The herald., 1896-06-19
A GREAT SURPRISE
Senator Pettigrew Goes Out With the Silver
Advocates

A 0kEAT SUKPNSE
Senator Pettigrew Goes Out With the Silver
Advocates
ST. LOUIS, June 1S.-The fact that
Senator Pettigrew of South Dakota join
ed the silver Republicans in their bolt
proved the surprise of the day. He said
after leaving the hall that he had formed
the determination to join the movement
several weeks ago, as soon as it became
apparent that the gold-standard plat
form would be adopted.
When the senator left his seat several
Republicans who were sitting near him
shook him cordially by the hand, and
Senator Proctor of Vermont walked to
the door with him, expressing regret as
he went, and shaking the Dakotan by
the hand as he Joined his silver friends
on the sidewalk. He walked with the
other boilers to the st. Nicholas hotel,
spending the afternoon in conference
with the leaders. He was seen by the
Associated Press man at the hotel
where he gave out the following au-
thorized statement in explanation Of his
course:
II left the convention because be-
iltNc tuc uudHCldl QueSllOI " Dc Tie
only vital question in this campaign,
and as 1 could not support or advocate
the single gold standard I thought I
owed it to the convention not to longer
participate in the proceedings and be-
lieve the maintainers of the gold stand
ard will result in further decline in prices
to the utter ruin of all producers of
wealth, and that our adoption Of that
standard in part Is the cause Of the pres
ent panic, enforced idleness and misery
among our people. I believe the gold
of the world is cornered by professional
creditors of the world.
Last winter we adopted the Wilson
bill as basis, and simply raised rates in
of the people of the United States who
are debtors to make no promise to pay
gold. If we should do this gold would
gradually decline in value, and this doc
trine be shown in rise of price Of all
commodities. and take the burden off
the shoulders of the producing and en-
terprising American people. Tariff is
the only issue of Importance for which
the Republican party contends, and that
is no longer an issue between parties,
for tariff and protection has become
the settled policy of this government
The only question at issue between the
advocates Of McKinleyism and those of
the Wilson bill is one of rates and differ
ence in averaging between the two
measures is very slight one indeed.
This is conclusively proven by the fact
that the Republican party in passing
u tariff measure through the house of
representatives last winter adopted the
Wilson bill as the vital issue that Is es-
sential to divide men into great politi-
cal parties cannot be founded on the
question whether duty upon certain ar
tlcies shall be Al or As per cent think
the time has come when it is the con-
scientious duty of every man who be-
lieves we cannot continue to prosper
with gold monometallism to exercise his
whole strength to prevent continuation
of the policy.
Il believe the majority of the people
of my state are with me on this ques-
ton. If am mistaken on the issue they
Will approve or condemn my course at
the polls next November. I have felt
impelled to this course by a sense of
duty and deep convictions that the wei.
fare of my constituents depended upon
proper solution of the question, and 1
could not listen to any argument of per-
sonal comfort or interest which might
be presented to turn me from the course
which I believed myself to be impelled
by duty.
(Signed) ''R. F. PETTIGREW.
SILVER SALUTES.
nENVEp Tn
tyre this afternoon sent the following
message:
To Hon. Henry M. Teller, ST. Louis: A
national salute, with eight guns to fol-
low, being fired at state capitol in honor
of yourself and the other Colorado dele
gates for your brave and patriotic stand
and loyalty to the people you represent.
We are proud of the delegation and de-
lighted.
(Signed) ALBERT w. M'INTYRE.
Salutes were also fired at Pueblo.
Leadville, Aspen and other cities.
JUBILATION AT DENVER.
DENVER, June 1S.-The news of the
action of Senator Teller and the Colo
rado and Utah delegations in withdraw
ing from the national Republican con-
vention has been received throughout
the state with the greatest enthusiasm.
In Denver there will be a demonstration
when Senator Teller returns which will
be by Thursday, and Senator Cannon of
Utah will be the feature of another
demonstration when he passes through.
The mining camps are especially jubi-
lant
AT Aspen tonight the hills are reverb
Grating with the boom of improvised
cannon. At Pueblo the company of the
national guard fired salute of forty-flve
guns when the news of the bolt was re-
ceived and in Northern and Southern
colorado the joy is unconfined. Senator
Ieiiers name is on every lip and there
is apparently not dissenting voice to
the course he has taken.