Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-08-22
WILL SURRENDER THE RATIO.

The persistent efforts of the leaders of
the so-called silver wing of the demo-
cratic party to let go the 16 to 1 idea with
out being caught in the act is nauseating
to men who sincerely believe in the free
coinage Of the precious metals at the
established ratio. In 1896 the ratio was
deemed essential, and no argument in
favor of free coinage was complete with
out it. If anything has occurred since
that memorable campaign to destroy the
value Of the Is to l ratio it has likewise
destroyed the force and effect Of the free
coinage idea in its entirety. To advocate
free coinage with the established ratio
left out is to stand for a farce and adj
vertise ones dishonesty to the world.
The two are inseparable.
No greater monument to democratic in
sincerity could be erected than the pres
ent efforts of it's leaders to convince the
voters of this country that they stand
for free coinage, while seeking to retire
the issue of Is to /. 1t is to be regretted
that at the forefront in this movement
stands the late honored standard bearer
Of the silver forces-William Jennings
Bryan. The Inter Mountain has repeat
eddy shown the ardor manifested by that
distinguished gentleman in his efforts to
bring to the front as a issue
for 1900 some question other than the
free coinage Of silver. While professedly
FOR silver and the issues Of 1896, Mr..
Bryan loses no opportunity to placate the
gold wing Of the democracy by expressing !,
a willingness to surrender the most vital ;
points in the free coinage question. That
ably edited democratic paper, the Chicago
Record, thus reports his attitude before
the democracy of Iowa.:
Three times today William Jennings
Bryan indicated to the Iowa democrats
that he nc longer insisted upon making
the silver ratio of Is to / the measure
of party fealty and plainly advised them
to pfacate the gold element of the de-
mocracy to the end that a united party
may be ready to win the national contest
next year. In an address to the county
chairman he said:
The Chicago platform was written for
all time, and the democratic party is not
under obligation to reiterate it's details,
but as new issues arise we may turn our
attention to them, take them into the
family and fight on them without apollo
giving for any former fight we V
made"
In conference with the state central
committee this afternoon a money plank
was submitted to Mr.. Bryan with the
explanation that the Iowa democracy is
for him in 1900 and that it can be a united
party if no obnoxious references to ratio
are made in this years platform. He re-
piled:
Il do not visit Iowa to write platforms,
but SO long as the Iowa democracy is will
ing to accept the Chicago platform l am
content. If new issues arise which seem
to be of more Importance than those Of
the past, it is proper for the party to give
prominence to the new ones and ever to
use them as the basis of a campaign
The readiness with which Mr.. Bryan
accedes to the proposition to make no
obnoxious references" to the ratio, and
the earnestness with which he commends
new questions as the basis of a campaign,
clearly show he trend Of the silver de-
mOcracy. II mas SOLO ltS DlrtnflSnt lot a
mess of pottage. Indefinite reference to
the general principles enunciated in the
Chicago platform does not carry with it
questions Of detail, any more than an en-
dorsement of the doctrines of Thomas
Jefferson would imply the adoption of the
machinery he used to carry those doc
trines into effect. Specific reference to
such details should be made if they are
to cut any figure as to the question of
party fealty. The ratio of 16 to / is a
medium through which a free coinage law
could be made effective, yet the democ-
racy intends to declare itself in favor Of
the general principles of bimetallism and
evade an endorsement of the medium
through which free coinage can be
brought about. There is no installing
Mr.. Bryan's position on this questionable
is willing to waive the substance if he can
have the shadow.
DEFENDING BRYAM