St. Paul daily globe., 1896-04-29
NE FAsoRs FREE SILVER, BUT HE
is NOT A POPU-
LIST.
WORSE THAN M0N0METALLISM
FoPuhisM HE CALLS THE MOST
SERIOUS PERIL OF THE
COUNTRY.
EXPECTS TO STAY BY HIS PARTY.
1he colorado Senator Puts at Rest
All Doubt as to His Present
Position,

WASHINGTON April 28.-Senator
Wolcott, of Colorado, has written a
letter defining his position in regard
70 the st. Louis convention. 1t Is radi-
cally different from the position OF his
colleague, Senator Teller, as Sena-
tor Wolcott indicates his intention Of
remaining with the Republican party
Whatever action it may take On the
currency question. His letter is as
follows:
During the past few weeks, have
received many letters from Colorado
friends on the subject of the coming
republican national convention, many
Of them asking me If I desired to go
as delegate. To avoid any possible
misconception, I write this letter.
prefer not to go to ST. Louis as a dele
gate and have carefully avoided the
slightest indication to anybody Of a
Wlsh to be present in that capacity. I
nave, however, an opinion on the SUBJ
Ject of our representation at the con-
Vention which 1t seems proper that
should express When the Republican
state convention meets In Colorado.
May IA. 1t may decline to be repre-
sented at st. Louis, or it may select
delegation in my opinion will be to
attend the convention. make the best
light possible for bimetallism.
and after having insisted by
every proper method upon the
duty of the convention to declare in
favor of the restoration Of silver as a
measure of value equally with gold,
to accept the will Of the majority of
the convention.
There is no sacrifice I would not
make to secure the reconciliation of
silver, because, in my opinion, pros
perity will never return to us until
bimetallism at the former ratio is
re-established, and because the ap-
preciating value Of gold and the
shrinkage Of values which necessarily
follows this appreciation, must bring
only disaster and poverty and suffer-
ing to all the people Of this country
who are not lenders of money. To
secure the unlimited coinage Of silver,
1 would count party ties as nothing.
AT this moment, however, the situation
which confronts us Is this: Both of
the two great parties are apparently
opposed to free coinage by the United
States The Populist party favors
d
secure more currency and as a step
ping stone to unlimited paper money
and it unites with it's free coinage
advocacy, socialistic and paternalistio
doctrines which are dangerous in ten
dency and which would be, if adopted,
destructive to free institutions. L
know Of no fourth party as yet entitled
to our confidence and support, although
q yicdn Cf Iao
and ability we trust, may find some
common ground upon which bimetal-
lists untainted with populism may
stand.
Under these circumstances and con.
ditions, therefore, desire to be count
ed as a Republican, proud Of the tra-
dittons Of my party. If either one of
the two great parties shall declare in
favor Of the unlimited coinage of sill
yer at our mints, existing political con-
ditions in Colorado will undergo
sweeping change, and in this letter I
speak only Of the situation as 1t is
today. There is, in my opinion, one
event which might involve our coun-
try in worse disaster than gold mono
metallism, and only one, and that
would be the triumph of Populism.
OOAOA
ton and blight of Populist rule for two
years. 1 believe it the duty Of every
good citizen to stand up and fight in
the open against a repetition of that
ruinous experiment.
''One thing further: Our representa-
tion is small at best. To have the
slightest weight. 1t should. if any dele
gation Is sent, be practically unani-
nous in sentiment and expression. The
occasion is not one where personal am
bitions or desire for patronage should
influence selection. 1t has seemed to
me fitting and proper that the men,
bers Of that party whose commission
I hold should know before the meet
ing of the state convention my views
as to our duty in respect to the ma
tional convention at st. Louis. This Is
no time for differences among our
own people. I have faith and conf
dence that the way will be made clear
for good citizens in Colorado to cast
their ballots this fall without sacri-
f1cing their honor or their convic.
tions."