The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-23
CAN'T DODGE THE ISSUE
Hon. q. d. Mats Addresses Park
County Voters.
SILVER IS PARAMOUNT
Bimetallism the One Great Issue OF
the Campaign-Legislatio Which
Has Cost This State Mill
ions OF Dollars.
Special Dispatch to the Standard.

Special Dispatch to the Standard.
Livingston, Oct. 22-Hon. E ID.
Mats. the silver tongued orator Of
Montana. addressed a large audience
OF Park county residents at Hefferlin's
opera house tonight on the issues in
volved In this campaign. The opera
house was tastefully arranged for the
occasion and with the magnificent au-
dience presented an elegant appear
ance. On the platform were many
prominent citizens. representing every
industry in Park county. The distin-
guished speaker was introduced by At
torney John T. Smith.
Mr.. Mats began with an interesting
account of events which led up to the
two great parties making bimetallism
a paramount issue in the campaign two
years ago. He declared that the effort
or the administration republicans to
evade the true issue in the campaign
was without avail and that the princi-
pie of bimetallism was as much I'm is
sue and was attracting equally as
much attention as IL did two years ago.
He said defeat does not discourage
those who believe they are fighting for
what, in their opinion, is right.
UP TO Two years ago there was no
division of sentiment i'm Montana on
this issue. Republican conventions as
well as democratic conventions had de-
clared year after year that IL was the
cardinal principle of true and success
ful government. He declared that the
platform adopted by the republican
conventions in Montana up to 1896, re-
lating TO the silver issue, would make
good planks for the democratic plat
form in 1898. He regretted that IL was
necessary for anyone TO go on the
yer question. He thought that the
best interests OF the state, IL nothing
more. should cause all people to look
at IL practically alike. He stated that
the people of Montana were always by
a large majority in favor of bimetal-
lism and were now represented in the
senate by man who was elected to
congress and TO his present position in
the senate pledged to use his best ef-
forts for the free coinage OF silver. He
showed how by adverse legislation to
silver the vsIhe of the products of
Montana had been reduced many mil
lions of dollars and labor had been
deprived of millions more. The change
from a bimetallic standard to a single
gold standard had brought disaster to
producing classes, and u continued
would bring about conditions next to
slavery.
He contended that a standard that
appreciates constantly brings disaster
to all enterprise conducted by the great
mass OF the people. The appreciation in
the purchasing power of the English
shilling makes IL possible for the Briton
to purchase twice as much wheat with
IL in 1898 as 1t did in 1873. three times as
much cotton, twice as much wool and
about the same proportion of all other
products placed on the market by the
producing masses. In comparing the
national debt of 1866 and 1896, ne
showed how much more wheat IL would |
take to pay IL now than IL would have |
I'm 1866 with wheat at the price prevail |
ing at that time, although the debt then |
was much larger than at present. He |
declared that IL the agriculturist was |
asked to pay off the debt with his pro- |
ducts to-day he could be shown that it |
was heavier burden now than Il |
would have been to pay IL with the pro- |
ducts in 1866. He declared that with |
Great Britain profiting by the single |
standard. there was no possible show |
for international bimetallism. and the |
men who claimed to be silver men and |
advocated the republican platform |
were Inconsistent: that careful thought |
of the conditions prevailing with the
money power I'm Europe would convince
them beyond doubt that international
was impossible.
He read a portion of a speech deliv-
cred by senator Carter when he was
In congress, on the silver question, in
which the senator made a strong appeal
for bimetallsm. and that the demonet-
ization of silver had worked hardship
to the producing masses. He compared
the record OF Mr.. Carter of a few years
ago with his action in 1898. when he is
going over the state of Montana de-
the single standard.
Mr.. Mats speech throughout was a
clear and logical discussion OF the mon
ey question. showing conclusively that
without bimetallism prosperity is i'm
possible for the great mass Of the peo-
pie.