The San Francisco call., 1899-04-14
MILWAUKEE, OBSERVES
JEFFERSON DAY
The Features of Big Banquet Are
Speeches by Bryan and Car
ter Harrison.

bSA AAolA A10Oi4s
MILWAUKEE, April 13.-The jefferson
Club of Milwaukee observed the day in
most fitting manner by a banquet at the
Plankinton House tonight, which was at
tended by over 400 guests. Colonel w. ].
Bryan of Nebraska was the guest of honor
and delivered the principal address. Del
egations of Democrats were in attendance
from many towns throughout the State
and nearly all the Democrats from the
State Legislature were present. Colonel
Bryan was escorted on an early train
from Chicago by large delegation from
that city, and Mayor Harrison came later,
also with a large number of escorts.
The banquet hall was beautifully dec
Grated with the national colors. Bryan
spoke on Democracy" He said in part:
We are now near enough TO the next cam
paign TO be able to form some idea OF the
lines along which the contest will be fought
and am taking no risk when l say that those
who in 1896 gave their allegiance to the Chicago
platform are united to-day in the determine
ton that no steps taken in 80 shall be re-
traced. The platform applied to the conditions
then existing, the principles which had been
Democratic in the beginning of the govern
ment. Suggestions that abandon the money
question sometimes come from those who de-
serted the party in 90 but those suggestions
not supported by evidence tending TO show
that the organization in Sc was wrong but
are predicated upon the theory that the issue
upon which the party once lost can never be
revived, and what seems most strange. this
argument is made by those who have followed
a different course in the past
In 1883 Mr.. Cleveland was defeated the
tariff issue, and yet the tariff was made the
main issue in 1892 and Mr.. Cleveland was elect
ed. Mr.. Harrison ives defeated largely on ac-
count of the Mckinley bill, and four years
later the author of the bill was nominated on
a platform reaffrming the be!lef IN protec-
ton and was successful. Thus it is seen that
in two instances recently losing issue in one
campaign became winning issue in the cam
paign following.
The test ought to be whether the issue
has been presented before but whether the po-
SirlOn taken is right If the gold standard was
unmerited in 1896 it is unmerited now. II its
maintenance was a detriment 10 the interests
of the people of this country then ii is a detrt-
ment now. Ii in 1896 il was so hurtful that
the Republicans promised TO put forth their
best effort substitute international bimetal-
lism for it and after the election was still so
hurtful that the President sent a commission
to Europe to secure foreign aid in abandoning
ii, what has happened since then 10 make the
American people accept it as blessing?
If increased discovery OF goId in Alaska had
been OF any advantage TO the Cnlted states,
II. is but another evidence that the quantta-
tive theory of money is correct. II a large bal
Of trade in favor of the United States
gives any relief because of the money thus
brought into the country it is an additional
argument In favor of the quantitative theory
times will be made better by the return of the
double standard and by the increased supply
Of standard money thus furnished for the busi-
ness Of the country
While it is unnecessary TO discuss the ques-
ton of ratio until some other ratio is proposed
1t may not be out OF place 70 Suggest mat 10
TO l being the ratio at which the present gold
and silver coin circulate, II IS the natural ratio
at which the mints should be reopened. 10
increase the ratio by increasing the size OF
the dollar would necesstate the reconage of
our present silver dollars INTO less NUMBER OF
dollars and the increase of the ratio made
throughout the world would result in a large
decrease in the volume of standard money, and
since the value of a dollar depends on the
number of dollars such change would neces-
sarlv increase the purchasing power of a dol
lar and increase the burden of debts. 1t
would be equivalent TO a transfer by legisla-
ton of a vast amount of wealth from the pro-
ducing classes to the money owning classes.
The attempt OF the Republican party to re-
tire the greenbacks and substitute for them
greater prominence than it enjoyed in 1896.
During the war the national bank note never
became more valuable than the greenback be
cause il was redeemable in the greenback The
national bank note is good only because the
National Government stands an indorser of
the bank If the value of the bank note is de-
pendent upon the Government, how it be
any better than the Government own paper,
ana why should the Government give ninety
banks a bonus to induce them to issue bank
notes which are in respect superior and in
some respects inferior to the greenbacks issued
by the Government and for which the people
pay bonus?
The trusts are now absorbing increasing
share of public attention because of their rapid
growth during the last two years. we had d
sugar trust and oil trust some years ago.
We have a biscuit trust and a match
trust and a meat trust-in fact trust in al
most everything that is used. The milk trust
reaches the infant he enters the world the
ice trust cools him in the summer, the coal
trust keeps him warm in the winter, while the
coffin trust waits to receive him when life
fitful dream is over The people are beginning
to see what the principle of monopoly really
means, and yet the principle Of monopoly. so
plainly illustrated by the industrial trusts,
does not differ at all from the principle of
monopoly which underlies both the gold stand
ard and the paper money trust.
The Democratic party is prepared TO face the
future and meet new issues without abandon
ing the old.
Ex-senator John L. Mitchell of Wiscon-
sin, whose theme was Thomas Jeffer-
SON" devoted his entire address to
eulogy of the founder of Democracy
John +. Doherty Of La Crosse answered
to the sentiment, "The Young Democra-
cy''; Thomas l.. Cleary of Painevlle on
Party Honesty Is Party Duty" Carter
H. Harrison of Chicago responded to
"Corruption in Politics. saying in part:
II iies IN the mower Of the Young Democracy
of the nation if it win but set to work in the
first trenches to carry forward the crusade of
been driven from high places, until honesty
shall control in every department of the mu-
nicipaI, the State and the national Gobern-
look far for an incentive. he example is set
for Il in the person of our national leader Two
wears ago the party made its fight under a
leader from private life so stainless with per
sonaI character so blameless that the people
soiio,vsd him and follow him still with such
zeal as the Crusaders displayed in the paladins
% Ours uig' is the party of the people. Unless we
serve the people honestly and fairly we are
faifbIess to our trust. Duty requires us to
strike the first blow at corruption within our
own party ranks Let the WORD go forth the
Democracy will not tolerate man. no matter
how profuse his professed devotion to the party
creed who does not place his obligation to the
public above any and every personal consid-
Grafton II Democracy means anything it
means the honest service of the people. No
man can be a Democrat whose integrity is not
above suspicion He who seeks public office
for private gain is a traitor to everything for
which Democracy stands and for him there
sbould he no place within the party ranks. IT
should be the duty OF every true Democrat TO
scourge him from the temple of the party
faith. ,,.,
Mayor David S. Rose of Milwaukee re-
sponded TO Imperialism Judge II. w
Sawyer of Hartford on Shall Trusts and
Corpora tions Rule?' and George w. Peck
o., ..If q GnIdior Does not Like His Ra=