Potosi journal., 1898-11-02
FAVOR SOUND MONEY.
Address to Men OF Their Faith Issued -
the Sound Money Democrats
Of Missouri.

Ol, ISs -
.he sound money Democratic execu-
tive committee of Missouri in st.
Louis, the following named gentlemen
were present: George Roertson, OF
Mexico; +. Pittman Smith, of Mont
gomery City; John W. Matsen. of Lou-
isian; Col. r. II. Norten, of Troy; +.
w. Lehman, F. N. Judson, Rolia
Wells, ex-Gov. ID. r. Francis, Conde II.
Pallen, Henry T. Kent, r. F. Walker
and L. Il. Whitley.
Letters were read from Hon. J. Med.
Trimble, Kansas City; \. E. Asbury,
Hiyginsville; George c. Ramsey. def
ferson City; A. H. Waller. Moberly;
j. S. Watson, Fulton; j. a. Hudson;
Macon, and many other prominent
democrats from all parts of the state.
A motion was made and carried that
a committee of five be appointed to
draft an address to the voters of the
state. The following committee was
appointed: George Robertson, q. Pitt
man Smith, Conde b. Pallen. r. n.
Judson and Edward Cunningham, Jr.
The following address was reported
and adopted by the committee:
St Louis, Mo, Oct. 26. 1S9S.-To the Ma
tional Democrats of Missouri-A meeting
of the executive committee of the national
democrats of Missouri was held this day
in the city of ST Louis, and in connection
herewith a number OF sound money dem
ocrats were assembled from the different
parts of the state. AdViceS received from
not the slightest abatement of opposition
among sound money democrats to the
Chicago platform of 1886. AT the coming
with the same issue, the free coinage of
silver, which in 1896 divided and demoral-
lied the democratic party and over
election under the adverse popular major
ity of nearly 1N00, 600 votes. The platform
adopted at the Springfield convention by
the democratic organization of this state,
which has the semblance of regularity,
reaf1irms the Chicago platform and makes
the free coinage of silver at the ratio oi
the selection of the party candidates Is
now asked on the distinct grounds that
the same issue may be forced to the iron,
again in 1900 Thus the question of the
money standard is to be reagitated. with
the continued decentralization of the demo
ccratic party and the consequent paraiy-
zation OF credit and enterprise
The reagitation of this issue at this
state was not of our seeking. We had
hoped that the verdict rendered by the
people in 1896, after full discussion, upon
free and unlimited silver coinage would he
accented as final, and that the necessity
of recognizing the fnality OF that decision
ture of things there must be final de-
termination of such an issue: The con
tinued agitation and the resulting. uncer
tainty as to our money standard threater
public and private credit, and is dis
tiuct menace to the prosperity of the peo
pie.
d':straI people can hope for prosperity
public or private. when the basis of credit
and enterprise is dependent upon the re
suit of each recurring election
Two years have elapsed since the people
rejected the Chicago platform. Its advo
Gates asserted in that campaign tina
till free silver was adopted. and that dis
! aster would follow the continuance Of th
! gold standard. No one Of their predic
conditions since the election of 1896 Prov
beyond question that they were falls
prophets. Business confidence has beer
mines have risen in value: labor ha
found increased employment and our OK
ports have expanded beyond all preceden
Il. our history Prosperity, revived whel
the menace to the standard of value wa
removed. Shall we check this advancin,
prosperity by rreaeitating this disturhin!
question and thus renew the peril whicl
was then escaped?
On November $, the people of Missouri
vote for Is members OF congress. and 70
members of the general assembly of thi
| state. who will participate in the election
| of a United States senator. The mex
| congress will be called upon to enact i'm
! portant national legislation concerning
! our wly-acquired territory, and to re
! adjust our banking and currency system
| to the commercial and Industrial progres
| OF the country.
| The control of our next house of repre-
| snntatives by n fusion of Chicago plat
| form democrats and populists would be
of this is now disturbing factor in ou
| reNiving prosperity. and its announcement
! would be a distinct shock to pubic an
| private enterprise.
| In the present crisis of our national his
| tory and in the light Of the new condition
| which have developed in the last tw
! of the soundness of the political principles
| the time-honored economic and constitu
t:"nal doctrines of the democratic part
sound money, tariff for revenue onl
/ and opposition to paternalism of all kind
! that were declared in the 1ndianapoli
| Platform of 1886.
While not discriminating between can
| didates for state and local offices. we ar
/ constrained to advise that our hishes
! duty to ourselves and our country con,
i pels us to oppose at the polls on the st
| of November any candidate to the nation
al congress who is not unequivocally j
/ favor of sound money and opposed to tn
hereses Of the Chicago platform. In tn
; selection of members of the national cor
i eress these issues are directly involved
| 7he fateful issue which has demoralize
/ the democratic party must be removed
| Therein lies the only hope for the reo1
! "anization of the party upon sound, eco
! nomic and constitutional principles. A
| the direct means to this end we recon-
! mend that the republican candidates f.
/ congress be supported in preference I
! any candidate who is not distinctivei
! and avowediv opposed to the Chicag
/ platform of 1886.
| In thus supporting sound money cand
J dates for congress and aiding to remoE
/ that issue from our politics. We shall hes
| perform the patriotic duty of not emba7
matt r.it
this crisis of our country's history.
By order Of the executive committee.
ROII.A WELLS. Chairman.
j GEORGE ROBERTSON, Secretary.