Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1896-11-19
FRANK ]. THOMPSON.
Statement of the Chairman OF
the Independent State
Central Committee.


Dakota: Now that the result Of one of
the most hotly contested osmpaigns in
tho history Of the present generation 10
known, and the interest Of the wage
Garner and the producer have been sub
ordinated to that Of the rich and power
full, feel, as the chairman of the indie
pendent state central committee, that /
should say word Of encouragement to
those who 60 strenuously and honestly
fought for the cause.
At the time the Chicago platform was
drafted there seemed no probability for
the cause OF silver even to have . hear
ing before the people. But under the
inspiration of that greatest Of orators Of
modern times, William J. Bryan, hope
was enkindled and the cause grew and
found recruits everywhere. And had
the people been free from temptations
set before them, from the pressure which
threatened the welfare of families Of
thousands of honest toilers, from the
din Of alleged cslamities which were
howled long and loud, the result would
have been otherwise. do net desire to
question the motives of the great mass
OF republican voters, but those who have
wrung millions of dollars out Of the
hands OF the wage.esrners and tillers OF
the coil, those who form the personnel Of
great corporations, trusts. monoplies,
gamblers in stocks and wheat, and the
commodities Of life, those who have op-
pressed labor and disrupted labor unions.
do question their motives. and be-
lieve that the same unjust methods
which have brought them power were
used against the people IN this campaign.
Notwithstanding this unequal fight, the
result shows that at the most We are
only forty-one behind in the electoral
college, and had Illinois with her twenty
four votes, Michigan with fourteen and
our own state with three been true to
their best interest, We should have ,won.
Or had Bryan had received 25,OOO more
votes, equally distributed in seven states
he would have bad an electoral majority
of nineteen. These results from an ap-
psrently hopsless beginning, should ami
mate US with the belief that the remon.
lt,zation Of silver is still large factor
in the minds of the American people and
one which will como to the front in the
campaign Of 1900, unless the republicans
by international agreement restore sill
yer to redemption money. The repub-
licsns have promised much, and, practl.
cslly, without promising any change in
the system which has seen hard times
come upon the people. If their policy
brings the good times they have prom
ised, and want and hunger are driven
forth by confidence" restored, then L,
and I believe all who have fought
against them, will try to assist in the
continuance Of so felicitous policy.
In tie meantime, however, I earnestly
urge upon independents, and all who
favor the silver plank in the Chicago
platform, to preserve the county and the
silver or Bryan club organizations. Let
the financial and other economic ques-
tions be studied and discussed; for these
will be the living issues two and four
years hence. We must not be discour-
aged, nor leave the country to the raw
ages Of cupidlty and selfishness. Our
work is not alone for the present, but for
the generations which are to come after
us.
Iwish also to thank the various coun-
ty and legislative committees, and the
hundreds of brave men in private capa-
cities, for the noble work they did dur
ing the campaign, and the assistance
they rendered the state central commit
tee. Also the democratic state commit
tee especially to it's chairman Thomas
Kleinogel, and its secretary, E. G. Car
ruth, and last, but not least, to Finlay
Grant, the secretary OF our own CON.
mittee.
Let the work along educational lines
60 on. Let us teach men that those who
oppress them will never free them; thai
the tigers claw is as sharp beneath a
coat of fur 40 when fastened upon it's
victim.
FRANK j. THOMPSON,
NJ