The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-10-21

an act
In other words, this dear friend OF
the people thus openly and unblush
ingly told his hearers that the tre-
mendous banking and corporation
interests of the country should
send as large a lobby as posi-
BILE to Washington to influence leg
islation. Let every honest man ask
himself, and candidly answer himself,
what are the functions of a lobby?
And IL he believes that these gentle
men are going to maintain this kind
of an establishment in Washington
City merely for their health? Let him
ask himself whether IL Is not about
time for the people Of this country to
look with the grayest apprehension
upon sucn means being used by the
corporate interests of the country to
secure legislation? Let Am ask him
self If it can thus be shamelessly an
nounced beforehand that the peo-
pies representatives are to be in
fluenced in this way; whether such
things will not eventually lead to the
downfall of our form of government?
Proceeded TO Washington.
This subcommittee Of which | spoke
and of which | believe MIR. ingalls, was
a member Immediately proceeded to
Washington and succeeded in prevail
ing upon President Mckinley to send
a message to congress day or so be-
fore they adjourned, calling their at
tention to the urgent necessity Of
revision of our currency laws. In
this message, President Mckinley stat
ed that a convention of the leading
business men of the country had been
held at indianapolis, and that they had
advocated the appointment OF a COM
mission by congress to draft bill for
the revision of these laws, and that he
acuuiesced in this recommendation,
and urged that congress should, before
its adjournment, authorize the ap-
pointment of such a commission, so
that it might convene during tne re-
cess between the extra and regular ses-
sion for the purpose indicated
President Mckinley knew just as
well as he knew anything that con-
gress would not act in accordance with
his suggestion. He knew that both
houses were ready to adjourn. He
knew also that the senate would pass
no such bill Why then did he send 1t!
There can be no reason other than he
intended this message to indicate what
would be proposed by the administra-
| ton at the next regular session. Or
- I, N, lA n eli tCrN
doubt, because in addition to what the
president himself and Senator Hanna
have said the secretary of the treasury,
Mr.. Gage, has also announced that the
plan met with his approval.
Congress having refused to appoint
this commission, this subcommittee
appointed by the Indianapolis conven-
tion proceeded, as they had been au-
thorized, to select one of their own,
and we now see it heralded through
the press dispatches all over the coun-
try that the monetary commission is
in session at the Arlington hotel What
monetary commission, | should like to
ask? From whom is their authority
derived, and with what powers are
they clothed? They, like any other
body of citizens, may petition congress
to do certain things, but they have no
power or authority to draw bill and
recommend its passage, except self
constituted authority The men, too,
selected, and who are now members of
this bastard commission, are every
single one Of them known single
gold standard, rag-baby, bank currency
representatives.
Their Three Propositions.
The people have not an honest ad-
vocate among them. They represent,
however, and this is what the people
should now know, nearly all the COM
bined wealth of this country, and that
they will be a most powerful and po-
tent body in connection with the lobby
that Mr.. ingalls, tells us the great cor
porations Will bring to their assistance
next winter every one must realize.
With such a combination of organized
wealth urging the passage of such a
measure, drawn by themselves in their
own interests, there is the greatest
danger. unless the people are awaken
that they will be successful.
Now, what do these Indianapolis
patriots suggest, and If carried out
what will it result in?
First-They demand that only gold
shall be legal tender money.
| Second-That silver shall be used
only for the purpose of subsidiary coin
Third-That all Of the paper money
now issued by the government, includ-
ing greenbackS, silver certificates and
Sherman coin notes. shall gradually
DO retIred Dy the issuance or longtime
gold bonds bearing low rate OF inter-
est. That after this has been accom-
plished all of the paper circulating me-
dium Of the country shall be furnished
by the banks, these institutions depos-
iting these same bonds as security for
their notes.
Let us take up these propositions in
their order:
First-Nothing but gold shall be a
legal tender. What Is meant by le-
gal tender? It is the kind or form of
money which governments say and
prescribe shall be considered a legal
offer in payment Of all debts and obli-
cations. Anything that is not thus
made legal tender money can be re-
fused by any creditor in discharge of
any debt due to him. All of the circu-
lating medium in the United States to-
day Is substantially legal tender, for
anV nf II nan ha aynhanpad intn that