Evening star., 1898-10-17
PALMER WILL VOTE FOR MILLS
Leader of Gold Democrats Prefer. Re.
publicanism to Bryanism

A special to the New York Tribune dated
Decatur, ILL.,, October 16, says: During the
last week there has been Misrepresentation
III 'he press OF the state as to the attitude
of ex-senator John NJ Palmer in reference
to the money question, the free silver
democratic leaders trying to make capital
of q story enanating from Chicago that
Paimer intended to vote the straight partv
ticket. He is to .be in Decatur next Thurs
day night to preside at a republican meet
ing to be addressed by w. d. Bynum. one
Of the democratic sound money leaders.
THESE letters explain Mr.. Palmer's position:
SPRINGFIELD, H., October 13 1898
John w. Sanner, Decatur:
Dear Sir: In answer to your letter of Oc-
tober Il send you copy of a letter which
nave just written to Mr.. Usher of Wis
consin, which you are at liberty to publish
II you think proper.
- JOHN NJ. PALMER.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill, October 13 1885
Ellis b. Usher Lacrosse Wis:
Dear Sir: l have your interesting letter
ana answer 1t at once. l am a democrat
IN all of my sympathies and affections and
would greatly prefer to vote for the rep
lesentative men of that party. At present
the democratic is the minority party and
cannot, If 1t would, control the policy of the
country, Therefore, it accepts for its lead
ers swallow pretenders who, like Mr.. Bryan
and Governor Stone, can promise it only
local success, and its platforms and prin-
ctples, like those of Chicago adopted in
lo9o, are a mere snarl at existing condi-
tons, without presenting any scheme for
political or social Improvement
The Chicago platform is the mere echo of
the 1ll-temper of those who adhere to it.
and commits the democratic party to the
coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to l
with enforced legal tender quality. Its ad-
vocates propose to reduce the price of gold
or the gold standard "some' and to ad-
vance the price of silver some" and the
point at which the depreciation of the price
OF gold and the enhancement of the price
or silver will meet will be the standard of
values in this country, forgetful of the fact
| that the more valuable metal will disap-
pear from circulation.
/ Will not support any candidate who
faVors the coinage of silver on the ratio of
16 to l, with enforced legal-tender quality
L adhere to the Indianapolis platform |
am Cleveland democrat and 1 believe
that If the party had adhered to the pol
| icy of the Wilson bill and sound money II
would have succeeded in the presidential
election Of 1895 and would have controlled
the government now. Its folly was to COM
! NIT itself 20 the Chicago platform in 1896
in opposition to sounder opinions 1t was
dominated by mere resentments and was
unconsciously dishonest, as it proposed to
revolutionize and Mexicanize the standard
Of values of the United States
l beg you to be assured that no sound
money democrat can under any carcum-
stances, in my judgment, vote for any rep-
sound, honest money. will vote for Isaac
R. Mills, the republican candidate for Com
g1ess in the seventeenth Illinois district on
the Issue of sound money, as we have no
candidate Of our own.
JOHN M. PALMER.