The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-02-12
AFTER MR.. HOMER.
Democratic Committee Of Ninety
Six Still Anxious to Hear Him Elk
plain.
From the Baltimore sun of Tuesday

From Inc Baltimore sun OF ueSudN
Last week Mr.. Charles C. Homer, pres-
dent of the Baltimore Clearing House Associ-
alton, was invited by the Democratic Com
mittee of 90 to appear before them and eX-
plain why he believed in sound money.
Last night at the weekly meeting of the
committee in parlor of the Carrollton Hotel
a communication was read, in which Mr..
Homer declined to discuss his views with the
free.silver men. Then the committee deter
mined to send another letter to Mr. Homer.
Here is that letter, as finally drafted
''We regret that you are disinclined to ac-
cept the invitation and we take as confess
sion of weakness the fact that you are unwill-
ing to meet us and discuss this all important
question.
''We have examined the report of the COM
mission and we charge that the propositions
contained therein are unpatriotic and un-
American, for it is asserted virtually that the
credit of banking corporations is better. safer
and more stable than the credit Of the United
States government
1--WE charge that your proposition to retire
and destroy the non-interest bearing legal
tender money of the United States and sub
stitute therefor several hundred millions of
dollars of interest bearing bonds as a per-
petual government debt to be used as a basis
| for the issue of bank notes, and these notes TO
| be loaned out at an interest of from to 10
per cent per annum is unsound finance and
would be condemned by any sane business
man if applied to his own affairs.
''We contend this plan to be solely in the
interest of the banking and bond holding
| classes, the establishing of a BODYBUILDING
aristocracy. with the special privilege of issu-
! ing money on the credit of the government
and unjustly wringing interest from the peo-
! pie.
ave charge that your whole scheme is
only a refined method of exacting tribute
| from an already Overburdened and tai ridden
people without warrant in equity or good
morals.
1--WE charge that your proposition to give
absolute control Of the issue and volume OF
| all paper money TO the banks and to destroy
| all government paper money is dangerous to
the business interests of the country. tending
to concentration of unlimited power in the
hands of the associated banks. Il power to in
| fate or contract the money volume, to raiSt
or lower the prices of commodities at the IN
stance Of the speculative cliques of Wall and
| Lombard streets.
Money is the lite-blood of commerce.
Civilization cannot exist without it. Its issue
is distinctiveIy governmental function. You
| propose to destroy this function and delegate
The right to corporations.
I'VE charge that the consummation OF this
uurpose would be destructive to the liberties
of our countrvmen, and to this We siren
| uously object.
I'VE are earnest in this belief. but if what
we charge be not true, being open to cOnvic-
ton. we again extend to you an invitation tC
come before this committee and prove 10 the
contrary. We will gladly receive you. or We
will have one Of our members. if you prefer,
meet You in public discussion al any place yor
may name.
JUSTICE SHIRAS CRITICISED.
The discussion Of topics suggested by the
Chicago platform of 1896 was continued by
the Committee. Mr.. John +. Preston of the
Baltimore bar, WAS the speaker of the even
! inc. his subject being 1.-The Income Tan.
The decision Of the Supreme Court agains
the income tax characterized by Mr.
! Preston as the most uni ust and iniquitOu:
| that has ever been recorded in that court
decree 50 unexpected and alarming that il ha:
caused Il most serious shock to the respcc
and veneration with which the people of thi:
nation have always regarded that august Fri
bunal Of justice.
And the most marvellous circumstance
! connected with that decision. continued Mr.
Preston. lis the fact that one of the justices
| (Shiras. whose vote in the first trial had srS
tanned the consttutionality of the act of Con
greSs. at the second trial or rehearing of the
case, although another judge, who was no
present at the first trial, agreed with him il
the views he had in the first trial. changed hi
vote. | will draw the veil of charity owe
that mighty wrong and assume for the sake Of
charity that the change of vote by this judge
was rather an evidence of his weakness anC
want of capacity to pass upon such a grea
question than any evidence of an unworthy o.
corrupt motive on his part
There is not IL sentiment line in thu
tariff plank Of the Chicago platform Of 1896
Mr.. Preston also said. THAT could be honestl,
or fairly construed from any stand point, Il
anarchistic in its tendencies, has been charged
| hv our opponents.