The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-12
M'KINLEY'S PET POLICY.

Mr. Eldredge isn't discussing the
currency reform" proposition advo-
Gated by his party. That is strange.
The Republican party is committed to
legislation in this direction. 1t is one
of President McKinley's pet policies,
and Mr. Eldredge and his supporters
are pledged to all of McKinley's poll
cies.
Although the men at the head of the
administration and all the recognized
leaders of the Republican party ex-
press themselves as being perfectly
pleased with the existing gold stand
ard" and confident of the peoples en-
dorsement, they confess the need Of
currency REFORM and make a pre-
tense of favoring some change, know
ing that the American people are not
satisfied with present conditions.
But currency REFORM" as proposed
by the Republican party, does not
mean a change in the financial policy
of the administration; it does not mean
relief for the masses; it contains no
balm for the debtor. 1t is a catch
phrase to be used for a purpose, just
as Republicans used the term home
the features of monopoly, the real face
behind the mask, shone forth. 1t is an
expression by which many a man has
been misled, as they were fooled by
thousands in the last campaign with
the deceptive slogan of sound money"
AS an illustration of the delusiVe
character of this policy, "ably put
forth and advocated by President Nc
Kinley" to use the language of the
Republican state platform, it can be
shown that it is the final move of the
money kings to fasten the single gold
standard firmly and forever upon the
United States.
There is nothing uncertain about the
intention Of the goldbugs in this mat
ter. They have declared themselves in
the press and on the rostrum, in con-
VentionS and on the floor Of congress;
they have shown their purpose in the
message of the president and in the
bills submitted under that head, and
they are bound by the recommended
y.
After the election of the ticket named
at st. Louis two years ago, there was
a monetary convention" held at In
dianapolis. The object of the assem-
blage, as announced, was to inaugurate
"a comprehensive reform of our cur
rency." The delegates were all gold
bugs; they hailed from the banks, the
nf
poration attorneys. There were no
farmers, no laborers, no real repro.
sentatives of the people, there But
the lenders. ,:se spectators, the mo-
nopolists, the McKinleyites, were fully
and completely represented.
a committee was named and author
lied to prepare a bill, and the conven-
ton adjourned to meet again in a few
months to discuss the provisions of the
measure In the special message of
President Mckinley, sent to congress
on the 24th of July, 1897. he took cog
nizance of the action of this conven-
ton and asked for authority to appoint
commission in compliance with its
request
Subsequently the currency reform
convention reassembled at Indianapolis.
The report of the committee was heard
and acted upon, the result being "house
bill No. $685." introduced by Congress
man Overstreet of Indiana, to whom ii
had been entrusted by his next
friend H. II. Hanna, chairman of the
currency reform" executive commit
tee, which was composed of wealthy
and influential goldites.
The Overstreet bill was subjected to
a few immaterial changes, and made
its final appearance as house bin No.
1929, which viii become a law with
out question if the Republicans secure
control of the next congress.
There is nothing uncertain or prob
lematic, therefore, concerning what the
administration and its hackers mean
by currency REFORM They have
written it down. They have ratified
the work of the monetary convention.
They are on record, the president in
his message, and Republican congress.
men in their support of the main is
sues involved in the Overstreet, Hill
Fowler, and Walker bills.
AS worthy representative of the
Republican party, as a candidate
pledged to this policy of currency re-
FORM" pledged, in fact, to every other