The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-08
An APPEAL FOR UNION
Congressman Hartman Urges the
Fusion of All Silver Forces.
NO SACRIFICE TOO GREAT
The Address Ringing Letter to All
Opponents of the Gold Standard
in Montana No Time for Trim
mers or towards.


the silver leaders of the country comes
the following letter by Congressman
Hartman addressed to all opponents of
the gold standard in Montana:
Our mutual interest in thwarting the
plans of the advocates and beneficiaries
of the gold standard and it's kindred
evils, is my justification, If any were
necessary for writing this letter.
Il have observed some few evidences
in Montana of a disposition among GER
tain individual members Of the three
anti-gold- standard and anti-monopoiy
parties of the state, TO oppose the CO.
operation of our forces in the coming
campaign. ! cannot believe, however
that such opposition will assume form
liable proportions | shall be greatly
surprised II before the campaign has
progressed far, it does not practically
pass away.
Il understand fully. the temptation in
Montana for the members of the re-
spective political reform organizations
of the state. to let each party run sep
arate tickets. with the full knowledge
that the gold republican party of the
state will be the last in the race. Many
of the supporters of the three silver
parties believe the one To which they
belong will poll the most votes, and
therefore they are eager for the fray.
No good purpose can be subserNed,
however. by discussions as TO their rel
ative numerical strength; for unless I
greatly mistake the temper and purpose
of the people of Montana, they will not
permit jealous rivalries between men or
parties, to prevent cooperative action
between them in the coming campaign.
Men who are seriously contemplat-
ing the advocacy of a division OF our
forces in Montana, ought to remember,
that even though our local conditions
are such that there is no fear of the
republican party winning in the state.
nevertheless we cannot afford TO pre-
sent the example of selfish contention
and inharmony within the ranks OF the
allied forces of Montana, which will
serve to embarrass or prevent the ac-
complishment of complete cooperation
in states where IL is necessary, before
victory can be ours. We should remem-
Der that the contest in Montana Is only
important in so far IL aids or Injuries
the cause in other states. and in so far
as our state contest is a part of the
great national campaign. Shall we be
guilty of the objectionable offense of
imperiling the success of the general
cause In the nation, by petty uuibbling
among ourselves as to which one of the
three parties is strongest in the state.
or as to which one shall have assigned
to il in the cooperative agreement.
some particular office or Offices? The
duty Of the hour demands the subordi-
nation of every personal ambition, the
suppression of every animosity, and the
complete determination to present a
united front to the common enemy.
A Surrender 10 Gold.
we recognize that the great rank
and file of the republican party. as well
as every other political party, is imbued
with high and patriotic purpose and
the sincere desire to accomplish the
greatest good for the greatest number;
but. unfortunately for them, the oppor-
tunity to learn of the diversion of the
.nKfx~ FrNr tie Vntin MA a
not reach them until after many of us
had discovered Ii, and they continued
TO repose their confidence in that party
until the evils of the present admins
tration have caused many of them since
10 withdraw that confidence. They
know now, as we knew then, that the
surrender of the republican party TO
the gold and monopoly power was final
and complete. The masses of republic
can voters have not been aware of the
earlier devices by which this purpose
was pursued. The plan was cunningly
formed and has been patiently and
carefully developed. 1t was not to be
wondered at that for a long time only
a few should perceive the drift of the
party management BY shrewd policy
the votes of millions of honest, but de-
luded men, were repeatedly secured in
aid of objects that would have been
repudiated IL openly avowed. But 1t
was inevitable that exposure should
finally come and events of recent oc-
currence, and now pending. make clear
10 even slight examination, that the
republican party has passed under the
absolute control of forces that threaten
not only the liberties of the country,
but civilization itself.
THE most important economic fact of
the last quarter of century has been
the appreciation of gold, with its at
tendant falling prices. depreciation of
property, and ruinous increase in the
burden of debts: with consequent dis
couragement TO production, disaster to
agriculture, and loss OF employment to
labor. The resulting reduction of prof
liable returns to all forms Of enterprise
has vastly lessened the power of the
people to consume, and prices have con-
sequently fallen. AS an inevitable con-
sequence. trusts and monopolies have
been formed on gigantic scale for the
purpose OF raising prices artiilcially
and Of limiting production to the meas
ure of reduced demand
Linked Twin Evils.
These twin evils, the gold standard
and the trust. are inseparably linked
together. are sustained by the same
influences. and must perish az the same
time. The time that they will be per-
nitted 10 exist is Of the same length
as the existence OF the period Of diVi-
sion OF the forces opposed to them. IL
is not strange that they should have
Joined hands in their efforts To secure
the republican party as their common
instrument of oppression. Mark the
following significant parallel In its
national platform of 1855 the republican
party declared In favor of both gold
and silver as money and pronounced
its opposition to all combinations Of
capital organized in trusts. or other
wise. 10 control arbitrarily the condi-
tion of trade among our citizens
Equally clear and unmistakable was
the language expressive Of the party's
position on these two great questions.
employed by its national convention I'm
Is92-'The American people. from tradi-
ton and interest. favor bimetallisnl.
and the republican party demands the
use OF both gold and silver as standard
money: and We reafiirm our opposi-
ton, declared in the republican plat
form of 1855 10 All cnln bina lions of