The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-19

chamber Of commerce against the con-
committee on silver. After nine years
of research he became an outspoken adj
vocate of the restoration of silver to I'M
limited Coinage in the United States.
Thus in spite of his prejudices and the
restraints of his surroundings us bank
officer i'll the city of New York he has
been outspoken in favor of the peoples
money, and has more than once at
tracted widespread attention by his
stand.
Mr. ST. John believes and confidently
asserts that there can be no return of
permanent prosperity, either for banks
or anybody else, without the restoration
of silver, because we need growing vol
umo of money along with the growing
volume of everything else in order that
prosperity shall begin at the fountain
head--namely, with the producers of
wheat, cotton and the other great sta
Piles in the United States.
Mr.. st. John is one of the men who
believe the time has come to organize
i'll the east those opposed to the ruinous
policies which have of late years char
acterized both Republican and Demo
cratic administration of government,
and no has prepared platform, which
will appear i'll. The Arena for June, an
advance copy Of which has been kindly
furnished me by tho editor, Mr. b. o.
Flower. Here is the platform which
Mr.. st. John suggests for 1.-THE Ameri-
can Independents of 1885,"
states to those party organizations already oc-
cupied Herewith, and believing that tho senate
of the United States is quick to respond to the
clearly expressed will of the people, wo con-
fine our present attempt to the election of the
president, vice president and representatives
in congress on the following demands:
First.-(a) That the minis of the United
States shall BIO reopened to equally unrestrict-
ed coinage for gold and silver into the unlim-
Tied legal tender money Of the United States
the gold to issue in the present standard gold
coins and the silver to issue in the present
standard silver dollars. (b) Dcpositors of the
gold or silver at the mint to receive in lieu of
coin, If they prefer ut the coming value
thereof, coin certificates which shall be
deemed on demand in gold or silver coin Mt
the option and according to the convenience of
the United States. (c) And as safeguard
against panic and money stringency the secre-
tary of the treasury shall be empowered to is
sue such coin certificates additionally against
o
United States. the interest accrung on the
bonds to inure to the United States pending
their re-exchange for the coin certificates.
which coin certificates when returned shall be
Cancelled; provided that such additional issues
of coin certificates shall not reduce the per-
centage of coin and bullion reserved for coin
certificates and silver certificates below W per
cent of the aggregate sum OF coin certificates
and silver certificates outstanding. The now
outstanding silver certificates. gold certificates
and treasury notes Of 1890 to be retired as they
come into the treasury.
This (a) is free coinage at 10 to ], the con.
vcnient coin certificate (b) to take the place OF
gold certificates, silver certificates and treas
provide for n temporary increase Of $500. 00O. CO
of paper money against the silver on hand in
the treasury April i.
Second.-The threatened competition with
our southern cotton mills of those of China
and Japan, the increasing importations of long
stapled Egyptian in competition with our sea
island cotton and the i'll effects of the abroga-
ton of the tariff wool, along with the re-
duction in the tariff on wooden manufactures.
combine to evidence the fact that the time has
not arrived to abandon an adequate protective
tariff system in vain pursuit of the phantom
of free trade The effect of the wool schedule
of the Wilson bill has been to enrich the Euro
pean manufacturer at the expense of our do
mestic manufacturer and enlarge the Euro
pean market for foreign woods while lcssening
our home market for our domestic woods, oc-
casioning an advance Of cents pound for
Port Phillip (Australian) wool in London,
while unwashed Ohio wool has declined IL
cents q pound in Boston and New York, and
producing such q depression Of our home man
ufacturers as has caused u reduction in wages
Of operatives and threatens to throw this
branch of domestic labor out of all employ
ment. We are, therefore, opposed TO opening
our home market Of 100000 of consumers to
the foreigner on any pretcnse of procuring
thereby foreign market for the productions
OF the United States. But we shall exact of
our manufacturers that they accord to labor u
liberal and more continuously certain share of
the protection accorded them, and that the
tariff devised shall afford also protection to
the farmer and the planter and provide sufi-
cient revenues for the necessary expenditures
Of government
This second demand meets the requirement
OF the great mass of American labor, to whom
Mckinley threatens 70 become the embodiment
of the protective tariff. While my reports from
all sections. including the new SOUTH are over
whelmingly in favor OF protection, compare
lively few manufacturers favor the restora-
ton Of the Mckinley tariff.
Third.-We demand the application Of the
principle defined US the initiative and refer
endum to all national legislation which in
wolves any radical change in public policy.
A test of this principle, thus restricted to
any radical change in public policy, seems
warranted by the practice Of Switzerland. The
test may commend n broadening Of the re-
striction, if found practicable. "Should the
great trunk lines Of railway become a posses.
sion Of the governments" would seem to he
such radical change in public policy as might
wisely be referred to the people.
Fourth.-We condemn Clevelandism utterly:
that debauching of legislators with patronage
to achieve legislation opposed to the will Of
the people is vicious prostitution Of execu-
tive influence. which We shall denounce as bit
terly it be the practice Of an executive elect.
ed as Republican as when the practice Of one
elected as Democrat.
IF all who have become distrustful OF old
parties and tired of boss rule will unite in
these demands and nominate. on this platform
some man of such achievements as Commend
him to the conservative element of the coun-
try and who is not seeker after the prefer