Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-10-01
NEW YORK DEMOCRATIC GUBER-
NATORIAL NOMINEE,
SILVER is THE OBSTACLE.
That 1t Is Impossible for Him With
the Views He lie Ids TO Make u
Contest on the Coinage lssue-Be-
lieves in Joint Free and Equal
Use of Gold and Silver.

ndCnei ueCllnNS the democratic nom
nation for governor il his statement
to the notification committee.
Saturday was the Gay sci for the
visit to Mr., Thatcher by the committee
of five appointed 1t the meeting of the
state democratic committee ON Tuesday
to officially notify him OF his nomina-
ton: but IN advance of their coming
he gave out a letter Announcing his
defamation. At the Cu,set of this
statement Mr.. rhacaer made acknowl-
edgemeat of tie nouor winch the nom
nation implied ard N the next SEN
tence sand that he WAS constrained to
decline it. He said:
II was away from Albany and ut my
country home during Tie convention
and | did not learn OF my nomination
until after o'clock Thursday after
noon (Sept. 10. 1t was not until 8
o'clock that night that | lad an OPP
portunlty to learn the character of
the platform adopted by the convon-
ton. There had never been submit
ted to me press copy n manuscript
copy or any other copy of the proposed
platform. If any enc was entrusted
with the duty of pIesel ting such n
copy-the trust mad not been fulfilled
| had no reason 70 expect, after the
convention at Saratoga and after the
attitude of the delegates from New
York in the national convention, that
the next state conv antion would conf
nit the democratic party unreservedly
to all parts of the Chicago platform. I"
Mr.. Thatcher thSu recountcd the
facts of his now famous letter to the
state committee, and summarized the
contents of that communication.
While" Mr., Thatcher continued, Il
had not sought the nomination or re
questcd a single delegate to give me
his support, was willing and eager
to contend against that system of
'bossism' which is today in control OF
the public affairs of the state Of
New York
Il was prepared to organize the
democratic party from one end of the
state to the other on n line of battle
against that system and to wage an
unremitting and vigorous warfare.
believed that MUNICIPAL and other re-
forms in which the people are inter
ested could not De Cbtalned until the
administration had been wrenchcd
from the hands Of the political boss
believed that ohe people would be with
us ON that issue.
1T has developed, in the conSidera-
ton of the resolution by which the
state committee appointed your com
mittee, as well us in the public press
and other public and private commun-
cations that there is very decided
desire on the part of the democratic
party to contest the election on the
abstract question Of unlimited coinage
of silver at the uualIerable ratio of IL
to | as compared with gold and to ig-
more or be subordinate tc every other
state issue.
1t is apparently the purpose of the
party at this time TO make the accept
ance OF an extreme tolitical sentiment
the sole test of a candidate of the
democracy. 1t does rot seem to be
enough that men are willing to sup
port the regular democratic ticket, but
they a. ! quired 10 subscribe to every
letter and phase of that platform.
1T is impossible icr me, with the
views | hold, to make q cGLtest Oh the
coinage issue. | believe in the good
old democratic doctrine of the joint
free and equal use Of gold ana silver.
This doctrine is as far removed from
the single use Of gold, which enables
spectators to juggle with its values,
as it is from that other principle
which seeks to establish an impossible
ratio for it's sister metal.
Therefore, entertaining the views
| do, and now thoroughly impressed
with the belief that the party Will con
test primarily only upon the silver is
sue, | feel that DIS IN honorable man !
should make way for some one who
can carry the banner with that device.
There seems 10 be no place in t1e
democratic party today for conserya-
tism. The men are divided into two
classes each entertaining views ex-
ceedingly intolerdOle TO the other. In
the history of leg 5lllion, conservatism
in the end prevails. | believe that the
democratic party when it approaches
the responsibility of legislation, will
be true to itself ana to the people.
II have no sympathy with those who
desert the party now In its hour Of
need. Every democrat who believes
that the party is Or can be MADE an
instrument Of good mould stay within
its ranks, and by counsel and example
endeayor to build ii up and make it
strong. My party can demand Of me
no honorable saer..c4 viii not make.
It can ask Of me no Guy will not
perform.
Ny best US 4fulnegs row Will be
humby 10 remain within the ranks
and give such powers as | possess 70
strengthening its pillars and estab-
fishing its bulwarx3.
The probable outcome Of Mr.. I
Thacher's declination will be the en-
dorsement b. branch OF the regular
a q -.