The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-16

some other ratio, there is no reason why
we should discuss ratio with them. The
ratio of 16 to ! was decided upon, not
at the Chicago convention, but at the
primaries which elected delegates to at
tend the Chicago convention. The ratio
of is to ! had been submitted to the
people and those who wanted 1t in 1896
are in favor of it now, and they know
why they are in favor of it. The ratio
of 16 to 1 is the ratio at which our gold
and silver coins now circulate. We
simply ask reinstatement of the law
that was on the statute books-where it
was before the act of decentralization
was secretly passed.
when people ask us to drop our
fight on the money question and fight
the trusts, I remember that the republ-
can party is to-day preparing to organ
ize trust more potent for evil than
all the industrial trusts combined.
There is a bill now before congress re-
ported by the republican committee
that turns over to the national banks
the absolute control of the paper money
of this country. 1t provides for the re-
tirement of the greenbacks by an issue
of bonds drawing two and one-half per
cent; it provides that banks shall be
permitted to issue UP to the par value
of the bonds and without the 10 per
cent. tax on circulation and this shall
be reduced to a small fraction of one
per cent. Here is your evidence of good
republican policy. They want to issue
bonds in place of greenbacks and tax
the people to pay the interest on the
bonds and then they refuse the tax that
banks now pay on the circulation that
they have. Why pile up the taxes on
the people and lower the taxes on the
banks?"
An Unnecessary Burden.
| In conclusion, Mr.. Bryan declared
| against the increase of the Standing ar
| my, denouncing it as an unnecessary
| burden upon the people. He urged that
| the Porto Ricans should be given their
choice between annexation and a re-
! public Of their own.
Reference to the United States as a
| bully for striking down the Filipino ma
| tives created the greatest enthusiasm
| of the night. There was a mighty dem
| onstration when he said that it was
this country that had inspired the Fill
| Pine with love of liberty. The Ameri-
| can government Of the Filipinos is a
| despotism, he declared, and this was
| loudly applauded. 1t was not surpris-
ing. he said, that country that should
send to England for financial policy,
| as it had two years ago. should now
send there for colonial policy. This
| was received with great applause.
| When he intimated that he wanted to
|
requested him to talk more on imperial
ism. When he said I'VE may fail in
| 1900" there were tumultuous cries of
| mo, never
When he concluded another hurricane
of applause broke forth. Men and
women acted wildly Men again threw
up their hats and women waved their
| cloaks and handkerchiefs and shouted
and jumped up and down.
Mr.. Bryan spoke one hour and nine
minutes. He was in as good voice when
| he finished as when he began.
When Mr.. Bryan had finished there
| was great rush to him on the plat
| form. He was almost suffocated in
the crush. 1t required five policemen
| to force a way through the crowd for
him. He shook hands on all sides.
OF the dinner, Mr.. Bryan said: This
is the greatest dinner I ever attended.
| I think it is the greatest ever had in
| the United States. The hearts of the
| people are all right"