerless to enforce order and to secure
peace for his city. Similar Legislation was
! proposed for other Democratic cities, but was
postDoned until the COMING year. The Re-
| publican legislature In order to accomplish
| It's purposes, violated parliamentary rules
| ruthlessly rode over the sacred rights of mem
bers, employed physical force to intimidate
opposition, closed the doors of the assembly to
| the public and conducted itself with an
| utter abandonment OF decency and principle.
A Republican legislature sDent the peoples
money as if 1t were water. and then announced
sufficient money to pay 1t back
| Any one Of these sins would be conspicuous
and fragrant in time of less national ex-
| element but one sin Of commission calls for
immediate popular condemnation Under the
guise Of promoting public welfare the Re-
publican legislature revolutionized the method
of dealing with the liquor traffic and estab-
lished a bureau with one man at its head
to control and manage that traffic. 1t took
an increased and In many instances an un-
reasonable sum from the saloon keepers and
| instead Of applying that sum to defraying the
expenses of local government 1t distributed it
throughout the state. 81
| But when this great governmental machine
| ~ is in the hollow Of the hand of one man.
| when he and not the people is the beneficiary
Of its operation. popular government is men
aced and its defeat as a5public enemy be-
| comes the duty Of all good men. This is the
issue in the state this fan. No step toward
| municipal reform can be- undertaken until
| this question can be settled. The people have
destroyed all vestiees Of a political boss In
| the Democratic party. andsT believe they will
| annihilate bossism In the Republican party.
| 1t is not important that Tor any other par
ticular individual should be elected gov
ernor. 1t is important that the power of
one man should not be perpetuated bv two
years more Of Republican Executive control.
| Yours Tol,r T3nvd ry, a+ot,o-