The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1896-04-17
FIGHT FREE SILVER.
Republicans Readopts Finan-
cial Plank of 80.
JUDGE BEAN NOMINATED
Sound Money Delegates to
National Convention.

The Oregon State republican con-
vention finished its labors Friday
evening. The chief feature of the
day was the debate over the finan-
cial plank Of the platform. and the
defeat by narrow majority Of a
resolution de ,laring explicitly t.
gainst the free coinage Of silver at
the ratio of 16 to /. The financial
plank Of the Minneapolis conyen-
tion of 1892 was adopted, on the
ground that it is sufficiently broad
for republicans Of all shades Of OPP
inions to stand on, or, in other
words, furnishes the foundation for
the most beautiful "straddle" Of
the money problem imaginable,
and that no positive action should
be taken in advance of the meeting
of the national republican conven-
tion. -Four sound money delegates
were elected to the national conven
ton, making the entire eight from
the state of Oregon favorable to
the single standard and against the
free coinage Of silver.
REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.
"The representatives of the re-
publicans of the state of Oregon, in
convention assembled, call atten.
tion the condition Of industry and
business throughout the country,
as proof Of the necessity Of return
ing to the policy Of the republican
party, under which there was gem
eral prosperity during 80 years.
I'VE reaffirm the principles of
the republican national platform
of 1892, and assert that the results
that have followed the change de-
creed by the election of that year
have justified our protest against
the national policy adopted by the
democratic party.
"Protection-We believe that the
government should have ample
revenue, with sufficient surplus
over ordinary expenditures to pro-
vide for coast defenses, for the
steady building up Of the navy and
for the constant reduction of the
public debt. We believe that the
present tariff, with its lowered
rates and its destructive and dis
honest system Of under-yaluations
and determinations as to localities,
should be replaced by one framed
on protective principles. similar 10
that of the Mckinley bill and ar
ranged to give ample protection to
American wages and American in
dustry, and to restore the reciproc-
ity policy of James G. Blaine.
"We have always given protec-
ton to our shipbuillers. In late
years we have neglected to protect
our shipowners. We believe the
time has come to return TO the pol
icy Of Washington and Hamilton,
which, by discriminating duties in
favor of American bottoms, secured
80 per cent of our carrying trade to
American ships, and which, if now
restored, would again revive our
shipping and cause American
freights to be paid to Americans.
"Finance-The American people
| from tradition and interest, favor
bimetalism, and the republican
party demands the use of both gold
and silver as standard money, with
such restrictions and under such
provisions, to be determined by leg
islation, as will secure the main
tenance Of the parity Of values oI
the two metals, SO that the pur-
chasing and debt-paying power OF
the dollar, whether Of silver, gold
or paper, shall be at all times equ-
al.
"The interests of the producers
of the country-its farmers and its
workingmen-demand that every
dollar, paper or coin, issued by the
government shall be as good as any
other dollar.
ELECTION of senatofs-Resolved
That we earnestly endorse the pro-
! posed amendment to the constitu-
tion of tho United States providing
for the election Of United States
senators by popular vote, recently
reported from the committee on
privilege and elections by Senator