The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-06
The Referendum Is the Sole Hope
for Silver.
A MISFIT GOVERNMENT
Mr.. Green Majors View of the Existing
Financial and Political Situation OF
the Country n the Remedy
He Proposes.

city once more after a residence Of sew
eral years In Oakland. Cal. MIR. Majors
has written the following communica-
ton to the Standard on the subject,
Free Coinage but a Dream
~"Seventy-fve years ago silver was
demonetized by a corrupt vote in the
American congress. and during That
bleak and dreary quarter Of "A century
the American people have hoped and
suffered, year after year, until their
hearts have grown sick with the re-
peatei intTigues and deceits that have
one after the other deferred and de-
feated free coinage There can be no
doubt that the people Of this country
as "A whole. want blmetalllsm-want
both gold and silver to have equal ac-
cess to our m~ints-and, further, there
can be no doubt that the great majority
of American voters have wanted bimet-
allism during the whole of the wasteful,
desolatinE period since 1873.
Behold, then, the hooking anomaly.
We have been told since our gray
haired patriarchs were barefooted boys
that this is a government OF, FOR and by
the people. and yet legislation that the
vast majority Of our voters have yearn-
ed, hoped. prayed and Tor Tor
% years is still unrealiZed, unattained.
] solemn ana EtIlouS dH TN lhNA may ~
IL is still nevertheless a grim and ghast-
~ fact that we are further removed
from free coinage of silver to-day than
ever before, under our misftt tmls)rep-
Tesentative form OF government. In
state after state, for the first time in our
history. republican platforms are eNult-
ing and glOrifying in the beauties ana
blessings of the gold standard. nus Is
a strong, cohesive, aggressive force pe-
ing marshalcd to perpetuate and spread
the blighting, blasting shadow or the
gold standard over us all. The spec
taClo is enough to make even strong men
stop and consider-and then shudder'
for the results.
The American people have become
such hero worshipers and party idoiators
that they havo failed To properly weigh
and consider their own economic Condl-
tons. They have become financial VIC
tins. mortgage bearers and tribute
yielders I'm spite of their constant en-
deavors and efforts to become American
kings. Hope eternal for better condl-
tions still springs from their loyal, pa
triotic breasts. But how hopeless the
hope, under our present political sNs-
TEN. when we analyze closely ana dlS-
p~assionateIy We canno avoid the crush
+, ing conclusion that our system OF law
making has resolved itself into a gigdn-
3 tic method of exploitation of the masses.
1 ne flll'll'AA@oAAF -
+ arm Of that method.
q There is a way. but only one way, by
which the United States can ever GET
10 free coinage Of silver again, and That
. way Is by and through the referendum.
Let the question be placed on the bal
lot. To ba voted on at the next or near
est possible election, and thus be taken
out OF the hands Of "A corrupt congress
and out Of the clutches of the dehased,
I utriguIug lobby that hauuts every stS-
4 sion Of our national lawmaking body.
d For a century there have been hon
est men in every session nI congress
but in an that time We have not had a
o single honest session of congress as a
e. whole. Every session Of every state leg
islature has had honest men In II. but
< not a single honest session as a Whole
4 has ever been held i'm an state in the
. union. n SO it might be said Of every
L legislative body in the union. what Is
70 the cause of such a deplurable state oil
things The representative form OF gov
@ eminent. 1t is the representative fsa-
e ture of our government that enables the
= plundererS Of the people 10 buy laws
@ from our legislative bodies ready-mdde
o or made To order. As a matter of fact
I the great, round, deep, honest heart
v throbs of the people arc not voiced IN
Q our laws, not crystalllzed into our stat
q utcs.
This is not a party question. 1t rises
\ immeasurably above party, is greater
and grander and broader than party. Al
q men are made of the same clay. Al
\ parties will do the same things undel
Z the same conditions. The democratic
Marty managers dcmonetized silver IN
1851 when IL Accommodated foreign coins
and again in 1898 when it repealed th'
Sherman act. The republican party man
ayers drmonetiZcd the white metal goot
and hard in 1873. Both party manager
would do the same thing again undel
the same conditions, and so would any
other political party managers undel
the representative system of laNmakInE
for that system strikes out the popular
wish from the equation of government
n and turns over the rights of the peoplt
to the predatory p]luudcrers intestins gu
legislative halls.
& No man nor nation of people can b'
free who do not possess the right Il
vote yes or no on every law that GOV
= erus him or them. No extra election
are necessary to carry into effect TN
u grand function. when the state con
; stltutlou is 81 amended as 10 put I'll
rect legislation che initiative ana refer
endeum) into force all important meas
ures affecting the public can be place.
q on the ballot and voted on at rcEult
o elections. Not only all important puhli
y measures. hut also state supreme cuur
decisions. and ultimately national gu
r premc court decisions. m be- thus sub
l. mitted TO the people for their approve
: or veto. II We would retain our hbtrtie,
. Nominations for office should b
y made through this method. which Is tn
only possible way 10 puT4ly caucus an
primary wire pulling and roguery. /
civilization is worth maintaining, II D
z. high time the decent, thinking olemvn
! Of the American people open their eye
10 the true situation 81 affairs. Eiths
l. human rights must b. peTpetuaIl
81 CruCiied on the cruel cross 81 gold a
ID else American manhood must look IN.
matter right square in tho face. In
der our present representative sysIeT
~ the American congress has grown Z
be the creates menace 10 she America
peoples welfare. No foreign govern
ment nor foreign complications are