The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-13

Several days ago we polhttu out 'iS
conflict in one essential between the plat
form adopted by the Virginia Democracy
at Roanoke and the Chicago platform
The former reaffrms the latter as a
whole. and especially the currency plank;
but at the same time demands the re-
peal of the ten-per-cent. tax on State
bank issues, that each community may
have a local currency Of its own while
the Chicago platform demands that "ali
paper which is made legal tender for pub
lie and private debts, or which is re-
oeivable for duties to the United States
shall be issued by the government of the
United States and shall be redeemable in
coin"
The Vicksburg (Mss) Herald repro
huces this article from The Times and
comments as follows:
1T is very improbable that the Roa-
nOke Convention knew just how far II
was getting away from the Chicago
Convention and candidate, in demand
ing the repeal OF the State-bank tax. In
theory State bank issues would be based
upon actual and tangible values-values
measured by and redeemable in standard
paper money such currency would be
Numerically the opposite-not even gold
would be more SO. 1t is true the Chi
ragO Convention did not declare for fiat
money. But IL left ample and suggestive
room for it in the resolution quoted. The
men who were at the helm in that men,
orable gathering had the strongest rea-
sons for this. and for not Incorporating
I'm their platform a clause repeating the
al fHn- a RIM H
the 1892 pledge TO that end. the cOurted
Populite vote. 10 the last man, would
have stampeded 20 the middle Of the
road
AS TO the candidate OF the Chicago
Convention he would no more stand upon
the Roanoke resolution than he would
touch rattlesnake, and no whisky in
hundred miles. In the Fifty-third Con-
gress when the bill drawn in accord
ance with the 1892 platform State-banl1
tax repeal clause was being debated, Mr.
Bryan made one OF the strongest speeches
against IL The following is taken from
his remarks:
Tt has been stated that every Demo-
crat is In duty bound TO vote for the
repeal OF the State-bank tax. because Of
the plank relating to that subject adopt
cd by the last Democratic National Con-
vention. A platform can only bind those
who run upon II. In my own case.
j was not only nominated before the
adoption Of the national platform but
] expressly repudiated in my canvass
the plank which declared in favor Of
repeating the State-bank tax.
Mr.. Bryan's speech. from which this
quotation is taken. was an able and elab-
crate argument for the money nolicy
which, two years later. the Democratic
convention declared for. 4 shall attempt
he said. to show that whatever paper
money we need should be issued by the
general government And. again. that
a government can issue and maintain an
irredeemable paper currency, when
strictly limited I'm volume, Is not open TO
controversy" At that time-in 1S9i-this
doctrine was not considered even good
free coinage Democracy. But the world
do move and the party is now pretty
well abreast Of the Populte procession on
the money question. But. the question
arises. however came the Roanoke Con-
vention 20 re-afiirm the Chicago platform
and candidate. and then telescope them
by adopting the State-bank tax repeal
declaration. There must have been a
joker on deck"
Tho Roanoke Convention as a whole
may not have known what Il was doing.
bat there were az least several prominent
IHtHhtiN 'l the NNnNeHton VINO ala Qn-
derstand the situation thoroughly. for
Senator Senator Daniel and others were
delegates 20 the Chicago convention and
knew fun well that that convention would
no, hear 10 the proposition TO repeal the
TAX on State bank notes and knew also the
reason why that proposition was opposed
These gentlemen fully understood that
they were going contrary 10 the Chicago
platform and 10 the spirit OF the C:--eago
convention when they voted for the State
bank clause OF the Roanoke platform
which Chairman Jones says IS Democratic
law that no State organization has the
right 10 change.
But The law was changed and the Chi
cago platform was set at defiance. Ths
Roanoke convention could with the sam,
propriety have repudiated the silver plank
Of the Chicago platform. and in so doing
would not more thoroughly have set Itself
against cardinal doctrine OF the Chicago
party.
The Roanoke convention in trying 4
deal with both national and state issues
made mess Of 1t. and has put the candi