The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-16
THE FAKE APPEAL.
Grand Master Sargent, Of the Loco
motive Firemen, Speaks.

On Wednesday the Journal published tho
letter of Mr.. Arthur, chief of the locomo-
tive engineers. exposing the fraud con-
tanned in the appeal of the heads of labor
organizations in favor of the silver mine
owners. The same party in Louisville who
obtained the letter OF Mr.. Arthur has SCI
cured one from f. p. Sargent, grand mas.
ter of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire.
men, a larger and more emphatic letter
than that of Mr.. Artlur's. 1t is as follows:
Peoria, ILL.,, Oct. 10. 1896.
~. ]. Donahue. Esq, 17i2 Pope street,
Louisville, ky.-My Dear Sir: Replying to
your communicat ton of Oct. c.. referring 10
q circular which you inciosed and which
was captioneG Demands of Organized La
Dor for the Free Coinage of Silver, etc. I
beg to say that something like three years
ago a gentleman waited on me who had a
memorial which had been prepared for the
purpose of presentation to Congress. urg-
Ing the free and unlimited coinage of both
gold ana silver at the ratio OF 10 to !, the
COINS of both metals TO be equally a full
legal tender. The memorial had attached
the signatures of several other prominent
representatives of labor, and the gentleman
seemed very anxious That / should attach
my signature also.
AT the first interview l refused 70 do so
for the ra son that i had favorably con-
sidared q suggestion which had been made
to me by some of my friends in the district
where / then resided to allow my name to
pc lresented as Il prospective cahqioate Tor
Congress. IN view OF that fact l did not
CONSIDER It would be advisable to attach my
name TO g petition of that character with
out first consulting with those who were my
friends and advisers at that particular
time. This / did. and it was agreed that it
would not be. prudent for me 10 sign the
memorial, although l found a strong sem
timent in support of the memorial among
my starchest friends of the party with
which / was aligned.
"Conditions arose a short time after
which forced me to believe that 1t was not
to the interest OF myself. as well as others.
tnat my name be presented to the conven-
ton, and therefore i withdrew. after that
period, this same gentleman who originally
presented the memorial to me came back
again, and having had a good knowledge OF
tho objects of the petition. and believing at
that time that some silver Legislation was
necessary. 1 signed the petition, which has
since been distorted, and is being used by
the free-silver party of this country, who
have an entirely different policy as was In
the original. when signed by me.
II have not changed my silver views one
particle from whit they were when signed
this petition, but the gentlemen who are
SO industriously circulating this petition
are following a different plan from the one
outlined in the memorial. i have no objec-
lions to the unlimited coinage of silver
when every silver dollar Is backed up by
the credit of this government and Is worth
it distinctly understood that l am opposed
to the free and unlimited coinage of silver
with a silver dollar worth 50 cents, as Will
be the result If the silver policy as advo-
Gated by the free-silver orators becomes the
money of this country.
81 want a dollar coined by the United
States minis to. represent just what 1t
states upon its face. and that a dollar IN
silver shall have an equal purchasing power
with that of gold, and that every dollar in
silver shall be backed up by the credit OF
this government, and then you may coin
all the silver you p ease.
Il had no hesitation in expressing my
honest conviction when this matter was
first presented to me. AT that time there
was "A general feeling throughout the cour-
try in favor of silver legislation. But Ii
was upon such lines as would maintain the
standard of silver with that of gold: and
not for the purpose of a deprecated cur
rency and a Reputation of the honest debts
of our government.
4 am a strong sound-money man to-day,
and my advice to the railroad men of this
country, were / permitted to express my
opinions as an individual, would be to vote
for sound money. You will understand. my
dear sir, / am not writing to you in an
official capacity, but as an Individual. Our
organization is made up of men of different
political beliefs. and j have no business to
assume to speak at this time for the or
ganiZation. But l have a right to express
my individual opinion, which 1 do without
hesitation.
Had this memorial, which was signed
by the gentlemen whose names appear. and
others who for some reason have disap-
peared, been carried out in good faith, as
presented by it's promoters three years ago,
l doubt If we would have any serious con-
f1ict to-day regarding the free and unlim-
tied coinage of silver. But 1t is very evil
dent to me that these gentlemen had other
signatures. To-day they are attempting to
play their hand, but 1 am of the opinion
that when the returns are received in No
vember they will discover that they have
not succeeded In hoodwinking everybody.
Yours truly, I. p. SARGENT"