Iron County register., 1898-12-15
The Monetary Problem.
THE DUTY OF THE HOUR.
Ts to Support the Cause That WIFE
Finally Down the Money
Power and Trusts.

The Chicago platform stands alone
as the only platform made by nation
al convention of either of the great po-
litical parties during the past quarter
of a century that was dictated by and
represents the interests of the masses
of the people composing the party
The reason for the condition that so
long prevailed is obvious. The monol-
olies generally are the direct result cf
special privileges conferred by legisla-
ton. The valuable franchises granted
to corporations. by cities, states an,s
the nation could not be secured through
the agency of either of the great polit-
ical parties alone. Hence in the forma-
tion of the great corporations seeking
these public franchises it became
necessary, in order to insure the sue
cess of their schemes, to unite capital
lists representing both parties and in
terest party leaders in the enterprise.
This was not only the surest and cheap
est means of securing legislation con-
ferring upon them the special priv
ileges sought, but it furnished them a
guarantee against being disturbed IN
possession of them.
1t has been the policy of the money
power and monopolies to keep the ma
chinery OF both political parties so well
in hand that only candidates for office
of their choice could be selected by
either. In this way they not only pre-
vented an issue being raised against
them by the people through either par
ty, but they found it an economical an
well as safe method of procedure.
The success of the money power, cor
porations, and trusts in controlling the
government during the past 80 years at
tests the wisdom of their plan. Through
the control of the political machinery
of both parties they were enabled to
confer Office upon their favorites and
dispose of the patronage of the city,
county, state and national govern
ments, which, together with that of the
corporations themselves, constituted
one of the chief sources of revenue to
sustain the newspaper organs of both
political parties. This enabled the dis
pensers of patronage to control the ed
itorial utterances of the party organs
and give direction to public opinion.
Whenever, as has occasionally hap
pened, leader of the people arose in
some locality and wrested the control
of convention from the money power
and monopolists they have always con-
centrated their efforts to secure his de-
feat. The gold men made fight for the
control of the Chicago convention In
the primaries and conventions through
out the country in 1896. The plain peo-
pie won and secured control of the con-
vention only to see the old leaders de-
sert them and either come out plainly
in support of the republican party or
join the Cleveland-Palmer-Bu -Buckner-Mc-
Kin1ey combination at Indianapolis and
work for the defeat of the candidates
of the people.
The money power and trusts are N
unit against the people. Their scheme
to recapture the democratic party has
failed. The Chicago platform will be
readopted by the next democratic con-
vention and the battle of 1900 will be-
fought on the same lines as the battle
of 1896. The republican party has
thrown off its international bimetallic
mask and has brought forth an infa-
nous banking bill and squared itself
for action for the maintenance of the
gold standard and bank rule. The duty
of the hour is to prepare for the battle
of 1900. Education of the voters should
be the watchword of all who are inter
ested in preserving the rights and lib
critics of the people. Ninety-five per
cent. have a common interest in the de-
feat of the money power. Their in
dividual prosperity and the perpetua-
tion of free institutions depends upon
the success of the peoples cause IN
19OO.-Silver knight -Watchman.