The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-20

Helena Independent asked
yesterday.
The trouble is that the satisfactory
reasons for fusion have been printed a
good many times and brought to the
independents attention. but our con-
temporary evidently doesn't want to
see why democrats should fuse.
How would 1t do were the I~ndepend-
ent to address its question to the demo-
Gratis in California? Ask them why
democrats should fuse-rather, ask
them why California democrats do fuse.
The Helena Independent will remember
that, with fusion discarded. California
comes much closer to being a m
cratic state than Montana.
or. let the Helena Independent ask
the democrats Of Indiana why demo-
Gratis fuse. They do fuse. in Indiana,
and the advocates of fusion there in
clude individual democrats whose serv-
ice for silver. single handed. has been
worth more to the cause tina all that
ever was accomplished for free coinage
by the combined influence of all the sill
ver-supporting newspapers in Montana.
Not to speak Of states where the dem
ocrats are so strong, as shown by the
record Of recent years. that they might
disregard fusion plans with impunity-
of which states Montana Is not one; or
Of states so hopelessly republican that
fusion. furnishes for the democrats the
| only fighting chance
or, II the Independent were sincere In
its inquiry. 1t might address a letter to
Senator Jones, chairman of the national
democratic committee. and ask him
why democrats should fuse. He urges
them to: perhaps he would provide our
Helena contemporary with reasons.
That these reasons, however sound.
would change the Independents policy,
we do not believe. because the indie
pendent isn't out this year for informa-
ton Of that sort.
william ]. Bryan-he, too, would give,
n asked In the right spirit, reasons why
democrats should fuse-he has given
them. And he didn't make an excep-
ton Of Montana, either.
The leaven of democratic doctrine"
SAYS the Independent. has been work
ing nightly the last two years and
there is good reason to believe the east
ern states hat are usually democratic
have had quite enough of Mark Hanna
and will be again in the democratic col
umn this fall"
That is cheering news. Fuller details
respecting II, through the columns of
the Independent, would be joyfully re-
ceived.
Our understanding is that, In several
eastern states, there is a movement zeal
ously pushed just now by men who
were managers in national democracy
till silver put them down. to divert
democracy from the free-coinage issue,
to frame a new issue and, through II, to
regain control of the democratic party.
in anticipation of 1900.
These men are appealing to democrats
to put the party's chances for success
above free coinage: they try to make
IL appear that 1896 was a blunder and
that the party must be brought bach
from its wanderings.' These men Join
the gold republicans in the effort to
make fusion appear odious-they're al
Il all the time. They, and not the Hell
ena Independent. are the authors of the
question, why should democrats fuse?
We understand also that the men whC
made silver a national question, th'
men who made as grand a fight in th'
Chicago convention of 1896 as this coun
try's politics ever aw-we understand
that these men are faithfully exhortins
lust such states as Montana to stanC
true, II only for the sake Of example
10 the policy that will contribute towar
holding together all the silver forces
in defiance OF goldbug influence in tn
East and in loyal preparation for tn
supreme test of 1900.
II the Independent will show that tn
Standard misrepresents the silver situa
ton or the leaders Of the national silve
democracy, this page will cheerfull
stand corrected. The Butte Miner wa
silly enough TO say, the other day. tina
silver's national champions "probabl
do not understand the conditions /
Montana" We have no idea that III
Independent would echo that ridiculou
plea.