Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-09-17
HOBART ACCEPTS.
Formal Letter of the Republican,
Nominee for Vice President.
Devoted Mainly to Discussion of Finance
Friendly to Silver, but Opposes Free
Coinage-Good Word for Prosec-
ton and Reciprocity.

ter of Garrett A. Hobart, accepting the
repu blican nomination for vice presi-
dent, was made public yesterday. Con-
corning the financial problem he says:
The money standard of a great nation should
be as fixed and permanent as the nation itself.
To secure and retain the best should be the de-
sire Of every right-minded citizen Resting
stable foundations, continuous and unvarying
certainty of value should be its distinguished
characteristic. The experience OF all history
confirms the truth that every coin, made under
any law. howSoever that coin may be stamped.
will finally command in the markets of the
world the exact value of the materials which
compose it. The dollar OF our country, whether
of gold or silver, should be of the full value of
100 cents, and by SO much as any dollar is worth
less than this in the market, by precisely that
sum will some one be defrauded.
The free coinage of silver at the ratio OF six
teen to one. is policy which nation has
ever before proposed. and it is not to-day per-
m1tted in any mint in the world-not even in
Mexico. 1t is proposed to make the coinage
unlimited. at absolutely fictitious ratio,
fixed with reference to intrinsic value or
pledge of ultimate redemption With silver
at its present price OF less than 20 cents per
ounce the market. such a policy means an
immediate profit to the seller of silver. for
which there is return now hereafter to
the people or the government. 1t means that
for each dollars worth OF silver bullion de-
nvered at the mint practically two dollars Of
stamped coin will be given in exchange. For
800 worth OF bullion nearly 200 silver dollars
will be delivered
Any attempt on the part of the government
to create. by its fiat, money of fictitious
value would diShonor in the eyes Of other
peoples and bring infinite reproach upon the
national character The business and fnan-
cial consequences of such an immoral act
would be world wide, because our commercial
relations are world wide All our settlements
with other lands must be made, not with the
money which may be legally current in our
own country. but in gold, the standard of all
nations with relations
dial and extensive, and no legislative enact
ment can free US from that inevitable neces-
sity. It is a known fact that more than so per
cent. of the commerce OF the world Is settled IN
gold or on a gold basis.
Mr.. Hobart then goes on to tell of
the effect he thinks free coinage would
have on various interests:
There are deposit in the savings
banks of SO states AID territories of this union
the vast sum of i2, 900, 100000 These the
savings of almost ), o01 900 depOSitorS In many
cases they represent the labor and economies
of years Any depreciation in the value of the
dollar would defraud every man, woman and
child to whom every savings belong. Every
dollar of their earnings when deposited was
worth 100 cents in gold of the present standard
of weight and finenesS. Are they not entitled
to receive in full, with interest, all they have
so deposited? Any legislation that would
duce it by the value of single dime would be
an intolerable wrong to each depoSltor Every
bank or banker who has accepted the earnings
of these millions of dollars to the credit of our
citizens must be required to pay them back IN
money not one whit less valuable than that
which these banks and bankers received i'll
trust.
There are, in this country nearly 5000 build
ing and loan associations, with shareholders
to the number of 1900, 600 and with assets
amounting to more than S5oOGJo.O0l Their av
erage of holdings is nearly 800 per capita, and
in many cases they represent the savings of
men and women who have denied themselves
the comforts of life in the hope of being able to
accumulate enough to buy or build homes of
their own. They have aided in the erection
of over 100 900 of houses, which are
afording comfort and shelter for 100000 of
our thrifty people.
Free coinage at the arbitrary rate of sixteen
ounces of silver TO one of gold would be equiv
alent to the coniScation of nearly half the saw
ingS that these people have invested It would
be tantamount to a war upon American home
makers. 1t would be an invasion CT the
homes of the provident'' and tend directly 20
destroy the stimulus to endeavor and the
compensation of honest TOLL
The vice presidential nominee then
touches on the tariff follows:
Our party holds that by wise adjustment of
the tariff, conceived in moderation and with
view to stability, we may secure all needed
revenue, and it declares that in the event OF its
restoration to power, it will. seek TO accom-
plsh that result. 1t holds, too, that it is the
duty of the government to protect and encour-
age in all practicable ways the development OF
domestic Industries, the elevation of home Ia
Dor and the enlargement OF the prosperity of
the people. 1t does not favor any form of leg
iSlation which would lodge in the government
the power to do what the people ought to do
for themselves, but it believes that it is both
wise and patriotic to discriminate in favor of
our own material resources, and the utiliZa-
tion under the best attainable conditions of
our own capital and our own available skill
and industry.
In conclusion Mr.. Hobart says:
The republican party has always stood for
the protection of the American home. It has
blessings of remunerated industry, of moral
It was the party which instituted the policy of
this policy should be re-esta blished. and that
try in any part of onr national territory, should
homes for the people 1t realizes that the safe
households, and the strengthening of that SEN
and truest embodiment: and it will aim to dig
Nifty and enlarge by all proper legislation this
element of security.
been nominated it will be my earnest and con-
sphere of duty assigned to me, to serve the
and policies of the party which has honored
me with its preference
hansen and the Fran Arrive.
CHRIsTIANA, Sept 10-The arrival of