Evening star., 1896-11-17
Senator PETER Thinks One Should
Garry on the Bimetallism Fight.
P0PULlSPS CAN'T GO WITH DEMOCRATS
He Believes the Republicans Should
Have Their Way.
4 NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Star reporter today, advocated the call
ing Of a conference of silver leaders for
the purpose of organizing a brand-new
party to carry on the fight for bimetallism,
and says that the same forces that were
united in the campaign now cannot be
united again under the leadership Of the
democrats. This idea of Senator PETERS
was brought out in talk about the proba-
BILE policy of the silver men in the future.
II am not prepared to say he said,
what the silver men will do. I can only
give ny own views as to what We ought
to do. The lesson of the late campaign
taught us something that we needed very
much to know, and that is that the friends
Of the gold standard are ready to abandon
their party affiliations and vote together 10
secure legislation in accord with their own
opinions on that subject. 1t taught US an
other thing-that the gold standard people
regard the money question as the only one
worth talking about at this time and from
what has taken place since the election
we have learned another very important
thing-that the gold standard people pro-
pose to hold what they have by continual
agitation of the money question; that they
will stand together as a unit without ref
erence to parties. Putting these three
great factors together, 1t would be idiocy
Tor us to quarrel over party names and to
allow party prejudices to keep US apart,
when nothing but the closest union can
achieve success. If the cause Of bimetal-
lism is right 1t ought to be not only defend
ed. but its advocacy ought to be made a
war for victory.
Wants II National Conference.
Il think the silver forces of the country
ought to meet in national conference by
delegates properly chosen and arrange, if
possible, for the organization of a new and
distinct political party, for the purpose of
continuing the struggle for reformation in
our monetary system, and to keep up this
struggle until we shall have succeeded or
until We shall have discovered that a ma
}oF1ty Oh the people, at fair election, with
an untrammeleo vote, do not agree with
U.S."
Then you do not think the fight can be
made again, if it is made at ALL under the
leadership Of the democraSs?'
The SILVER democrats have control of
their party organization, and they insist
upon gong INTO the next campaign with
the party name, and expect siiN er repupli-
cans and populistS to continue the alliance
that was formed during the last campaign,
they VIII most likely fail all around. Whiie
II Is a matter of some delicacy, l think we
ought to be frank with one another about
II. The democratic party as such can
hardly expect to ever again have control
of the government. 1t Is now hopeIessly
divided on the money question, and that
Will continue to be a bone OF contention SO
tegriiy. Hence, the wise thing for silver
democrats TO do is to unite with the popu-
lists and silver republicans and form an
entlreiy distinct and new body under u new
name, organized chiefly for the purpose of
carrying on the struggle for bImetailsm
ana monetary reform. such a union wiIl
bring together all the reform elements in
the country. 1t will unite all shades of
opinion opposed to the gold standard pol
icy. The new body would, logically take
new name, and tnat would do away with
the preJudiceS which hang about old names
ana party associations. When the popu-
liSt party was organized those VINO Ioined
IT dlu not do SO with the intention of gong
back to the ranks of either the republican
ur democratic party. They started out on
new lines, and their UNION with the silver
democrats IN the last campaign was a
mere temporary arrangement Tor tempo-
rary purposes, but it showed our Wiling
ness TO unite with others upon wnat we re-
gard as the most vital question So il was
with Inc silver republicans. Their UNION
with the democrats was only for the cam
palsn. Ihey are no more democrats now
than before the campaign. All these things
tend TO snow that we are agreed upon tne
paramount issue of the ume but not agreed
as 10 permanent union with the democ-
racy uhder their party name. Hence in
my opinion, the only way to effect q per
manent union Of the anti-goId forces is
through new party organization"
Let Republicans Have Their NAV.
III s'iS hSoAtlme, as preliminary TO
the suggestion you make for new party
what Will the silver men do in the way or
legislative marters?"
Il think the friends of bimet aliism iI
both houses of Congress ought 10 organize
tor effective work. They ought to confer
with one another freely and frankly with d
view acilng as a BODY, without regard TO
party, upon all questions relating to
nnance. 1 don't tnlnk IL wise Tor us 10
Interpose any tactlous opposition to the
measures which the repubncanS propose 10
carry out their promises made curing the
campaign, and whIle We should insist VI on
full ana free discussion OF every subject,
opposition on our part that would perma-
nentIy ueIeat the republican policy would
have the erect of keeping the country sun
longer doubt as to what effect the pro-
posed policy would have On the business
of the country. To be more speciiic--lf
the republicans in the Senate propose, 10
take up The Dingley bill l do not think it
would De wise our part 10 preNen: its
passage by insisting upon free coinage
amenument. We could discuss The Two
propositions separately. If they had votes
enough to pass tEeir bill as a separate
measure we would probably have votes
enough to pass ours separate measure,
and II the tariff bill should become a law
lis enec, Oh the business OF the country
would soon become apparent and we would
all know whether it was for the better or
the worse
The Army of the Tennessee.
No her a