Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-01-19
THAT GOLD STANDARD PLANK.
How Wall Street Gradually Forced the Re-
publican Party to Surrender.
Register-Dem

ton and utter dishonesty employed in
fooling the average Republican voter,
the "gold plank" in the last Republi-
can national convention affords a
good illustration.
The Republican party had always
declared for silver, for its coinage into
full legal tender, standard money
It was for bimetallism, and even the
rabid Oregonian denied few years
back that the party intended to adopt
the single gold standard; said we
were all Glars" and 'blackguards,"
and denied that there was the slightest
intention of retiring the greenbacks /;
said the party was for bimetallism
and always would be.
But there were people who could see
a plan gradually unfolding to put the
party on record for the single gold
standard. 1t was to he done slowly
and with the greatest caution, pre-
ceding each step with voluminous
arguments" in the subsidized daily
press for this and that particular
phrasing of the party's position on
the silver question.
While the gold gamblers have had
control OF the party machinery for
many years, it was not willing to risk,
even in 1896, an open avowal for the
single gold standard. So plank was
put in the platform at st. Louis declar-
ing for (but never intending to
free coinage of silver by in
agreement, stipulating
that for the present the party was
opposed to independent free coinage
but would endeavor to secure an "in-
ternational agreement" pending the
success OF this proposition the party
would insist on "maintaining the
present gold standard"
This was fine shuffiing indeed !!
What monumental hypocrisy and
rank humbuggery!
But it won its point, for enough
silver men were thus held in line to
swing the election to Mckinley, who
had in secret previously pledged him.
self to stand by the goldbugs.
Later Commission" was ap.
pointed to look after the "interna.
tiOnal agreement" fake, and while they
spent the 100000 appropriation,
Mckinley, Secretary Gage and Am.
bassador Hay conspired TO entirely
defeat the proposition to secure an
inte irrational monetary conference
looking to the restoration OF free coin
age of silver in the various leading
nations of the world.
Briefly, this is the record. The
gold standard has been maintained"
according to the platform, and now
the money power makes bold to play
its highest trump card and force the
Republican Congress and President to
firmly fix it by national law.
William Yates Perot, who, at the
time of the national convention in
1896, was an assistant Secretary of
the 80 called National Sound Money
League" now says:
When it became evident to Hanna,
as McKinley's representative, that he
majority of the delegates
to the st. Louis conven ton be refused
absolutely to have the word "gold"
appear in the platform, claiming it
would insure defeat.
But the pressure brought to bear
by the money power of Wall street
was something overwhelming, and the
desired gold plank, hedged about by a
shrewd juggle of words as above re-
cited, was finally made part of the
Republican platform.
Hanna was for the gold standard,
but he was afraid of the revolt of the
silver men in the party,
which, as it was, came near defeating
Mckinley. Hence he desired q sop
thrown to silver and the word "gold"
left out entirely. Hanna wanted to
win, and he made no bones about it.
But the money kings put up plenty of
Doodle, the monopolies shelled out
most literally, and the laborers we're
bulldozed with the threat of loss of
work and starvation of their wives
and children, and Hanna finally pulled
through.
Now the gold power, bold in their
undisputed posfession of every branch
of the government. make known
their intentions in plain language.
Mr.. Perot, who is in the confidence of
the Sound Money League" says:
The great business interests wall
Street bankers and gold gamblers] are
now banded together and represented by
active agents in every State in the
Union. 1t is in response to their re-
quest that the gold standard is now be-
ing so plainly enacted into law that even
Bryan, were he by any chance elected
President, would have to stand by it.
These are the facts and every well-in-
formed business man knows it.
Congress will pass the gold standard
bill, and Mckinley, the trucking,
cowardly slave of the great money oc-
topus, will sign it.
Republicans, here is the record OF
your party on the silver question.
Dare you dispute it?