The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-01
STILL THE CHIEF ISSUE
Free Coinage Should Be the Key
note of the Democracy.
BRYANS NAME CHEERED
Every Allusion to the Silver Champion
Calls Forth an Enthusiastic Demon
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Altgeld
Denounces the Trusts.

states of Iowa, Indiana. Illinois and
Kentucky, is holding its third annual
convention in this city. Macaulay's
theater, the scene of the gathering of
the white metal hosts. was profusely
decorated when the convention was
called to order at 80 O'Clock this
afternoon. Likenesses of William j.
Bryan. Thomas Jefferson and Andrew
Jackson We're conspicuous in the deco
rations. The national colors in flags
and bunting completely covered the
walls of the theater.
A brass band discoursed the national
airs at intervals. Prominent among
the delegates and visitors were men
whose words have been of national sig
nificance, and what was lacking
numerically was seemingly supplied by
the augmented enthusiasm of those in
attendance. for when President Tarvin
of the Bimetallic League began his an
nual address, the lower floor was only
comfortably filled, While the balcony
was only partially occupied and the
gallery entirely deserted. The boxes
We're occupied by ladies', wives and
daughters of the delegates. But as the
convention progressed the crowd in
creased until perhaps 1000 people were
in the theater.
The convention was called to order
at 2:30 o'clock by Chairman Semonn
of the local committee. who introduced
Mayor Weaver of Louisville. He ex-
tended hearty welcome to the visiting
delegates and told them that their work
would be well done if they indorsed
Bryan for president in 1900
At the conclusion of his address.
Judge J. P. Tarvin of Covington, Ky,
president of the BmetalIic League,
spoke at considerable length His re
marks We're at times received with the
greatest enthusiasm, any reference to
the reaffirming of the Chicago platform
or an Endorsement of William Jen
nings Bryan as the presidential nomi-
nee being the signal for vociferous ap
plause.
Judge Tarvins speech was of more
than passing national significance, for
when he declared that bimetalism and
the free coinage of silver at the ratio
of 16 to l, as was Anunciated in the
Chicago platform of 1896 would be the
paramount issue In the presidential
campaign of 1900, ree aless of the ef-
forts to have the question of trusts
supplant it, it met with an outburst
of applause that indicated an over
whelming approval of the utterances
of the speaker. 1t was evident too,
from the reception of all references
to the Nebraska statesman that reso-
lutions would be adopted indorsing his
candidacy for the presidential nomin-
alton and that incorporated in the res
olutions will be a reaffirmation of the
principles as outlined in the Chicago
platform.
Ex- Senator J. c. S. Blackburn was
to have spoken this evening, but he
was detained a home on account of
the serious Illness of his wife.
Following Judge Tarvin, Congress
man James M. Robinson of Indiana
made an jmpromptu speech. In refer
ence to the coming campaign of 1900,
the speaker said that. it lay with the
democratic party to name the victor
and that they would make a great mis-
take if they did not select Mr.. Bryan.
The votes which Bryan got in 1896, he
said, We're only pledges on the part of
the voters to carry the standard of bi-
metallsm to a triumphant finish in our
national elections. These pledges, he
said, were still fresh in the hearts of
all champions of the silver cause and
needed no reiteration. The conven-
tion then recessed until 7:30 p. m.
AT the evening session Hon. Flavius
J. Van Voorhes Of indianapolis spoke
in favor of bimetallism and against
trusts, after which Ex-Governor John
p. Altgeld Of Illinois was introduced.
The greatest enthusiasm prevailed
when the Illinois statesman rose to
address the convention, the delegates
rising to their feet. waving their hats
and cheering Justify.
Ex-Governor Altgeld of Illinois said
in part: THE evils that result from
the gold standard have not been eX
aggerated or overstated. Time has
sustained the bimetallist, and that man
makes a fatal mistake who thinks the
American people are ready to abandon
this cause. But the money question is
not the only great question that con-
fronts us. Calamities going in groups
and the gold standard has brought
with it a brood of evils, each of which
threatens the life Of the republic.
There is the great question of gov
ernment by injunction, a system under
which federal judge, elevated to office
by corporation influence, strikes down
the right of free speech, and with con-
temptueus wave Of the hand brushes
aside the right of trial by jury, that
bulwark of English liberty, it the mere
request of a corporation agent. The
temptations Offered by corropt capital
being too great for the ordinary man
to withstand it is evident as long as
those temptations are offered they will
be effective. By the establishment of
the method of initiative and referen-
dunn the fruits of bribery could be taken
away and thus the inducement to bribe
would be destroyed. For quarter of
a century both the political parties
have denounced corporations, trusts
and monopolies. Nearly every state in
the Union has Iegislated against them.
The federal government has legislated
against them, yet in spite of this de-
nunciation. in spite of all this legisla-
ton state and federal authority, they
have gone on multiplying. State legis-
lation has been futile because federal
judges uniformly declare it to be un-
constitutional. Federal legislation had
likewise been found to be futile. The
trusts are masters of the situation. 1t
is evident that to simply go on de
nouncing trusts is an INSULT to the in
telligence of the American people. 1t
is the cheapest kind of political dema-
gogy. The experience of other coun-
tries, as well as a thorough consider
alton of the question. shows that it is
impossible to reduce many of these mo-
nopOlies back to their original element.
They have come to stay, and therefore