The Anaconda standard., 1898-02-13
W.. BRYAN URGES FUSION
ALL the Silver Forces Should Fight
Shoulder to Shoulder.
ARE ON COMMON GROUND
More Than One Reform Demanded With
Equal Emphasis by Democrats, Pop
ulists and Silver Republicans.
Must Be Settled Right.

| Special Dispatch to the Standard
New York, Feb. 13.-The Sunday Jour-
nal prints a letter from William j.
| Bryan on silver and the control of the
/ next house of representatives. Among
| other things he says:
while it is always difficult to secure
harmonious cooperation between dis
tinct and separate political organiza-
tons, there are times when this coop
GRAFTON is both wise and necessary. In
| the campaign of 1885, the democrats,
populists and silver republicans united
in demanding the immediate restora-
ton of independent bimetallism at the
existing ratio of 16 to /, and they agreed
in declaring that the money question
was of paramount Importance at that
time. The question now arises, should
these three political organizations act
together in the congressional campaign
of 1898? | answer without hesitation,
yes. If the democrats, populists and
silver republicans were agreed upon
but one question that question might be
important enough to justify co-opera-
tion, although the parties differ on all
other subjects, but those who advocate
the union of the principal reform forces
against the common enemy can point
not to one, but to a number of reforms
which are demanded with equal en-
phasis by democrats, populists and sill
yer republicans.
"First-They are unalterably opposed
to gold monometallism
"Second-They demand immediate res
toration of bimetalism at the present
ratio by the independent action of this
country.
''Third-They oppose the retirement of
the greenbacks.
"Fourth-They oppose the issue of pa
per money by national banks.
hn iG=r af in
terest-bearing bonds in time of peace.
Sixth-They favor the income tax as
means of raising part of the revenue
necessary to administer the federal gov
ernment.
"seventh-They favor the abolition of
trusts.
"Eighth-They are opposed to govern
ment by injunction.
"Ninth-They are in favor of arbitra-
ton as means of settling disputes be-
tween labor and capital.
Here are nine issues which are not
only important in themselves, but are
now prominently before the people.
Are not these reforms worth securing?
These questions were submitted to
the people at the last election, but they
were not settled and will not be settled
until they are settled right. If the re-
publicans obtain control of the senate
and house in the elections OF 1898 there
der the contract right which the gov
ernment now has to pay coin obliga-
tons in silver (of which we are large
producers) and bind the nation to pay
in gold Ian appreciating metal, the pro-
duction of which is largely controlled
by England).
The republican party will, if it OBJ
tains control of congress in 1885, aban-
don the system which gives the debtor
the option. and substitute a new sys-
tenn which, first. permits the money
lenders to choose the coin of payment
and second allows them to increase the
purchasing power of the dollars which
they demand to the impoverishment of
the wealth producers of the world.
Should those who oppose this financial
heresy, this child of greed and avarice
fight each other while the American
people are bounded with fetters of gold?
The administration is clearly commit
ted to the policy of opposing independ-
ent bi-metallism. Should friends of BIZ
metallism help the administration by
fighting each other?