New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1896-08-12
ind Answers
II. Boe11
In Pointed Article be Reviews his Silver
& Record in the House.
He Shows Clearly that He has Always
Been Honestly on the Side Of the
White Metal.
4r. McKinley's Conduct Laid Bare in a
Manly Manner.

a few days ago ext Congressman Boen
in the Fergus Falls Globe stated that
John Lind had voted against silver when
ever he had chance. To refute this
statement, Mr.. Lind has addressed the
following open letter to Prof. Dobbyn:
covering all the facts:
! Dear Sir:-In answer to yours of YES
terday, permitme to say that in my judg-
ment, Mr.. Boen would not have pub
lished the statement which appeared IN
the Minneapolis Tribune of the 5th inst.
If he had been more familiar with the
proceedings of the 51st congress, for I
know of no reason why he should desire
to mislead anyone with reference to my
record on public questions. I can best
answer your inquiries by giving a short
resume OF the silver legislation of the
51st congress which resulted in the pas
sage of the SHERMAN Act.'' as =.
The feeling in the House in the 51st
Congress, especially among the Western
and Southern members, was very strong
in behalf of more efficient silver legisla-
ton than the Bland Low, which was then
in force. There were enough of US who
fayored the Free Coinage of silver on
both sides of the House to have passed
such measure, but word came from the
Whit House through Mr.. Window, who
was then Secretary of che Treasury, that
free coinage act, If passed.. would be
vetoed. In response however to this
sentiment, Mr.. Conger, chairman of the
Committee on Coinage, on the goth day
of March, 1890, reported from the Coin
age Committee bill providing for the
deposit of silver bullion in the treasury
and the issuance of Treasury certificates
therefor, which might circulate as mon
ey. This bill had been formulated by
the Treasury Department and was known
as the Window Bill. 1t did not meet
the approval of the Bimetallists in the
House. ...-... =.
Mr.. Bland at the same time reported
a Free Coinage Bill from the minority
Of the committee. There were enough
b;metallists to pass the Free Coinage
Act, but it was perfectly well understood
that such action would have been futile
and would have resulted in no legisla-
tion of any kind on the subject. The
Republican members, who favored Free
Coinage, to the number of fifteen and of
which was one, realizing that Free
Coinage act would only be passed>to be
vetoed, and anxious to procure the pas
sage Of a measure less Objectionable than
the Window Bill, and one that would
treat silver as money metal, secure an
adequate increase of the circulating me-
dium, and insure free coinage 1T an ear
ly date, succeeded in getting the Repub-
licans of the House to meet in caucus
and agree upon bill which provided foe
the purchase by the Treasury Depart
ment of silver bullion to the amount of
4 800, 1000 dollars worth each month and
to issue Treasury notes in payment there
for Section six Of the Bill provided
that as soon as the market price Of silver
should reach one dollar for 371 .25 grains
of pure silver, the Mat should be op-
cned to the free coinage of silver under
the provisions of the coinage act of JAN
uary 18th, 1887. This bill was known
as the Republican House Bill ana was
offered as a substitute for the Window
Bill. discussed the mlnts of this Bill
fully on the 9th day of June, 1890, and
my views may be found on pages 5692-
z inclusive of the Congressional Record.
This Bill, it will be observed, provid-
ed for the purchase by the Treasury De-
partment OF the entire silver product of
the country, and that SO soon as the bull
lion price Of silver should reach parity,
purchases under the acr should cease,
and the mints Of the United States would
be opened to the Free Coinage Of silver.
This was {: rational and the only posi-
bic way Of getting at the subject at that
time # It had become q law, we would.
have no silver question today. Free
Coinage would have become an accom-
plished fact
e will be remembered that under the
operation ef the Sherman Act (from
which this Free Coinage section Ind been.
stricken out silver bullion went up to-
=