The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-08-01
NATIONAL ORGANIZER
KEENEY'S OPINION
BRIGHT PROSPECTS FOR sue
CESS NEXT YEAR.
Believes the Congressional Elections
Will Show Big Majority For
Silver-Relations of the Democrat
ic, Silver Republican and Populist
Wings of the Bimetallic Forces.
Especial correspondence.1

T. keeney or California, national organ
izer CT the silver party, has returned t
Washington, and is busily engaged il
laying plans for the next congressiona
Eelections- Mr. Keeney was appointe,
by Chairman Jones of the Democrat
national committee. a member of wha
was called the national advisory com
mlttee, composed of members of othe
parties to the silver alliance of 1896
Senators Teller and Butler were ais,
members of this advisory committee.
Mr.. keeney is man of great energy
and is thoroughly devoted to the silvei
cause. He did a great deal of excellen
work in the way of organization las
year. notably in New York. 1t wa!
| largely due 10 his efforts that the late
Mr. W. P. st. John of New Y,>6 re.
signed the presidency Cf the Merchants
National bank and accepted the leader.
ship of the organized silver forces il
New York.
HOPEFUL VIEW.
Mr.. Keeney takes a hopeful view OF
the future, and speaks earnestly and
encouragingly of the reform movement
now in progress of organization
throughout the country
DO you expect that a free silver
congress will be elected in 1898. he was
asked by The Herald representative.
Il believe that the congressional cleo
tons OF 1898 will show an overwhelm-
ing majority in favor of free coinage, .
was the reply, and of the entire Dem
ocratic platform of 1896. A genral and
prolonged period of Industrial and bust
ness depression is a severe but effective
teacher. Not only the working classes
but merchants-Ousines men. as they
please TO call themselves-will have a
rude awakening before that time comes.
Many OF them have had it now. They
will realize that political su5seTviency
to their endorsements slavery and not
relief, and that the only hope of exist
ence as free men. either as individuals
or as a nation, is in the mighty effort
to throw off the yoke imposed by the
men who control the money of the
world"
ANTITRUST AGITATION.
How about the proposed antitrust
agitation of the Republicans" Mr.
Keeney was asked. Don't you think
they will steal our thunder"
NO" replied the silver fighter. $50
long as the Republican party remains
in the hands Of the gold trust, the
father of all trusts and the most pow
erful combine of this or any other age,
it will be difficult to convince the people
of their sincerity in this regard. In
dustrial trusts are but the natural out
come of prolonged era of falling
prices, consequent upon contraction
of the worlds volume of money. 1t is
puerile to assume that a political party
whose distinguishing feature is it's
maintenance of the socalled gold
standard, could or would seek to estop
he urhn demands
for its campaign funds and many of
its votes. The Republican machine will
not be inclined to saw off the limb
upon which it sits. The present tariff
law, which will put about $3.50, 600
into the pockets of the Sugar trust
during the next three years, may be
taken as a fair sample of their in
tentions in this regard. This deal will
yield TO the Republican party fund
which, when added to the contribu-
tions that may be expected from the
banks, will make it the largest cam
paign fund ever used in any election on
earth. 1t will be a life and death
struggle between an international or
ganization of moneylenders, who now
control the governments of civilized
nations. on the one side, and the
American people on the other. The
of this contest and its far
reaching importance to the whole hui
man race is beyond the realization of
the superficial thinker.
VICTORY MEANS WAR.
"The opening of the minis of the
United States to the free and unlimited
of silver at the ratio of 16 to l
would mean an increase in the worlds
volume of money. 1t would mean
hat with our productive energy we
could and would force European ma
ions to the bimetallic standard or
force them out of the trade markets of
he world. The power of the gold |
rust would be broken forever, and the
rold trust will never yield without !
struggle. Hence it follows as a logical
conclusion that a victory of the silver
'orces will be followed by war be-
tween the United States and the COM
)ined powers of Europe, the like OF
which will be without precedent in the |
tnnals of history
british statesmen have not been
low to grasp the situation and the |
prominent European journals frankly |
.dmit the likelihood of this contin-
,ency and urge a policy of immediate
ggression against the United States, |
S cable quotations from recent issues
f London journels will show.
In the light of this approaching cri |
is it behooves intelligent Americans
to drop for the time being
heir partisan prejudices and join
ands with those who are preparing
or this great contest. which will de-
ermine for centuries to come the des-
inv of the whole Caucasion race. Once
he dragon is slain, further progress is
made possible. Until it's fate is deter
nined no further progress caIs-be pos
ible.'
PROSPECTS FOR 1900.
You seem to be sanguine of victory
or the silver forces in 1900. 1t has been
laimed that there is a widening gap
etween the Democrats and Populists
nd a disintegrating tendency among
ne silver forces?"
1T might so appear upon the sur
ace" he answered, but the Peoples
arty is composed of thinking and pat
lotto men. They will insist, of course,
pom proper recognition, and it is safe
} predict that they will receive 1t.
he same may be said of the Silver
too. who. together with
ne Peoples party, may be said to con-
.itute the wings of the movement.
Without these organizations it would
e difficult TO gain an election. Mr..
harles D. Lane, the gold miner, who
chairman of the National Silver
arty, has long since urged upon the
aders of the several factions of the
liver movement the adoption of a
an of an equitable combination in the
w~..<~o .,;1of;or 1.xr 81 I