The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-02-19
FREE SILVER IS
AGAIN THE ISSUE.
Chairman Jones Not in Accord With
Croker and Wall.
PROSPERITY IS NOT PERMANENT.
The improvement in Business Due
TO War at Homo and Famine
Abroad-The Cause of Bimetal-
ism is Stronger Than in 90.


ism is Stronger Than in 90.
WASHINGTON. D. c.. Feb. B-Sena-
tor James X. Jones, chairman OF lhe
Democratic National Committee. Is not
In accord with Mr. Croker, Of New
York and III. Wall OF Wisconsin, re-
gardiug the paramount issue in me neN'
Presidential campaign. He said to-day.
"To say that the next Democratic
national convention will reafiirm the po-
sition taken by the convention IN lsh
IS to assert what every candid man, even
slightly familiar with existing facts,
knows 10 be true. IL is as certain a.
anything human can be that the ques-
ton of bimetalism will be the leading
issue I'm the campaign next year And
IL is reasonable 90 expect that tho ma
iority Of the people viii next time &C.
clare for the party which means what
it saws and viii redeem its pledges. ana
that they will not again be tricked into
casting their votes in favor of the enc
enics Of the principles in which they
believe
con what grounds do YOU base your
houcs for success next year2' he was
asked.
some ~ Che reasons why 7 am strong
Isl hopeful Of the future OF orr cause are
as follows: In The campaign of 1896
both parties declared for bimctalllsm
the Democrats Tor independent action by
the United States, tho Republicans Tor
an international agreement which they
pledgcd themselves TO promote True.
this declaration on the part Of the Ike
publicaus was only modc IN eaten votes
and because the party leaders ana not
dare to so 20 the polls without IT,
think now no one any longer doubts
that the fixed purpose OF those VINO con-
froUed these leaders was TO MAINTAIN
the gold standard, and to prcSent not
promote. am international agreement.
The declarations however. served IT'S phl-
nose and vast numbers OF sincere bimet-
oufsts were persuaded 10 vote the Ike
nubliran ticket. in the belief thar they
were voting for an honest effort 10 secure
international bimetalism.
.eThe leaders who were responsive loI
this trick have already committed lh'H
party 10 the single gold standard, so Tar
as they can. and If they dare SPEAK OUT
honestly In their next national platform
70 v.m declare for the single gold stand
ard"
THE ONLY WAY.
"Do YOU believe TINT The cause or DE
metalllsm IS Importing
"Therc are as many believers IN bl-
rnetalusm to-day IN the United states
as there over were, and al these arc
Doubtless now convinced that the only
way to accomplish bmeta'lism IS through
the action Of the Democratic party.
"The great effort 60 stop the fan OF
prlces-the shrinking Of values-and 10
relieve the distress of business resulting
from these great evils. without doing in-
... UH Ne
ness. IS being more and more understood.
and commands the respect of honest and
fair men always when understood. and
another campaign Of ridicule and abuse
such as that OF 1V6-whethcr dictated Toy
ignorance or venality-cannot succeed
AGAINST temperate arguments and APP
meals for simple Justice when the people
have time 60 fairly weigh the arguments
and form "a deliberate judgment iheie
was great unrest and Dissatisfaction do
fsos throughout the country resulting
from falling prices and shrinking values.
The Republican party promised tn"t III
they We're entrusted with power on inns
would be changed, and that prosperity
should succeed existing conditions. MI
Mckinley and the gold press now assure
the country that We have prosperity.
There IS quite "a boom iu stock specuia'
tious i'm wall street but Wall street D.
not the country. as We believe. great
famine and a short crop OF wheat an
over the world except in the Inl'en
states naturally raised the price OF wheat
while these conditions lasted, and the
bencdcont effects Of this temporary add
vance n the price of single article.
which was so marked TN the snort peflod
IL continued. IS likely 10 stimulate oe-
sire for a return 10 that condition per
-fl.rr q
other products. This is our purpose ana
was our purpose IN 1896, when the Ne-
publican party denounced any effort 20
increase prices as crime .......,
WAR BROUGHT PROSPERITY.
GLOW do you account for the activity
IN business7'
"There has been necessarily an M
creased demand for labor within the ia7t
few months. as the result OF the with
drawal of large numbers of Amer lcaN
citizens from the ordinary walks OF llie
90 be- employed in the army. whose places
had 10 To hIed There has also been an
increased activity I'm and a demand for
am products which werc necessary 20
the maintenance md support OF n large
army But all these conditions gre IN
the very nature of things temporary. and
an of us know that they must pass away
with thu end Of the conditions which
brought them into life. Making due all
lowance fof the influence of these three
causes ON the present condition OF me
country. there IS to-day as much dis
satisfaction ant as much cause for 10
as there was in 1895. No relief was or IS
to be expected under Republican man
agemcnt except such as comes by famine
abroad and war at home. A condition
of constantly falling general prices Is
everywhere recognized as a condition OF
distress and hard times, ana speculation
excitement In Wan street does not change
this We believe that a small volume OF
money forces prices down, hence We have
urged the coinage Of our silver as well
as of our eold-not only 20 check this
grinding fall in prices but 90 promote
steadily advancing prices"
BIMETALLIsM STRONGER.
"Thcn you think the Chicago platform
Is gaining ground?'
81 most certainly do. I'm the elections
Of last year the principles Of that plat
form were not the leading and eXclu-
sve issues IN all sections of the country.
These were partially obscured I'm many
States and districts. The question OF BIZ
metallism. the Republican enort 70 retire
the greenbacks and TO confer upon the