The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-24
WHERE ALL AGREE.

There is one point on which the advo-
Gates of Sound money" aud the adherents
of the cause of silver agree, and that is
that their must be no straddls by either
party. Ga the one hand are Dubois,
Teller, Carter and many more prominent
Re publicans and Democrats limiting at
bolt if their respective parties do not de-
clare openly for free coinage. The fol-
lowing extract from an interview with
Mr.. Henry Hentz, the chairman of the
special committee on sound financial
legislation of the New York chamber OF
commerce, indicates how the other side
feels about it. He says:
We have received many responses
from all over the country to the declara-
ton which the chamber of commerce at
its meeting on March 8 unanimously
adopted. urging clear and distinct plat
form utterauces from both of the great
political parties in favor of the mainte-
nance of the present gold standard or
value. Il is evident that the chamber
has struck the keynote of the feeling OF
the business men of this country, and
that it has aroused a spirit which IL
bound to be respected by the platform
makers Of both parties
Such declarations as have come from
the state conventions in Ohio and Rhode
Island are disgrace to the Intelligence
of the American People. Every man IN
this country is either in favor of main
tanning the existing standard of value
which has governed the business opera
tions of this country for more than sixty
years or he is in favor of the selection or
another standard of value, such as con-
trolls the business operations in countries
like China and Mexico.
The business men simply demand OF
the two conventions to say which road
they propose to take, and not to put up
confusing sign boards. There never was
a more earnest movement, on the part OF
the business men of this country, and
the politicians must feel before they get
through with their conventions that their
nominee cannot cover deficiencies
10 their platforms. It has, indeed,
been suggested from more than
one quarter that if the two conven-
tions do not give out distinct, clear,
straig ht-forward utterances on the money
question the business men OF this coun-
try shall at once assemble in national
convention and enter the political field
with a ticket on the sound money plat
form. The question must be settled Ii
hangs like a cloud over all the business
of this country. If it remains an open
question after this election 1t abides with
us for at least four years mora. The
cost to the country and to this generation
of such thing is beyond calculation. If
either party is in favor of the free coin
age of silver. let it say SO; than we can
know what it means. The politicians of
both parties may as well understand that
the business men do not care the flip of
a copper about party traditions and old
party ties in the presence of burning
question which reaches to the hearth
stone of every citizen. We will endure
no more humbug nor deceit. The fight
is on, and it is fight to the finish.
On this proposition for plain and I'M
equivocal declaration the silver men are
ready to join hands with the gold men,
SO if either party lodges the question it
will be the work of the politicians.
These gentlemen have now had fair
warning from both sides and must take
the consequences if they go counter to
the wishes of both the business men and
the masses.