The San Francisco call., 1896-06-13
ON INDIANA'S PATTERN.
The Platform Will Contain a Sound
Money Plank.

ST. LOUIS, Mo-, June 12.-The cham
pions of sound money in the Republican
platform gained notable victory to-day.
A CALL correspondent has the best author
ity for saying that Mr.. Hanna, on behalf
of the Mckinley men, will accept plank
drawn after the Indiana platform, but
omitting the final words expressing oppo-
sition to the free coinage OF silver at 10 to
1. The platform will oppose the free coin
age of silver not only at 16 to L, but at
any ratio. All day telegrams have been
raining in on Mr.. Hanna from bankers
and fnanciers in the East, demanding
that the platform shall explicitly declare
for a gold standard. To this demand Mr.
Hanna has turned deaf ear. He insists
that the word "gold" would be obnoxious
to many Republicans. Mr.. Hanna con-
sented that the final words of the Indiana
platform, ''at the ratio of 16 to 1, ;" should
be stricken out.
Meanwhile it is asserted at the McKin-
ley headquarters that the friends OF
Mckinley are not drafting any financial
planks, but will leave the matter entirely
to the delegates. Certain it is that the
Mckinley forces will strenuously oppose
fighting out the issue on the floor of the
convention. 1t is their claim, that as they
are sincere in demanding adherence to the
present financial system, the phraseology
of plank is mere question OF verblage
and expediency dictates that this detail be
fought out behind the closed doors OF the
room of the committee on platform. 1t
IN ust be remem bered that the constant at
titude of the Mckinley men proclaims
that in their estimation entirely too much
prominence is being given the financial
que ton, and that in consequence the
tariff, which is at least of equal import
ance, is being neglected.
Ii is the wish of the Mckinley men that
the tariff and the currency be indissolubly
united. They know that it is impossible
to run both subjects in one and the same
plank, but it is determined that they shall
be at least co-equal. The following state
ment prepared at the headquarters shows
plainly their purposes
''The closeness with which so many
State conventions have linked protection
and sound money has suggested the idea
of joining them in like manner in the Ma
tional platform. 1t begins to dawn that
this question is so closely related to that
other great principle sure to be enunciated
in the platform-adequate protection-that
the making of the currency plank need
not after all, be so difficult.
"Those familiar with the financial his
tory of the country recognize the fact that
so long as We had adequate protection
and the ample revenue which resulted
there was no difficulty about currency, no
complaint as to its scarcity ana no radical
demand for the extreme addition to it by
unlimited coinage of silver The fact that
the nomination of Major Mckinley means
of itself the certainty of the adoption of a
system of protection aud the assurance of
ample revenue will of itself bring about
the conditions in regard to currency which
prevailed when the country had protec-
ton and ample revenue and general pros
perity before. While it is not assumed
that the mere adoption of a protective
tariff will settle the silver ques-
ton, it is believed that the tariff
plank which will naturally accompany
the nomination of Major Mckinley will.
when in operation, bring about such
condition in the financial affairs OF the
Nation as to greatly reduce the demands
for large additions to the currency, and
bring back the generally satisfactory con-
ditions which existed when full treasury,
prosperity and ample employment kept at
home and in constant circulation the am
pie supply of currency which this country
has always had. This supply, it may be
remarked incidentally, is greater than that
OF almost any country in the world, and
when it is not being drawn away by the
demands from abroad, which are conse-
quent upon low tariff and insufficient
revenue, it has always proven sufficient to
meet amply the demands of The people"
There is of course, no scheme afoot to
gag the convention or IN any way prevent
discussion. 1t has been suggested to-day
that the adhereats of the gold standard
who demand a specific Endorsement OF
gold by word shall be given an oppor-