Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-10-22
IS NOT FOR FREE SILVER

Il HXM
Drsthsr q tts AartyrsA P~rssiAsnt HI.
pAstic Tor seanA Mo1sy, ssa Ragsr for
the Opportunity - vots Tor Mckinlsy.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich, Oct. 20
The democratic state central commit
tee recently gave publicity 10 . letter
purported to have been written by
Thomas Garfield, the venerable and
only brother Of the late President
James A. Garfield, In which he was
made to subscribe to the free silver
faith, denounce the republican Rnan.
cial doctrine, and promise to vote for
Bryan.
Mr.. Garfield is one OF the pioneers of
western Michigan. He came there
irst In the early forties, but after 4
few years Of pioneering he returned to
Ohio, and tried 1t again In Michigan
afterward. He lives on . farm in Of
tawa county about fifteen miles from
here, which he carved out OF the pri-
meval forest, and where he has lived
for . quarter Of q century. He il now
about IS years old, . severe sufferer
from rheumatism, but otherwise rugged
and AZ clear and vigorous mentally az
he ever was.
In writing the letter indorsing Bry-
anism Mr.. Garfield was MAIDS the vic
tim Of . confidence game. Chairman
l.. K. Bishop OF the republican con-
g%ressional committee has just received
from him an explanatory letter which
at the same time gives his true senti-
ments. The letter is a. follows:
JAMESTOWN, Mich, Oct. I3.-Col.
L. K. Bishop, Chairman Republican
Congressional Committee, Grand Rap |
ids, Mich: My attention having been
called to letter purporting to have
been written by me, In which l am
quoted as saying that I have repudi-
ated the republican platform a adopt
ed at st. Louis, and that / was in favor
Of the free and unlimited coinage OF
silver and should vote for Bryan at the
coming election, l, In justice to myself
and my fellow countrymen, desire,
through the columns of the press to
make the following statement, and to
define my present position:
"On the 9th day Of October, 1896, two
strangers called at my residence in
jamestown, one ~purporting to be q
AtoAo.OA ~ snO eO0P0As 0uu tu0 Quiet /
claiming to be looking Over the route
Grand Rapids to Saugatuck. During
the conversation l was asked II | was
in favor OF using both gold and silver
as money, and knowing it was the pol
Icy Of the republican party to 9 both
gold and silver as money, under such
restrictions as should al all times pre- |
serve the parity of the two metals and
make them interchangeable with each
other. | answered yes. On being asked
II | would sign my name to q paper to
that effect, for their personal benefit,
| said that | would, and signed the
same after 1t had been read to me as |
above.
ANY other statement not consistent |
with the above, that may appear in
said letter, was placed there without
my knowledge or consent, and was done
TO deceive people by using my name ~
. brother Of the martyred president, !
James A. Garfield.
II further desire to define my posi-
ton a. being In favor of the principles
Of the republican party a. laid down in
the platform adopted at st. Louis, and
/ am anxiously waiting for the Sd day
Of November. when l shall cast my vote ;
for the boy soldier, the mature states
man and magnificent example Of Amer
lean statesmanship, VIM. Mckinley,
and the entire republican ticket, the
election Of which will bring protection,
reciprocity and prosperity, and give us
at all times assurance Of the mainte-
nance Of . sound financial policy.
IF my martyred brother were alive
his voice would be heard from ocean to
ocean In favor OF the republican party
and its principles, and | should prove
myself q traitor to his memory and to
the people Of my country who placed
him In the presidential chair, q posi-
ton the highest in the gift Of the peo-
pie, ! to oppose them, when / be-
lieve the principles he advocated are rs
true today a. they were when he was
here to proclaim them.
s.From this time until after election
9 banner bearing the name Of McKin-
ley, Hobart, Plngree and Smith shall
Be seen floating from my quiet little
home in the township Of Jamestown"
"THONAs GARFIELD"