The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-01
FRIDAY, DECEMBER /. 1899.
TWELVE PAGES.
The Opening Gun.


their national executive COM
mittee on Wednesday last is the most
important political event of the year.
Being merely committee meeting no
very numerous attendance was ex-
pected: but those who were present
are men of high national repute and
distinctively representative in charac-
ter.
Mr.. Towne. the chairman. is one Of
the most brilliant men in the country,
and at the same time one Of the truest.
1t is doubtful if any man in the
United States has made greater per-
sonal sacrifices for the silver cause
than has Charles A. Towne. In the re-
publican party of Minnesota his stand
ing was of the very highest. and had
he chosen to remain with that party he
could have had almost anything with
in its gift But he had studied the
question of bimetalism--at first with
the idea of combating it, but, like
all ether sincere students of the sub
ject, he landed squarely upon the BIZ
metallic side, which necessarily car
ried him out OF the republican party.
He not only sacrificed political advan-
tages, but he incurred social ostracism
and a loss of lucrative law business
that runs into high figures. AS chair
man of the national silver republican
party, the funds at his disposal have
been wholly inadequate to meet the
expenses of the office. 1t can be truth
fully stated that all told the funds
which have passed into his hands, to
cover office rent. clerk hire, travelling
and miscellaneous expenses, have not
amounted to one-half of what he could
have earned in his professional prac-
tice as a lawyer
Associated with him is ex-senator
Dubois, who, boiling the st. Louis
convention along with Teller, was aft
erward defeated for reelection in
Idaho. but unlike some other alleged
silver men who failed of reelection,
he has remained steaqfast and true
to the cause
Another is ex-Congressman Hartman
of this state. During the six years Of
his service in congress neither his abl-
ity nor his fidelity to the cause was
ever questioned. It is not questioned
even now. Even the Mckinley shout
ers in Montana are not doing that.
They merely accuse him of being a
democrat" We can imagine some
thing very much worse in politics that
he might be- but isn't However, it is
unnecessary to mention it. for it is
altogether a matter of indifference
what the McKinleyites say about him.
Mr. Hartman's political status will be
fixed by the friends of the silver
cause-not its enemies.
Then there are Teller and Shafroth
of Colorado, too well known to require
even mention.
Besides these men Of national rcpu-
tation there were several others of the
very highest standing in private life
Colonel Chisholm of this state, Mr.
Corser Of Minnesota, Judge Harper Of
Ohio, J. B. Roman of Iowa, Dir,
Ransom Of Nebraska and Judge Van
Vorhis of Indiana being among them,
1t is doubtful if in the whole state of
Indiana there can be found a man
more highly esteemed for both ability
ana integrity IMAM Jut5t an WORMS.
A lifelong republican, who served four
years in the Union army during the
civil war, he is absolutely opposed to
Mr.. Mckinley's Philippine policy, and
Of course is a "cOpperhead," in the
opinion Of some who were then either
in short brooches or lodging the draft
But he is splendid man just the same
The personnel of the meeting was all
right, and so was its action. These
men know that the silver republican
organization can do nothing alone. 1t
must combine with others that are IA
vorable to silver. Therefore the pro-
gramme outlined is cooperation with
the democratic and pcpulist parties in