The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-08-20
WANTS TO GO 1T ALONE
REFUSE TO JOIN DEMOCRATS ON
FREE SILVER.
WHERE POPS AND DEMOCRATS TOUCH
Coinage of Silver and Income Tax Platform
Calls For Direct Legislation and Issu-
ance of Money to Corporations
From township Up.


Des Moines. Iowa. Aug. 19-The Mid
dle-of- the-rOad POpulsts held a conven-
ton here today which was largely at
tended, about fifty counties being repre-
sented. A. w. c. Weeks. of Madison
county, presided. a. L. Micker, of John
son county, was made temporary chair
man.
The feature of the afternoon was the
address by ex-senator PETER. He said in
part:
IF recent discoveries of fresh gold
mines should prove to be as valuable as
present appearances indicate the silver
question may soon be wholly eliminated
from Republican discussion. except, per-
haps, as to those persons whose induvi-
dual interests are at stake. Silver Repub-
licans want more metallic money and
they would probably be satisfied with
gold if there was more of it.
ut is proposed that the Populist party
shall do two things-limit the range of
our discussions to the silver branch Of the
money question and ally ourselves with
the Democratic party. These are the
proposition on which we are divided.
am opposed to both of them. | do not
wish to see the Peoples party merged
into any other tXiSting organization and
especially in le too old to be useful. Nor
am | willing without warning and pro-
testing to see it made the football of poll
ticians- and bartered away for spOils. |
will be willing to abide by the conclusion
of annual conferences of delegates duly
appointed and accredited. fairly repre-
Senting all the elements among voters
who are opposed to the present gold
standard high tariff regime. But until
that can be accomplished the POpulist
party is good enough for me. The alli-
ance with the Democratic party in 1896
was only for the campaign. Now, though
we may not be quite ourselves again and
in our right mind, we are free to deter
mine our affairs in our own way as
party and as individual men.
ut may be urged that the Democratic
party has changed its policy in respect to
the coinage ratio. l deny it. The plat
form utterance is merely declamatOry-
inserted to catch the POpulist vote. The
responsible men of the Democratic party
have not been and are not now tenacious
about the ratio. Its candidate for the
presidency and his associate on the ticket
would as | verify believe, consent to any
compromise that would secure the unlim
tied coinage of silver. No benefit would
accrue to anybody but money changers
and spectators from increasing the coin
age ratio .and POpulists see no reason
why money that is good enough for COM
mon people is not equally good enough
for uncommon people.
There is nothing in the Democratic
platform or in that party's policy which
is in any way responsive to the pressing
demand of the working classes"
The coinage of silver and the income
tax are the only matters on which the
Democratic and Populist parties are even
| approximately in accord. AS to all mat
ters which Populists regard as funda-
mental and as of surprising Importance,
we are not only not in accord but are
positively opposed to each other"
The following State ticket was placed
in the field:
For Governor Charles \. Lloyd, of
| MusCatinc county.
Lieutenant Governor, u. l.. Perkins.
OF Lyons.
Judge Supreme Court, ]. \. Loneburg,
| Wapello.
Superintendent of Instruction, VIM.
Blain, Marion.
Railroad Commission, L. II. Griffith,
| Lee.
The following members of the National
| Committee were appointed: \. w, c.
| Weeks. Madison county; l.. |. Reed,
MuScatine. and ]. s. Bebe, Lee.
A protest, signed by ]. Belangee, chair
man of the Populists who have combined
with the Democrats for free silver, was
sent to the convention to-day, but was
denied consideration.
The protest called upon all Populists to
join with the free silver Democrats this
year in an effort to advance one of the
theories of the Populsts.
The platform adopted re-affirms the
st. Louis and Omaha platforms; declares
for direct legislation for a sufficient
amount of sound and flexible money;
for the issuance of money to State, cOun-
ty, township and municipal governments;
the principal to be paid back to the gov
ernment at 2 per cent. per annum with
out interest the said money to be full
legal tender.
The Temple amendment is endorsed;
the reduction of freight, passenger and
express charges, of salaries of public
officers is demanded, and the deduction
of mortgage Indebtedness from assessed
valuations is urged.
y