The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-09
TRUTHS TERSELY TOLD.
Opinions of Hon. G. G. Conn. Formerly
Democratic Congressman.

Hon. Charles G.. Conn. of Elkhart is a
manufacturer of musical instruments and
represented the Thirteenth district i'm Con-
gress as a Democrat from 1898 to 1895. Mr..
Conn is now owner and editor of Elkhart
Truth, daily newspaper, which is strong
ly opposed to Mr.. Bryan's 16-to-l silver
scheme. This opposition has angered the
regular Democratic organization of Elk
hart county. and an effort is being made TO
start newspaper in opposition to Truth.
Mr.. Conn discusses the scheme in his paper
of Aug. 2. saying:
Truth is for sale but is too expensive a
plant TO be purchased on a door to door
canvass, and as there seems TO be no
mOneyed Democrats interested in the above
call it is evidently a scheme to raise funds
to start a paper. Every dollar in
vested In such an enterprise will be lost.
There can be no disputing il, and the pub
lie il hereby warned against a proposition
that bears on its face evidences of sharp
practice. Once again / repeat that Truth
is for sale to the right parties, but it could
not be bought at any price on scheme TO
collect money from people who cannot af-
lofd the loss, Let Democrats with money
come forward
1.-The real cause for dissatisfaction with
Truth can doubtless be found in my opposi-
ton TO the free-silver 16-to-1 proposition. j
am unalterably opposed TO a financial pol
ley that has already cost this country near
y ".
L believe 1t to be the duty of every one
interested in the welfare OF the masses to
lend all the influence he can command 20
Its defeat and humiliation. 1t is not
question of Democracy or party salvation.
The evil is too deep rooted for that. IL is
question of protecting wage earners from
loss OF employment, OF preventing a
monetary crisis that would swallow up and
destroy half the business interests of the
country, of perpetuating and extending our
present era of prosperity. All other polit-
lcal issues are subordinate and should be
left alone until our monetary system is
permanently established on safe and sub
stantial basis In all things not except
ing the money question, / consider myself
a better Democrat than many who are now
looked upon as Democratic standard bear
ers, but / am not willing to accept a rule
and-ruin policy nor submit the welfare of
my employees to the tender mercies of poll
ticians who believe in party name right
or wrong, first, last and all the time, even
II IL afterwards opens wide the doors of
our poorhouses.
1.-The test of Democratic feaIty. now
adays, according TO the above declaration
is not a strict adherence to well defined
Democratic principles or earnest desire
to do the greatest good to the greatest
number. but IL must be blind submission
10 platform issues, which If put in force,
would create distress and suffering among
those whom the Democratic party is
trusts, Imperialism or any other public bur-
den can be made to supplant the memory
OF the hard times brought about by the free
SILVER discussion curing the early part or
the last decade. 1t was not the Wilson bill,
a Democratic administration or any other
cause than the threatened change OF our
monetary basis which created that distress.
The same threat exists now and will con-
tinue to do so until swept out of the public
mind by an overwhelming popular vote
similar 10 that which obliterated the green
back fallacy. When that Is done IL will be
time enough to attack trusts and imperial
ism and give them their Just dues. At
present the evil of their existence is in
significant compared to the danger OF an
other industrial upheavaL
Contrast the difference in the volume
of business done now with that OF four
years ago. after nearly seven years of
and answer IL you desire ID go back TO
those times. IL Is not necessary to go
outside of our own city to obtain the in
formation. The happy experience of Elk
hart is that OF nearly every city, town
and hamlet in the United States. Take as
an example my own business affairs Dur
ing the month of July; 1896. / gave en-
ployment to Isl people. During last month,
four years afterward, / employed ga wage
earners-an increase of 60 per cent. Dur
ing the month of July. 1896. i paid $3.50 TO
the Isl employees. Last month the pay roll
for the ga employees was s11.4Ss. an in
crease Of A1SS-
1.-THE same rate of increase holds good
I'm nearly every factory i'm the country
and published records show that there are
few idle working people. During the year
OF 1885 IL was estimated that there were
over two millions OF wage earnerS out OF
employment. Do you want TO return to
that lamenta6le condition? Is there so
much fat on your ribs that you can en-
dure another period of semi-starvation?
THE monetary report OF the United
States treasurer for last month shows that
there are over ass millions of gold I'm the
treasury. the largest amount ever held at
any one time by the government Russia
and England are both negotiating loans in
this country. and we have become a credit
or instead OF borrowing nation. The de-
velopment Of South Africa. which must fol-
low the Boer war and the new markets
10 be opened in the Orient will tax our re-
sources TO the utmost TO supply the in
creased demand provided we are I'm a po-
sition 10 meet H. But II can never be done
with a financial panic on our hands or with
as our commercial policies must be sound
and progressive II is folly 10 expect un-
safe. unsonnd policies to insure national
prosperity"