Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-02-19

washington, ID. c., February 1S.-y
Senator James X. Jones, chairman OF
the Democratic National Committee, in
an authorized interview to-day was
asked if in his opinion the Democrats
national convention of next year would
reafirm the Chicago platform. Ha
said:
TO say that the next Democratic
national convention will reaffirm tho
position taken by the convention in.
1896 is to assert what every candid
man, even slightly familiar with ex-
listing facts, knows to be true. 1t is as
certain as anything human can be that
the question of bimetallism will be-
the leading issue in the campaign next
year. And it is reasonable to expect
that the majority of the people viii
next time declare for the party which
means what it says and will redeem
its pledges, and that they will not
again be trieked into casting their
votes in favor of the enemies of tina
principles in which they believe"
'On what grounds do you base your
hopes for success next Year," was
asked.
Some of the reasons why am
strongly hopeful of the future of our
cause are as follows: In the campaign!
of 1896 both parties declared for BIZ
metallism; the Democrats for indie
pendent action by tho United States.
the Republicans for an international
agreement, which they pledged Them
selves to promote.
True, this declaration on the part
of the Republicans was only made to
catch votes, and because the party
leaders did not dare to so 70 the polls
without it. think that now no ona
any longer doubts that the fixed pur-
pose of those who controlled theseA
leaders was to maintain the gol(
standard. and to pIeve9.t. ~ omss
an International agreement. The d9s,.fV
laration, however, served IT'S purpose.
and vast numbers of sincere bi-metal-
lists were persuaded to vote tho Re-
publican ticket. In the belief that they
were voting for an honest effort to-
secure international bi-metallism. Tho
leaders who were responsible for this
trick have already committed their
party to tho single gold standard. so
far as they can, and II they dare speak
out honestly in their next national
platform It will declare for tho slngls
gold standard"
On being asked IL he believed thae
the cause OF bimetallism was improv-
ing, he said:
There are as many believers I'm
bimetallism to-day In the United
States as there ever were. and all these
doubtless are now convinceaA That tho
only way TO accomplish htaS&HAlsm ia
through the action OF the Demccratluk
party. The great effort to stop thefal
of prices-the shrinking OF valuesN
and to relieve the distress of buainea
resulting from these great evils, within
out doing injustice or injury TO any
class or business, Is being more and
more understood and commands fha
respect of honest and fair men always
when understood, and another cams
paign OF ridicule and abuse such as
that Of 1S96-whether dictated by ig-
norance or venality--cannot succeed
against temperate arguments and APP
peais for simple justice. when the peo-
pie have time TO fairly weigh tho ar
guments and form a deliberate 1udg-
ment.
There was great unrest and dissat-
isfaction in 1896 throughout tho coun-
try. resulting from falling prices and
shrinking values. The Republican
party promised that II they we're en-
trusted with power all this would bs
changed and that prosperity should
succeed existing conditions Mr.. Nc
kinney and the gold press now assure
the country that we have prosperity.
There is quite boom In stock gpecu-
latiOus IN Wall street. but Wall street
is not the country, as We believe. A
great famine and a short crop Of wheat
all over the world except ga the United
States naturally raised the price q
wheat. while these conditions lasted,
and the beuefcient effects Of this in
crease in the price Of wheat Is gtill
widely felt The beneficial effects Of
this temporary advance Ia the price Of
a single article, which was SO marked
in the short period it continued. is
likely to stimulate a desire for a re-
turn to that condition permanently
and an extension Of IL 20 all other pro-
ducts. This is our purpose. and was
our purpose In 1896. when the Repub.
rcan party denounced any effort to In
crease prices as a crime"
Asked how he accounted for the acs\
tivity In business. be answered.:
There has been necessarily an
creased demand for labor within
last few months, as the result of
Withdrawal Of large numbers n Az
can citizens from the ordinary wa
life 10 be employed in the army
places had to be aIled. -
been en- increased activ
mand for all prodn.ss -
essary to the maintenance
OF . large army. Bnt all
tons are in the very na
temporary, and all Of
they must pass away
the conditions which
life. Making due a -
nuence of these
present condition
is to-day as nue.
as much cause
1909 NJ relief