The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-29
E. v. sMALLEY TO MR.. BRYAN.

E. V. Smalley. who was a delegate
to the Trans-M Mississippi congress, is
very much disgruntled because that
| body passed the free silver resolution.
He has addressed an open letter to
Mr.. Bryan on the subject, and he has
written a long letter to the New York
Evening Post on it. The one is largely
a rehash of the other. In his letter to
Mr.. Bryan he says:
understand your theory to be that
gold has appreciated, and that conSe-
quently all debts have been increased
in amount, and that therefore there is
kind of crude justice in adopting a
cheaper monetary standard to reheVe
the debtor classes. Your plan seems
/ to me, however, to involve national
dishonor and the reputation of al,
obligations heretofore contracted by
corporations, states and the general
government, as we'll as by private citi-
zens. 1t has been thoroughly repu-
dated at a general election, and l see
no good to come from its further
agitation. Least of all does such an
agitation seem to be proper in purely
commercial body like the Trans Missis-
sippi congress. You came to this con-
gresS fresh from your stumping tour
on behalf of free silver in the far
west, and the enthusiasm caused by
your presence carried the congress
away from its proper work and in
duced it to convert itself into what
was virtually a free silver Democratic
political meeting, disregarding all the
pledges of its officers and eager chiefly
TO promote the cheap money propo-
ganda.
1t is not strange that men who are
in favor of general reputation and
national dishonor should not feel bound
TO carry out the promises and oblga-
tons made by their own executive
committee to induce the attendance of
delegates from Republican states. AS
an old Republican and an ardent single
standard man, you will, l think, agree
with ne that l ought not TO hold the
position of vice president for the state
of Minnesota, and l hereby resign this
Office I doubt whether my state,
which is strongly Republican in RS
politics, and strongly opposed to all
forms of cheap money agitation, will
again be represented in the Trans
Mississippi congress. l regret exceed
ingly that the congress, which might
be made a very useful body did not
confine itself purely TO business ques-
tions, of which great number were
passed over for want of time, and | am
huence to this end, instead of seeking
to promote your own candidacy for
the presidency of the United States on
your platform of reputation and cheap
money.
In his letter to the Post, Mr.. Smalley
says, "a number of pushing and in
fuential western men make it a point
to attend its (the congress's) meeting
regularly. for the opportunity it affords
them of getting upon national plat
form and seeing their resolutions. and
speeches published in the newspapers
1t would seem that Mr.. Smalley him
self attended for the purpose of seeing
his letters and protests in the news
papers.
Had the congress declared against
silver, Mr.. Smalley would hardly have
been so prompt or vigorous in his pro-
tests He admits that Mr. Bryan's
popularity is as great as ever in the
west. He says that his (Mr. Bryans s.
presence in the congress created a
good deal of enthusiasm, and the
opponents OF his doctrine found it up
hill work trying to make Roadway
| against him.
Mr. Smalley lost his head and showed
himself a very narrow bigot when he
permitted himself, in his letter to Mr..
Bryan, to say that lit is not strange
that men who are in favor Of general
population and national dishonor
should not feel bound to carry out the
promises and obligations made by their
own executive committee to induce the
attendance of delegates from Re
publican states"
! Mr.. Smalley when he talks this way,
talks like an ill-bred boar and fool. The
members of the Trans Mississippi con-
gress are not in favor of general
or any reputation or of national dis
honor. Those who are always ready