Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1897-11-17
CONGRESSMAN GUM
Does Not Endorse the
Course of the Boise
Sentinel.
The Popuiists viii Not be Mis-
led by HeitfeId's Organ.

| out OIL the question tor at least three
more years, and even if it come,
then under present conditions will
have but the effect Of slightly in
creasing the amount of money
necessary for corporate power
to control" 1t also declared
for the middle of the road
policy, denouncing Democrats anG
Silver Republicans with equal Sc.
verify.
Considering the fact that the
BULLETIN heartily supported the
election of Captain Gum last year
and also that he received votes
from many Silver Republicans III
Elmore county, we took the liberty
to address him a note asking if he
as leading Populist and our Rep
resentative in Congress, endorsed
the sentiment promulgated by the
Sentinel. Last nights mail brought
the following prompt reply, which
we anticipated from Jim Gum, Il
true friend of the silver cause and
the betterment of the condition OF
the American people. 1t is plain,
pointed and easily digested:
BOISE, IDAHO, Nov. Is, 1897.
EDITOR ELMoRE BuLLET1N:-The
editorial which appeared in the
Boise Sentinel Of the 18th instant
and to which you refer, has caused
me more uneasiness than anything
emanating from Populist source
in recent years.
am at a loss to explain the mo-
tive actuating those who are re-
sponsible for the article, and after
a conversation with some of them
find that they are not in condi-
ton to explain the object which
inspired them in the preparation Of
it. They repudiate portion Of it,
and give the remainder a half
hearted support. If there was any
danger of a considerable number of
the Populists endorsing the course
mapped out by the Sentinel, so far
as the silver question is concerned,
the result would be disastrous.
There is one feature of the edit
orial that | heartily endorse; when
the writer urges Populists to per-
feet, strengthen and push their or
ganization to the front, his advice
is good, and the only regret that
can be offered is that the Sentinel
has not done this months ago.
As to the attack on the Silver Re-
pubhcans and Democrats at this
time, it is uncalled for and in bad
form. Since the Silver Republi-
cans walked out of the convention
at st. Louis and the Democrats
adopted the Chicago platform, /
have been at all times in favor of
harmonizing the silver forces. Some
of the Silver Republicans may have
gone back to the regular organiza-
ton, but there is yet a large follow
ing of them who are as true silver
men and as loyal patriots as can
be found in any political organi-
cation.
1t is not worth while discussing
the question as to whether the
Democrats in Ohio, Iowa or New
York treated the Populists right or
wrong. We know that in Nebraska,
Kansas, Colorado and Idaho there
has been no spirit manifested by
the Democrats to try their can
nibalistic powers on their allies,
In Idaho the Populists have the
Senator, Congressman, half Of the
State officers and their share of the
county officers. This should be
satisfactory.
Back of all this denunciation of
parties that should be political
friends, is principle higher than
that Of scramble for office. Since
the Populist party was organized
in this State it has stood by the
free coinage Of silver at the ratio of
16 to ! by the United States, indie
pendent OF any nation on earth.
No doubt you are aware of the
fact that | broke with the Repub-
lican party on this issue. 1t was
the party with which / intended to
live and die, but when it changed
its policy on the coinage question
| could not go with it and aban-
doned the organization. Five years
ago last June, l first canvassed this
State for the Populists and faced a
storm of denunciation and abuse as
bitter as generally falls to the lot
of any mortal, and, if it was neces-
sary, would walk out of the Popu-
| list party in defense of this same
principle; but | know it will not be
necessary. The rank and file Of
the Populists who have stood by
i the silver question with such I'm.
swerving loyalty will not deserr
the cause now.
| am well acquainted with tn
men whose names stand at tn,
head of the Sentinel editorial
They have been true to tn
silver cause in the past
+ and can not believe the,
: will desert it now. They have
made mistake in permitting thi
hastily constructed article to al
near. but let US homo that they Wi