Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-09-20

10 protect individuals and COmmunl-
tics from discrimination and the pub
lie at large from unjust and unfair
transportation rates.
The Financial Plank.
The platform reiterates the demand
contained in the Chicago platform for
IN American financial system made
by the American people for them
selves. The purpose of such system
is to restore and maintain bimetallic
may be no uncertainty as to the meth
cd OF restoring bimetallism, the specif-
ic declaration in favor of free and I'M
limited coinage at the existing ratio
Of JIG to 1, independent of the action
Of other nations, is repeated. In 1896
the Republican party recognized the
necessity for bimetallism by pledging
the party to an earnest effort to Sc
cure an international agreement for
the free coinage of silver and the
president, Immediately after his in
auguration. by authority of congress.
appointed a commission composed of
distinguished citizens to visit Europe
and solicit foreign aid Secretary Hay,
in letter written to Lord Aldenham
in November, 1898. and afterwards pub
lished in England declared that at
that time the president and a majority
of his cabine. still believed in the great
desirabiity of an international agree
mo tha ~,
standard, but that it did not seem
opportune to reopen the negotiations
Just then. The financial law enacated
less than year ago contains con-
GLIDING section declaring that the
measure was not intended to stand in
the way of the restoration of bimetal-
lisln. whenever it could be done by
cooperation with other nations The
platform submitted to the last Repub-
lican convention With the Endorsement
of the administration again suggested
the possibility of securing foreign aid
in restoring silver.
Now the Republican party, for the
first time. openly abandons its add
vocacy OF the double standard. and i'm
dorses the monetary system which it
has so often and so cmphatically CON
demned. The Democratic party, on the
contrary. remains the steadfast advo-
cate of the gold and silver coinage OF
the constitution. and is not willin.
that other nations shall determine for
us the tlme and manner of restoring
silver to its ancient place as a stand
ard money. The ratio of l6 to is
not only the ratio now existing be-
tween all the gold and silver dollars i'm
circulation in this country, ratio
which even the Republican admins
but it is the only ratio advocated by
those who are seeking to reopen the
mints. Whether the senate, now hos
tile to bimetallism, can be changed
during this campaign or the campaign
of 1902 can only be determined after
the votes are counted. but neither the
present nor the future political com
pleNion of congress has prevented OF
should prevent an announcement OF
the partys position upon this subject
in unequivGcal terms.
The currency bill, which received the
sanction of the Executive and the Re
publican members Of the House ant
Senate, justiies the warming given by
| the Democratic party in 1896 1t was
| then predicted that the Republican
party would attempt to retire the
| greenbacks although the party and its
leaders studiously concealed their in
tentions. That purpose is now plair
and the people must choose between
the retention of the greenbacks. ISSUED
and controlled in volume by the gov
eminent, and national bank note cur
rency issued by banks and controlled
in their own interests. If the ma
tional bank notes are to be secured b,
bonds. the currency system now sup
ported by the Republican party in
wolves permanent and increasin,
debt, and so long as this system
stands. the financial classes will b,
tempted to throw their powerful intlu
ence upon the side of any measur;
which will contribute to the size ant
permanercy of national debt 1t il
hardly conceivable that the American
people will deliberately turn from TIN
debt-paying policy of the past. to tn,
dangerous doctrine of perpetual bonds
Election of Senators by .,.e People.
The demand for a constitutions
amendment providing for the election
of Senators By direct vote Of the PEG
pie, appears for the first time in
! Democratic National platform, but
! resolution proposing such an amend