Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1899-01-19
The Cause of Free Silver.
republican leaders. Under the caption.
"A Word with Currency Reformers,' Is
the Post says:

republican leaders. Under the caption
"A Word with Currency Reformers,"
the Post says:
It might not be amiss for those who are
| demanding an extra session OF the Fifty
| sixth congress at the earliest practicable
date for the purpose Of passing a curren-
careful review in order to determine two
things: !. 1t would seem TO be expedient
| for them to ind out whether or not they
| have the votes-a majority in both houses
requisite for the passage of a bill that
would be satisfactory to the friends OF
| sound money. 2 Having the requisite
votes in combination of gold standard
men of both parties. could they put their
Of so seriously demoralizing the sound
| money forces as to render the outcome OF
| the campaign of 1900 extremely doubtful?
We do not believe there is sufficient vi
tally in the free coinage issue to war
rant the least hope or fear of the defeat
OF the gold forces in another battle OF the
standards, but IL seems to us quite posi-
bic TO reinforce the free coinage combina-
ton with new issue and with a good
republican party II that issue were forced
on them.
The currency reform for which an extra
session is demanded contemplates a good
deal that was not in the republican plat
form OF 1895 and could not safely have
tsee 1rgeu Dy one Pi or
the retirement Of the greenbacks and coin
notes. an aggregate of more than $780,
uiar plan for supplying other currency IN
place of those notes there would be strong
and persistent opposition to their retire.
ment- Whether logical or illogical. sound
o. unsound. such a proposition exists in
the republican party. in the citadel OF
has to be reckoned with in politics. It
does not consent to argue and has little
amenability to reason. but it controls cleo
greenback sentiment in the republican par
ty by taking such action against that fea-
authorized by a vote of the people?
But there is no popular or approved plan
suggested whereby the gap occasioned by
wipe out the legal tenders and provide a
bank currency in lieu thereof win furnish
need in al emergency. VIII ii not also fur
nish them the votes they need? That is a
question which the Post commends to the
serious consideration OF all who are impa-
tient for currency reform legislation.
To have or not to have an extra ses-
sion of the new congress is the question
that is now worrying the heads of the
republicans. The truth is, now that
they will have possession of the whole
government after the 4th of next March.
they are frantically asking each other:
What shall we do with -" There's
the rub for in that extra session what
tunes they'll have wooling each other
must give them pause. AS long as they
cid not control the senate they could
talk splendiferously about what they
would do if they could. They appear to
be perfectly united. So soon, however,
as they have full swing it will be de-
veloped that they are as badly split un
the back as were the democrats in even
their worst estate. Already a close OBJ
server can mark the signs of rows and
wars and feuds impending. Some want
federal interference in the race troubles
of the south; others don't. Some desire
to enter upon universal land-gra bling
scheme; others don't, particularly the
venerable and cherubic Hoar. Some are
itching to amend the Dingley bill,
which both as revenue producer and
home industry protector has proved a
fat failure; others protest against fur
Their tariff tinkering, notably the be-
loved Dingley. Some want the gold
standard fastened on the country; 9TH
crs don't, especially Senator William
T.. Chandler. Some want Mckinley re-
nominated; others don't, and these lat
ter will rally round Thomas Bracket
Reed. the leviathan among republic
ans. And so on TO the end-the bitter
end. From the day the Fifty-sixth con-
gress is organized it will be pull Dick.
rull devil, among the republicans. and
with the chances decidedly favorable
to Old Horny.-Champ Clark's Wash
inpton Letter