The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-29
Rejects Sanders OfIer to Meet
Governor Smith.
WOULD Be INCONSISTENT
Ihe Colonel Outlines ths Republican
Crsed Of the Gold Standard In Hs
Appeal 70 Woolman. Who
Applies the oag.

ton has been. respectfully declined by
the chairman Of the republican state
central committee. Last Saturday, a.
announced in these dispatches. Colonel
Sanders addressed letter to Chairman
Woolman Of the republican state GEN.
trail Committee. rendering his services
in the debating line and expressing a
desire to meet Governor Smith In a pub
lie discussion with the silver question
as the theme. In proffering his services,
the colonel wrote as follows:
Helena, Mont, Oct. %, 1898.
ITO Hon. Joseph p. Woolman. Chair
man Republican State Central Com
mite. Helena, Mont:
Dear Sir-I am advised that the
Hon. Robert b. Smith favors ripping up
and overturning the standard of none
tary value which in law the United
states has had for more than 25 years,
and in which in fact we have had since
1884. 1t Is reported to me that he favors
parting company with all the CONNER
cial nations and all the highly civilized
nations In the matter of their monetary
standard Of gold and Identifying his
country with the laggard and semi-civ-
ilized people OF the earth by thrusting
into our coinage as a dollar a medal
containing IS cents worth of metal and
striving by law to burden II with the
task of fulfilling the function of another
coin. the intrinsic value Of the metal in
which Is 100 cents.
Il hear that he supposes that in the
matter of exactness OF value these two
coins, called by the same name and
charged by law with the same duty,
will circulate as money contemporaries
ously in the same country; and this,
too. with reference to the intrinsic
value of the metals in each, or else that
a legal tender law would lift the price
OF the cheaper metal up to the standard
or value OF the more valuable one, and
that, notwithstanding this equalization.
such coins would be easier to obtain.
1T is reported to me that he thinks
the anxiety OF our people to obtain a
coin worth 4e cents In the commercial
world will be as intense as IL IL were
worth 100 cents. and that its circulation
VIII be as active and current as IL 1t
were worth its purported value. fur
ther hear that he thinks the money of
the United States now current is too
good for the laborer in this state, be-
cause II is projected on a gold stand
ard and that IL requires dilution by the
process I have named.
Il hear that he is willing to disregard
the fact that nine-tenths of all the
business of the country has in the last
gold standard and that he desires to up
Soot and overturn the basic idea OF this
measure of value and thrust into all
trade a new element OF uncertainty to
the indefinite harm of all business en-
terprise, surely cheating some and be-
getting a distrust in the honesty Of our
people and the stability of our measure
of value.
II hear that he thinks there would be
an increase in the value Of property I'm
the United States. IL by law its congress
would provide us a cheaper dollar. I
am further advised that he thinks null
tiplied coins, in indifference to their
value. increases the amount of money in
circulation and would be helpful to our
people.
TT is reported to me that is endeav-
oring TO convince the good citizens OF
this state that these principles are a
part and parcel of the Jeffersonian de-
mocracy. These strange alterations,
coming from so responsible a source.
have, in my view. wrought, and do yet
wreak. immeasurable. IL not inefface-
able. harm to our great state in impair
ing its pecuniary credit and the credit
of its people and its reputation for po-
lftical sobriety. Did not the foregoing
position assumed by the governor come
to me from so many reliable sources
and did they not so nearly comport with
his utterances to which have listened
I should make swift haste to deny that
he has been so strangely and so far
misled. From an intimate knowledge
of the many excellencies of his charac-
ter. think he desires to be helpful to
the state. and IL Montana has any loyal
son in this exigency OF her history. I
do not think political ambition or per-
sonal ease should deter him from show
ing the governor a more excellent way.
II am advised by the public press that
some gentlemen have been anxious that
the governor. as their champion. should
stand forth upon the public rostrum in
defense of the foregoing postulates.
which they seek to happily hide by the
euphemistic generalization of favoring
the unlimited coinage of legal tender
silver dollars on a ratio of gold at Is to
i. without delay or international assist
ance.
1T seems to be a matter Of regret
that an opportunity to expose such fall
lacies as are involved in these propo-
sitions should not be improved. and IL
no other person assumes the task, I
would be willing at Butte. Helena. Ana
conda and possibly thereafter in two
or three other places. to listen to what
the governor has to say upon this
theme. and IL IL seems to call for reply,
make TO the good people there assem-
bled such answer as seemed fitting and
endeavor to show that the proposition
involved was reckless and fraueht with
calamities to Montana and the country
at large. absolutely appalling. And I
should strive to convince the governor
that he was dealing in names and not
in things. OF course I know the COVER
nor would insist upon such an arrange
ment OF detail as would be fair to each
disputant. with which I trust you would
coincide; and I have chosen the places
named. because ii has been reported
that In their vicinity there are gentle
men who think they sympathize with
his views. I deem the occasion 30 aus
picious and the duty so plain that I
make no excuse for the egotism which
this offer involves. nor for thrusting
upon you the duty of arranging for a