Wadsworth semi-weekly dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1899-12-22
HEWLANOS' GUESTS.
THE OPPOSITION FORCES
AT
DINNER.

DISCUSSION v OpPOSftiO1l I only
Richardson, De Almond, Bailey
and Others Make Speeches.
Congressman Newlands gave a din
ner in Washington a few days ago to
the leading Congressmen Of the Demo-
cratic, silver Republican and Populist
parties. Though the dinner was pri-
waite and confidential 1t seems that a
reporter of the Washington Post sue
ceeded in obtaining a partial hearing Of
the speeches, and Newlands is quoted
at considerable length and in a way
which inaccurately represents his
views. On the following day Mr.. New
lands replied in a letter which we pub
fish below:
Editor Post: The dinner to the "op-:
position to which you refer in this
mornings Fost, was not intended to
have any public significance, and was
quite surprised to find 1t the subject Of
notice in your paper. AS some space
Is given to an inaccurate statement Of
my remarks, which may lead to mis-
apprehension, | beg leave to give a
correct statement Of my views upon
the questions referred to.
First hold It essential that the
forces which are to be opposed to the
Republican party in the next cam
paign, represented now by the Demo-
cratic and Silver Republican parties.
should be amalgamated by thorough
organization and by unificatlon of
action on essential issues. and that they
should present to the country a policy
Of constructive craftsmanship and not
a policy Of mere negation.
COMMITTEE TO SHAPE OPPOSITION.
Second believe that a step in this
direction would be The organization Of
a Congressional committee, equally
representing the different sections Of
the country. the Eastern. the Middle
States, the Pacific mountain States as
we'll as the Southern States; that It will
not do to submit the shaping of our
legislative policy and the record of our
next campaign unreservedly to South
ern Democracy, which 10Y preponder-
ates in this Congress-. able and patriotic
though 1t be, but that it is essential
that the Democracy Of other sections
Of the country, where real competition
exists and where potent opposition
q~uickens the energies and stimulates
elaboration and action, should be
taken into account. Such a COM
mittee, in touch with the opposition
members from every section Of the
country. could do more toward shaping
the course of the opposition in practical
lines, and could formulate propositions
for discussion in caucus In such a way
as to insure harmony In Congressional
action.
RATIO A SUBJECT OF DISCUSSION.
Third-Starting with the assumption
that the next Democratic platform
must declare un~equivocally for bimetal-
ism in this country, that is. the free
and unlimited coinage of both metals,
hold that the ratio is q matter upon
which difference of opinion can be
justly entertained by bimetalists. In
dividually, | believe the ratio Of l6 to
| can be maintained by the power Of
this government alone. but | also be-
lieve that the determination OF the ratio
is a mere matter Of detail, which may
be safely left to a friendly Congress
without platform instruction. and | am
inclined to think that this course may
disarm the fears Of many who are with
US in principle, but doubt our power
under changed conditions to maintain