The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1896-07-16
SILVER AT IS TO |
PLATFORM FORMULATED BY THE
DEMOCRATIC sUB-COMMITTEE.
Free Coinage Independent OF All
other Nations Is the All Inn
portnnt Plank.

Chicago July 8.-The committee on reso-
lutions was not prompt In assembling
today owing to the fact that the sub
committee was at work until late this
morning.
The subcommittee made its report to
the fun committee, submitting the plat
form adopted last night.
w. w. Gatewood, the Texas delegate,
made an argument in favor of moderation
in the tariff declaration and submitted
the following, which has been incorpor-
ated:
Resolved That we favor tariff for
revenue sufficient to defray the necessary
expenses of the government economically
administered and 80 adjusted as not to
discriminate against the industries of any
section, and especially raw materials OF
the south and west, including their wool,
hides, sheep. cattle and other livestock
interests"
Allen w. Thurman Of Ohio offered
Johns amendment to the financial plank,
providing for Issuance of coin certificates
In times of money stringency In exchange
for United States bonds, and spoke In It's
favor
Thurmans amendment was rejected.
The secretary proceeded with the read
ing OF the platform, section by section,
developing little discussion as he pro-
crossed.
Senator Hill made a suggestion when
the paragraph demanding the immediate
restoration of free and unlimited coinage
of silver was read, to the effect that there
should be a declaration for the preserva-
ton of the parity of the metals.
This brought a discussion as to the alb
sence OF the minority report, several sill
yer men complaining that the minority
report was being unduly delayed and say
ing that 1t should be before the full com
mittee to be considered together with the
majority report.
Later 1t was stated by members chat the
minority report will not be presented to
the committee, but 10 the convention 1t
may take the form OF n protest.
The paragraph condemning the issuance
of bonds in time of peace, started a dis
cussion, which was participated in by
Thomas, Tillman, German and others
when the possibility of a panic was free
ly discussed.
Finally the paragraph was slightly
amended on motion of Thomas of Colo
RADIO.
The Platform.
The platform submitted by the majority
OF the committee on resolutions is as fol-
lows:
I'VE, the democrats OF the United
States in national convention assembled,
do reafirm our allegiance to those great
essential principles of justice and liberty
upon which our Institutions are founded
and which the democratic party has
maintained from Jefferson's time to our
own-freedom of speech, freedom OF the
press freedom of conscience, the preser-
walton of personal rights, the equality
of all citizens before the law and the
faithful observance OF constitutional linz
itations.
During all these years the democratic
party has resisted the tendency OF selfish
interests to the Capitalization of govern
mental power. and steadfastly maintained
the integrity of the dual scheme of gov
eminent as established by the founders of
this republic of republics. Under It's
guidance and teachings the great princl-
pie OF local self-governrnent has found It's
best expression In the maintenance of tile
rights of the states and its assertion of
the necessity of combining the general gov
eminent to the exercise OF the powers
granted by the constitution of the United
States.
Money Question Paramount.
Recognizing that the money question
Is paramount to all others at this lime
we invite attention to the fact that the
federal constitution names silver and gold
together as the money metals of tie
United States. and that the first coin
age law passed by congress under the
constitution made the silver dollar the
unit of value and admitted gold to free
coinage at ratio based upon the silver
dollar unit.
I'VE declare that the act OF 1873 de-
monetlzlng silver without the knowledge
or approval of the American people, mas
resulted In the appreciation Of gold and
corresponding fall in the prices Of
commodities produced by the people; a
heavy increase in the burden of taxation
and of all debts, public and private. the
enrichment of money-lending classes at
home and abroad, the paralysis of INDUS
try and impoverishment of the people.
1--WE are unalterably opposed 20 tie
monometalllsm which has locked fast the
prosperity of an Industrious people in the
paralysis of hard times. Gold monomet-
allism Is British policy and Its
general adoption has brought other ma
lions into financial servitude to London.
1t Is not only un-American, but anti
American and 1t can be fastened upon
the United States only by the sitting of
that indomitable spirit and love of liberty
which proclaimed our political indepead-
ence in 1776 and won 1t in the war of the
revolution.
1--WE demand the free and unllmit-
ed coinage of both gold and sill
yer at the present legal ratio of
16 to l, without waiting Tor the aid or
consent of any other nation. We de-
mand that the standard silver dollar shall
be a full legal tender, equally with soll,
for all debts, public or private, and we
favor such legislation as will prevent
for the future the characterization of any
kind Of legal tender money by private
contract.
I'VE are opposed to the policy and prac-
tice of surrenderng to the holders Of
the obligations of the United States the
option reserved by law to the gove,n-
ment of redeeming such obligations in
either silver coin or gold coin.
I'VE are opposed to the issuing Of inter-
est-bearing bonds of the United States in
times of peace. and condemn the traffic
with banking syndlcates which, In ex-
change for bonds at an enormous profit
to themselves. supply the federal treas
ury with gold to maintain the policy of
gold monometallism. Congress alone has
the power to coin and Issue money. and
President jackson declared that this DOW
err could not be delegated to corporations
or individuals. We therefore demand that
the power to Issue notes to circulate as
money be taken from the national banks,
and that all paper money shall be Issued
directly by the treasury department. be
redeemable in coin and receivable for all
debts. public and private.
On the Tariff.
I'VE hold that the tariff duties should |
be levied for the purpose or revenue such
duties to be readjusted as to operate
equally throughout the country. and not
between class or section. !
and that taxation should be limited by the |
needs of the government honestly and |
administered.
I'VE denounce as disturbing to business |
the republican threat to restore the Nc |
Kinley law, which has been twice con- |
iemned by the people in national cleo !
Ions, and which, enacted under the false /
,lea of protection to home industries, |
proved a prolific breeder of trusts and |
enriched the few at the ax