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THE PEOPLE’S PARTY PAPER.
Established October 15, 1891.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
OUR PUBLISHING COMPANY.
THOS. E. WATSON, - - - President.
MACKIE STURGIS, • ■ Secty-Tre»surer.
AUSTIN HOLCOMB, - Advertising Mgr.
Office 57 1-2 South Broad Street.
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OFFICIAL ORGAN PEOPLE’S PARTY
STATE OF GEORGIA.
That McKinley Fake.
(The only reply to be made to the
charge that Mr. Watson advised any
Populists, anywhere and at any time,
to vote for McKinley, is that it is false.)
T. E. W.
Mr. T, E. Watson: —Sometime since
I sent a copy of the P, P. P. to a friend
of mine, or I should say a political
friend of Mary Ann Butler. ' I don’t
remember the date of the paper sent,
but it was the one calling on Butler or
any of his friends to tell where the
People’s Party was at.
I enclose the letter from J. F. Amis
in order that you may reply to his
charge as to you advising the Populists
cf'Jcorgia to vote for McKinlgy.
1 believe some’kfncTof union will be
entered into in this state betweon the
Populists, Democrats and so-called
union party on a platform with free
silver, initiative, referendum and im
perative mandate. The several parties
to maintain their party organization.
They call it union but it seems to me
to be miss-named.
Politics seems to me to be in a jum
ble. As for my part, I would hail
with joy a party who would declaim
for direct legislation, government
ownership and absolute money based
upon all the resources of one country.
If some such move is not made I
fully believe the Democratic party will
make such inroads into our ranks as to
virtually destroy our party.
But lam taxing your time. Make
what ever use of Amis’ letter you see
fit. With kind regards, I remain yours
fraternally, S. 0. Spabks.
Blue River, Ore.
P. S. J. F. Amis was editor of the
defunct Kansas Broad Axe. It died of
fusion in '96. Great is fusion, S.
Rallying the Forces.
The year 1897 has past and gone, and
left behind it many in a destitute con
dition, with watery eyes, broken hearts
and ragged backs. The politicians
told us five years ago if we would elect
a Democrat, president and both bran
ches of the national legislation and
give them a chance, that all the ills
would be moved and prosperity would
speedily follow. The Democrats got
all they wanted or asked for, and had
no excuse and relief did not come, and
behold the country was put to mourn
under that notorious administration.
The laboring class of people were
sorely grieved. Their eyes wet with
briny tears, their hearts made to
bleed and their backs clothed with
rags. Many a bright mind has grown
up in ignorance, hearts made to bleed,
and beauty clothed in tatters by class
legislation by that august body. Any
man or men, party or parties, who dis
criminate against the masses in favor
of the classes is not worthy of support
and should be wiped out of existence.
We again in ’96 were promised if Mc-
Kinley, with his tariff measure, was
successful, that we poor farmers would
be certain to get 8 cents for our cotton,
our eyes be dried, our hearts healed
and our backs well clothed, all kinds of
ills remedied and this nation made to
feel as proud as a boy with his first
pants. Uncle Sam would have to build
additions to his treasury to hold the
money. It is just a little strange that
an administration which can pull wheat
past the dollar mark, cannot pull cot
ton past the 4J< cent mark. Let us not
be fooled any longer, think for our
selves, vote for ourselves, and as the
new song goes, vote as we pray. We
hope the time will soon come when the
socalled good people will vote as they
pray. The people in Wilkinson by
mismanagement let the Democrats get
control of the county again. We must
redeem the county again, and now is
the time to commence work, start with
the new year and keep our lines well
closed up, all work and all work to
gether, make a strong pull, a long pull
and pull altogether, and the victory
is ours. Start with the new year and
. let no one be idle and work until the
last ballot is counted and victory will
crown our labors.. Observer
See special premium offer of Cotton
Wobld without extra charge, Sent
with any club order.
Steve Clay’s heme is in Marietta, Ga., where a munici-
AS YE SOW pal election was recently held, which for open-faced
fraud, and the bribery and debauchery of electors was
SHALL YE RE •> never equalled in Georgia outside of Augusta
All the candidates were Democrats, and as there was
no common political enemy to defraud and thereby secure unanimity among
the Democrats, the defeated faction assumed a virtue they had not and cried,
fraud I fraud!! fraud !! ! and instituted legal proceedirgs to prove it.
The victorious faction retaliated with counter charges of fraud, and prepared
lists of illegal votes cast for the minority candidates and acts of illegality to
fully rebut the hypocritical claim to fairness.
The condition of affairs promised much towards exposing the corrupt Demo
cratic election methods in Georgia—especially in the home county and town of
Senator Steve Clay, chairman of the State Democratic Executive Committee,
The old adage “when thieves fall out honest men get their reward” was on
the verge of being verified, when Steve Clay put in his appearance with his
Senatorial beaver hat and spike tail dress suit.
He sw’ung his political whip over the heads of the contending forces, and
corralled them with the ease of an experienced steer driver.
A truce was declared pending negotiations for a peaceful, quiet, adjustment
of the differences among the office-seekers or pie hunters. The negotiations
resulted in both factions agreeing to have the election declared off, a new set of
men for mayor and aidermen to be selected by Mr. Clay and his friends, and no
prosecutions for violating the election laws of the State to be instituted by
either faction. All of which was duly consumated, and peace again reigned in
Marietta.
To imagine that Judge Gober was ignorant of the terms of peace—(immunity
from prosecution for buying votes, aiding and abetting men to illegally vote,
and otherwise violating the election laws of the state) would discredit the
bonds of political rascality which has ever bound he and Clay together.
Week before last, the Superior Court of Cobb county met and Judge Gober
proceeded to charge the Grand Jury upon the sanctity of the ballot-box in a
republican government. How it should be safely guarded and protected against
frauds of all kinds, and the duty of the grand jury to make diligent inquiry
into the charges of illegal voting and violations of the election laws in the late
municipal election in Marietta. Knowing all the time that every Democrat in
Marietta had been bound by the Steve Clay treaty of peace not to prosecute one
another for illegal voting or violation of the election laws at said election, and
that said treaty if faithfully observed would prevent the grand jury from get
ting sufficient evidence to indict any one fur practicing the methods adopted
and advised by chairman Clay in 1894 to cheat Jas. K. Hines, Populist, out of
the Governorship and save Georgia to the Democratic party.
Up to the present wilting the Clay peace treaty has been faithfully adhered
to. The grand jury has been unable to get sufficient evidence to indict any
individual for violating the ELECTION laws under the Judge’s charge.
True, they have indicted two citizens, for carrying concealed weapons and
they have been convicted of that crime and the Democratic press is trying to
make that appear as a vindication of the outraged election laws. The jury in
their general presentments say:
“After Investigating, as best we could the recent city election in Marietta we
are satisfied that law and order were violated by the wholesale. Money was
spent lavishly and much whisky used to influence voting. The repeating of
votes was largely indulged in and EVERY law of the land tending to uphold
FAIR elections and secure an HONEST choice by an intelligent and patriotic
people, outrageously run over. * * In order to purify the ballot box
and secure fair elections in the future we recommend adoption of registra
tion system Public sentiment in Marietta is so favorable to thefbauds
AND CORRUPTION PRACTICED IN THE RECENT ELECTION THAT IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSI
BLE TO GET AT THE FACTS IN THE CASE.”
‘ Satisfied that law and order were violated by the wholesale but unable to
get evidence to indict the rascals” is the grand jury’s honest reply to the farci
cal charge of a corrupt judiciary.
Why the grand jury was unable to get evidence to indict upon, when the vio
lators of the election laws were in everybody’s mouth, finds explanation when
they say: “public sentiment in Marietta is so favorable to the fraudsand
corruptions practiced that it is almost impossible to get at the facts in the
ease. ”
Until it is shown that there are more potent political powers in Marietta
than that exerted by Steve Clay and Geo. Gober the public must accept these
peculiar findings of the grand jury as a just arraignment of these two promi
nent moulders of Democratic sentiment in their home town.
There is not an intelligent Democrat in Georgia conversant with the methods
advised by Chairman Clay in the conduct of the Gubernatorial campaign of 1894
who does not know that W, Y. Atkinson was. made Governor by the identical
methods which were practiced in the recent municipal election at Mr. Clay’s
home. It was a repetition of the Gubernatorial election condensed and revised
for home rule in Mr. Clay’s own bailiwick.
There is not an intelligent Democrat in Marietta who does not know, if he
does ffbt believeTthat Steve Clay’s unlatr -methods in that campaign were a
greater recommendation for Senatorial honors before a Democratic legislature,
than ability or fitness and that he owed his political preferment over his com
petitors to that one fact.
Therefore it follows, as natural as water runs down hill, that gentlemen as
piring for political honors in Mr. Clay’s town should practice the methods
which successfully landed Steve in the U. S. Senate instead of the pen. There
is the origin of the sentiment which is “so favorable to the frauds and corrup
tion practiced in the recent election that it is almost impossible to get at the
facts.”
That Mr. Clay engineered the treaty of peace which bound both factions not
to prosecute viola* ors of the election laws for the “frauds and corruption prac
ticed in the recent election” has been openly charged. There is the “fact”
which prevented the grand jury from getting sufficient “facts” to indict and
bring to punishment Mr, Clay’s imitators.
Every Democrat upon the grand jury who knew thoroughly understood the
mockery of virtuous indignation which permeated his honors charge. They
could not help recalling that thrice in his short judicial life he had escaped the
disgrace of impeachment by the skin of his teeth through the partisanship and
lobby influences of the “men who control the Democratic party. First in 84
or 85 when articles of impeachment were preferred by the legislature, and the
Hon. A. O. Bacon skillfully succeeded in getting it squashed and a coat of white
wash applied. Second, when Gov. Northen in ’93 in his message to the General
Assembly called attention to his unjudicial conduct in a case in South Georgia.
Third, when Yancey Carter asked the legislative investigating committee to
broaden their duty and give Mr. Gober a chance to clear his judicial character.
Could the grand jury help feeling that the whole business was a judicial
farce,or help knowing that the Democratic leaders in Marietta were responsible
for the “sentiment” which kept “.facts” out of their reach, Mac.
We are unadvised as to what was done by the re-
THE MEETING OF organization committee at its meeting at St. Louis on
the 12th inst, except what we have seen in the Associ-
THE REORGANIZA- ate( j p ress dispatches, as published in the Democratic
TION COMMITTEE. L p ee k who attended the meeting will pre-
sent his view of the proceedings m the next issue of the People’s Party Paper.
The dispatches say that chairman Butler and the National Executive commit
teemen. except two, declined to attend the meeting, or at least were absent.
The two who did attend were cordially received and in the appointment of
committees were given important recognition.
The time for the assembling of the next Presidential Convention is to be
decided by a referendum vote of the rank and file of the party, three dates
being proposed for ballots. Early, medium and late.
An address is to be prepared by a committee and issued to the people.
Having briefly stated what was done we can only speculate as to what effect
it will have upon the present and future of the People’s Party.
That the rank and file lost confidence in the judgment of chairman Butler
and his committee for the various deals they made with the Democrats in the
conduct of the last Presidential campaign prejudicial to Populist interest was
evidenced by the rank and file demanding and supporting the call for the Nash
ville Conference.
Chairman Butler and his committee were privileged, even if they had not
been invited, to attend that conference and advise and consult for the best in
terest of the party. They were officers of the party and it was their duty to
attend such an important gathering of the rank and file of the Populist army.
But they did not attend. On the contrary they remained as far away as possi
ble and ridiculed the action of the conference.
The mistakes and bad judgment made and displayed at St. Louis in 1896 and
during the Presidential campaign of that year, and the failure of chairman
Butler and his committee to meet and advise with the rank and file conference
demanded the adoption of drastic measures to prevent the certain disintrega
tion of the People’s Party and the absorption of all our reform work by Bryan
ites and Silverites.
Recognizing the impending danger the Nashville conference appointed a
Reorganization Committee to rally the discouraged soldiers, heal dissensions,
and prepare the army for the great battle of 1900.
Milton A. Park was made chairman, and has pushed the work of his commit
tee with courtesy to chairman Butler and his committee and with patriotic
faithfulness to the true and tried soldiers of 1894.
Chairman Butler and his committee were invited to attend the meeting at St.
Louis on the 12th inst, for consultation. Only two of bis committee attended.
Why he and a majority of the National Executive Committee should persis
tently absent themselves from these important conferences of the rank and file
of the party needs explanation and a heap of it.
We have our private opinion—which we have frequently publicly expressed—
why chairman Butler so acts. He is a professional pie-hunter and will train
with any party or faction that will give him the largest dish of pie, and no
explanation he can make will go down with us unless preceded with confes
sions and works meet for repentance,
But the People’s Party grew when Marion Butler was training with the Re-
THE PEOPLE’S PARTY PAPER; ATLANTA, GEORGIA: FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1898
publicans to capture a seat in the United States Senate, and it would have con
tinued to grow when Marion Butler trained with Bryan and the Democrats if
he hadn’t choked the life out of it by reason of his position as chairman of its
national committee. It will take on new life and a second growth now that the
rank and file have demonstrated their independence of Butler bossiem.
The Southern Populists will stand by the action of the Reorganization com
mittee, and vote for a nominating convention to be held July 4th, 1898, when
the question is submitted.
We believe the Western Populists will join with us and that we will have the
encouragement of our faithful friends in the north and east.
Thus united, upon the broad principles of the Omaha platform, and opposi
tion to fusion we can rally around our own colors elect new officers open re
cruiting offices in the early summer and enlist an army of reformers sufficiently
strong to save the toilers of this country from industrial slavery. Mac.
After you have planted your corn and cotton seed do
ATTEND YOUR you depend upon the sun, moon and rain to plow, hoe
and cultivate it, or do you take your plow and hoe and
COUNTY MEETINGS, give it your attention and labor ?
Well, you might as reasonably expect your corn and
cotton to grow and mature a crop without your hoe, plow and labor as to ex
pect the political reform you advocate to get upon the statute books, without
your presence and counsel at the meetings of your political associates
The failure of the rank and file of the Democratic party to attend their coun
ty and State meetings is one of the reasons why it drifted under the bossism of
the few “men who control” and became as great an oppressor of the common
people as the Republican party.
Your party—the People’s Party—was organized to overthrow bossism and
plate the people in control. This object can never be obtained unless the rank
and file of the party will attend the meetings and direct the policy of the party.
Allow a few men whom you have confidence in today to take the entire man
agement and direction of your political affairs without the aid and assistance of
your presence, and to-morrow you will be as badly boss-ridden as your Demo
cratic brother. Human nature is the same the world over and the average
Populist is not an exception. _
Prompt attendance upon your party meetings is as necessary to political
purity as vigilance is to liberty, and is the surest remedy against the great evil
of a few men controlling the many.
It is so natural for selfishness to warp the best intellect and tarnish the pur
est heart that we at times almost despair of ever seeing this great country
freed from the grasp of Wall and Lombard streets and restored to the rule of
the people, but when we remember the rapid growth of the People’s Party
from ’9O to ’94 hope assumes the place of despair, and our faith in the integrity
and patriotism of the common people is as fresh as the morning glory.
If they would only arouse themselves and give a moiety of their time and
attention to the meetings of their party the great reforms which they advocate
would sweep this country. Political bossism of the few “men who control”
would pass its sceptre to the people and peace and plenty would bless the indus
trial masses instead of the monied classes. Mac.
S. M. Owens, the fusion leader of Minnesota, and its
IT CAN’T BE DID. manipulator, Hon. J. M. Bowler, are endeavoring to
read Hon. Ignatius Donnelly out of the People’s Party.
The latter named gentleman, Maj. Bowler, who has more brass than brains
wrote Mr. Donnelly a threatening letter telling him that unless he submitted
to the leadership of fusionist Owens and followed him submissively into the
Democratic camp, that he, Donnelly, would have to leave the People’s Party.
Mr. Donnelly has borne with great and commendable patience the tirades of
misrepresentation connected and published by these two misguided fusion gen
tlemen until further forbearance ceased to be a virtue, and in the last issue of
the ‘ Representative” the “sage of Mininger” replies to the Hon. J. M. Bowler,
from which we extract the following: “Go soak your money-swelled head,
Major, in ice-cold whiskey and get it back to the original proportions of insig
nificancy to which God and nature had assigned it. We all know your little
game, Major—you want to be a ‘fusion’ candidate for lieutenant governor and
then push John Linn, nolens volen, into the United States Senate and succeed
him as governor.
‘ Oh Lord ! you are no more fitted to be governor of Minnesota than a hog is
to be professor of Mathematics in the State University.
“Retire into the infinitude of your own insignificance, Major, and trouble the
world no longer.”
Mr. Donnelly was one of the founders of the People’s Party, an author of
world-wide fame, and has done more brain and financial work to establish the
reform sentiment which crystalized in the People’s Party than ten thousand men
of the mental calibre of his assailants.
The pie hunters in the ranks of the People’s Party of Minnesota may hamper
its onward march to success by creating dissensions and thereby advance the
interest of monopolies and trusts, but jjhpy will never liv<? to tarnish the name
or reputation of brave Ignatius Donnelly. Mac.
ESTThe Banker’s Associations want this country to
STRAY SHOTS have “HONEST" money.* That’s the burden of their
anxious alarm. What this country needs is “honest”
ON THE WING- bankers and any kind of commodity will answer for
money.
t®”Uncle Sam is the only “honest” banker this country or any other country
ever had. He has never defaulted to note holder or depositor.
Bankers redeem their notes because Uncle Sam promises to do
it. They don’t pay their depositors because Uncle Sam don’t promise to do it.
£3?"When a National Bank fails (and they fail every day in the year) Uncle
Sam keeps his promise and redeems every note issued, but the National Banker
never observes his promise to pay depositors, and these poor devils have to take
what little they can get.
[®"’‘Honest” bankers make “honest” money. money can’t and
won’t make “honest” bankers. Got the cart before the horse, gentlemen.
C3T"No law can make a banker “honest” but law can make “honest” money.
BSF'Before the war, when 4,000,000 negroes were personal property, and the
husband owned all the property of the woman he married, the most stringent
bank laws failed to protect depositors and note holders against loss by bank
failures. How much less protection would note holders and depositors now
have since the negroes are freed, and the wife can own everything the husband
was supposed to possess ?
commodity can no more make “honest” money than one swallow can
make summer.
[ST'A goose can stand on one leg but he can’t walk without more than one.
A country can exist with a single gold standard but it can’t prosper and grow.
EEg?"Any kind of money is “honest” if it pays debts. It is the want of honesty
in man that makes money dishonest.
Government is the only power that can make money, and as the
people is the government any kind of money it makes would be honest money,
for no man can afford to dishonor himself.
as practiced by Uncle Sam since Abe Lincoln’s death, is
like the game of keno. The longer the people play at it the poorer they grow.
HSF'An “honest” dollar, like an honest man, builds up industries in time of
peace and fights battles in time of war. What industry in America was built
by gold ; what battle won ?
[®”Gold money is a thief and a coward. It robs industry of thrift in time of
peace, and at the smell of gun powder tucks it tail between its legs and skee
daddies to some bomb proof.
[®"There are 12,000,000 voters in America who know and believe that the
making of money is purely a function of the Government,and there are perhaps
4,000 voters who exercise that function themselves and they very naturally
wish to continue said exercise.
the future by the past there will be, after the next national
election 12,000,000 fools and 4,000 sharpers, just as there are today.
J®” The difference between the temple at Jerusalem and the nation’s temple
at Washington is; Christ drove the Bankers from the former and the Bankers
have driven the doctrine of Christ from the latter. Mao.
Almost a year has gone by since a convention of del-
WORKAND REPORT egates chosen by the boards of trade aud kindred or
ganizations of sundry of our cities assembled in India-
OF THE MONE- napalis and assumed the name of “The Business Men’s
Monetary Convention.” That convention declaring un-
TARY COMMISSION. J
equivocally in advocacy of the gold standard and an
nouncing undying enmity to our greenbacks, in fact to all paper currency other
than bank notes, urged Congress to pass a resolution authorizing the President
to appoint a monetary commission charged to formulate a plan for remodeling
our currency system along such lines.
To further such action by Congress the convention appointed a committee to
press the President and Congress for the enactment of such resolution. The
plea of this committee, when addressed to Congress, fell upon unheeding ears,
which is little to be wondered at for men are not given to voluntarily abdicate
their powers or acknowledge their incompetence and this is what this request
amounted to so far as the members of the House Committee on Banking and
Curren y were concerned- They deemed themselves quite as competent to deal
with the currency question as any committee that might be recruited from
outside of Congress. And this the irascible old gentleman who was and is
Chairman of the House Committee on Banking and Currency, but who was
present as a delegate at the Indianapolis convention, did not hesitate to avow.
He declared that the action of that convention In passing a resolution urging
Congress to take out of the hands of its own committee the task of remodeling
our currency system and put that task in the hands of some outside committee
was an indignity to him and his committee, an impugnment of their competence
that could and would be resented. But unheeding the protest of the chairman of
the House Committee on Banking and Currency the Indianapolis convention
passed a resolution calling upon Congress to authorize the President to appoint
what this convention chose to call a non-partisan business men’s monetary
commission to virtually supercede the House Committee.
Os course, the House Committee was not overpleased and gave no special at
tention to this plea that it abdicate when urged upon the committee appointed
by the Indianapolis Convention to urge such action. But to this plea and the
pressure brought to bear by the committee delegated at Indianapolis by the so
called “Business Men’s Monetary Convention” of January a year ago the Pres
ident yielded in July. Just before the day fixed for the adjournment of the
special session of Congress he sent a message to Congress asking for authority
to appoint a monetary commission such as that coatemplated by the Indianap ■
olis convention. Under this pressure the House passed a resolution such as
President requested, but the Senate took no notice of this resolution and Con
gress adjourned without action.
Then it was that the committee delegated at Indianapolis to press Congress
to authorize the appointment of a national monetary commisaion, and in de
fault of Congress giving such authority to appoint a monetary commission on
behalf of that convention appointed the monetary commission that now gives
out its plan for remodelling our currency system, and will further report to
the “Business Men’s Monetary Convention” that is recalled to meet in India
napolis on the 25th of this month Whether the purpose of this commission
was to evolve a plan to force a contraction of our currency, drive down prices,
decrease the value of property and increase the relative value of debts to the
profit of the creditor classes, or whether their purpose is to force the retire
ment of our national currency and the substitution of bank currency, so that
the banks may be given control over our measure of valuis and so systemati
cally raise prices at one time and depress them at another, greatly to the inter
est of the speculative cliques, a study of the plan launched before us does not
make clear. But whether the purpose is one or the othei’ it is evident that the
plan submitted is conceived in the interest of a class engaged in exploiting and
thus enslaving their fellow men, it is clear that it would work to the detriment
of the industrial classes, of all those seeking to gain a livelihood by honest toil
and not by despoiling their neighbors, and, therefore, should be opposed.
That the plan launched before us does not aim at contraction, that it contem
plates the retirement of our national currency only so fast as bank currency
may be substituted we are assured ; that this substitution would result in giv
ing the banks the power to regulate our measure of values is denied That
measure we are told shall be gold and gold alone and that the substitution of
bank notes redeemable in gold for national currency redeemable in gold would
in no way affect the measure of values It would remain gold. And this is ob
viously so, for so long at the banks were held to a prompt redemption of their
notes in gold it is clear that the volume of their notes, hence the supply of
money and its value would be regulated by their necessities of providing gold
for redemption. Aud any inflation of their issues so as to raise prices would
add to these necessities, add to the demands on the banks for gold in redemp
tion of their notes, for a raising of prices based on an increase of bank currency
and therefore a raising of prices that would not be equally participated in by
other gold using countries would result in such countries sending more produce
for sale and taking less of our produce with the inevitable result of turning
the international exchanges against us and so force us to send gold to pay the
debts which our exports of produce would not suffice to pay.
Such export of gold depleting the reserves of the banks would force them to
call in their loans, contract their currency, in order to replenish their reserves.
This, of course, would force down prices at home, while the exports of gold,
making gold more plentiful In the foreign banks and tempting them to increase
their loans, would tend to raise prices abroad. And so at last would the
equilibrium of prices be restored, so that exports would balance the charges
incurred by us on account of imports, our foreign debt, etc., and so obviate the
movement of gold. At least this is the theory, it is the theory of British bank
ing and a very smooth theory, too.
But it is not at all certain that we could put this theory into practice. Sup
pose the banks found it out of the question to contract so as to depress prices
to the required level; suppose they found that such contraction would mean a
general bankrupting of their customers, such as they dare not invite. Then
the banks would have to suspend gold payments, then we would have an irre
deemable bank currency, and then we would have a measure of values regulat
ed by the banks, not the gold measure of values that we are told the plan now
presented for our consideration would assure to us. But, on the other hand,
suppose the banks could and would contract so as to maintain gold redemptions
Then we would have contraction, would have lower prices, and we are told
that this plan would assure us against contraction. We would learn that the
mere proviso that national currency should not be retired faster than bank
currency was substituted would not insure against contraction, that the bank
currency would be contracted after issue.
Now, it may be urged that though the volume of bank currency would have
to be so regulated as to prevent serious gold exports and an appreciable drain
on the geld reserves of the banks that such regulation would not mean con
traction, that the banks would not find it necessary to contract in
order to keep gold. But one thing is clear. The only way to keep gold is to
make it worth less than our produce to our foreign creditors, and to make it
worth less we must hold our produce at lower prices than other peoples from
whom our customers can draw supplies. That is, we must sell our grain for
less gold than the Argentinian, or the Russian, or the Indian or Australian
O therwise our creditors will take gold from us and buy the grain they need
from our competitors.
So the question of keeping gold without con traction and without forcing down
prices is simply this : Are we selling our produce, our food-stuffs and cotton
cheaper now than our competitors will offer such produce in the future ? If
not, we must have contraction, must force down prices in order to prevent gold
exports. And obviously we are not. We are, it is true, offering our produce
at present at lower prices than our customers can fill their wants elsewhere
and so at present we keep our gold. But this is merely because misfortunes,
crop failures have overtaken our competitors, because we alone have the grain
to spare that Western Europe needs. And so of course the traders of Western
Europe take our prodace in preference to our gold.
But there is no question that the Argentinian can raise wheat and sell it in
London, at a profit, for one-half the price in gold that we are now asking. The
truth of this statement is vouched for by the United States Consular reports.
This being the case there is no question that the Argentinian wheat grower
will increase his wheat acreage, will be only too glad to raise and sell wheat
for a smaller gold price than is now ruling. This he has done in the past. The
crop of the winter 1896-97, his summer, failed him and of course he had no
wheat to sell during last year. But this winter it is different. And therefore
we will have this Argentinian underselling us again in order to get a share of
the market that we now have.
To meet that competition we must sell our wheat for less, and unless there is
a scarcity of wheat next summer, if there is enough wheat raised in the wheat
exporting countries to meet the demands ot the wheat importing countries,
this underselling and cutting of prices will go on until wheat sells in England
for twenty shillings or less a quarter, for it is at this price that the Argenti
nian can raise and sell wheat at a fair profit. And while he can make a fair
profit at raising wheat he will have an incentive to increase his wheat produe
duction. Naturally he will go on increasing acreage and production until the
resulting increase to the world’s supply of wheat has forced down the price of
wheat to the price at which he can sell and still realize a fair profit. And, as
we have said, this price, under present conditions, is twenty shillings a quar
ter or less in London, which means 50 cents a bushel on the American farm.
If the American farmer cannot meet this he will have to see his wheat re
placed in the European markets with Argentinian wheat unless one thin g
happens. And that one thing, a raising of the gold price at which the Argenti
nian can afford to produce and sell wheat, a raising that would inevitably fol
low a reduction of the premium on gold in Argentine, of the bounty on experts
that has enabled him to produce and sell wheat at a profit for twenty shillings
a quarter in gold, will not happen under gold monometallism. Beat down this
premium on gold, this bounty on exports in Argentine so that wheat sold for
forty shillings in gold will bring the Argentinian wheat raiser no more Argen
tinian pesos than wheat sold for twenty shillings in gold now does, and then he
cannot raise and sell at a profit wheat for less than forty shillings in gold, and
then the American farmer can keep his market for wheat and command a dollar
a bushel even when not b'essed by the misfortunes of others. But, as we have
said, this beating down of the premium on gold in Argentine can only come
from beating down the appreciated value of gold, which is not contemplated by
the members of the “Business Men’s Monetary Commissionit cannot come
under gold monomettallism save as the result of some unparralleled discovery
of gold.
The plan for remodelling our monetary system now submit.ed to us must
lead therefore either to the contraction of our currency, a depreciation of pro
perty and so a robbing of debtors in the interest of creditors or to the suspen
sion of gold payments, the placing of the power to regulate the value of our
measure of values and hence the movement of prices in the hands of the banks
and'so the enrichment of the speculative cliques, the aggrandizement of the
growing moneyed oligarchy, to the infinite loss and detriment of the produc
tive classes. So in the interest of our producing classes, in the interest of those
who strive to gather wealth by honest toil, not by despoiling their fellow men,
in the interest of the majority not of a moneyed oligarchy alien to American
soil, a class of abnormal wealth and power, the child of a monetary system con
ceived in the interest of the few, a power of mushroom growth, a class builded
on special privileges, in oligarchy that should have no roots where men are
free, that retards the development of our country, the growth of our people in
wealth and power, their approach to happiness and contentment, that threat
ens their liberty and deprives them of the blessings thereof, let Congress bury
the work and kill the plan of the Monetary Commission.—Wharton Barker in
The American.
The man who can control the medium of exchange is able to control every
man who has to use a medium of exchange.
There is no more reason that the government should endorse the notes of a
bank than that it should endorse the notes of a farmer.
VOICE FROM THE TRENCHES
Virgil F. Hall, Mayfield, Maine.
To us boys down in the trenches
come sounds of discord. We are labor
ing under grievous burdens, We are
hoping almost against hope that a
brighter day will come, if not for us,
then for our children. We are praying
with breaking hearts that our good
ship of state, now tossed by the tem
pest and manned by a private crew
may find an honest and capable com
mander and be preserved from the
reefs and shoals that surround her and
be guided into calmer and safer waters.
All we can do is to use our small influ
ence and vote for the principles that
seem to us right. Our voices are not
heard in our party councils. We are
not in a position to exert, individually,
very much influence in shaping our
party policy. We can think and form
opinions for ourselves, but must look
to our leaders to plan the campaign
and marshal the forces. If they are
united and work for the good of their
country and fellowmen, they can de
pend upon us to follow unitedly and
with enthusiasm. If, on the other
hand, they seek each to lead a faction
of his own and to have his own opin
ions adopted as the rule of action re
gardless us the opinion of others, then
we, the rarrtrtHS’file Will be hopeless
ly divided and march to certain defeat.
And now, when all good and true
Populists are asking “what shall we
do to be saved,” there come to us from
our leaders voices of bickering and
dissension. Two of our New England
captains, both of whom we regard as
loyal and true-hearted reformers, are
c tiling each other hard names in the
public print
And when we come to think of it,
that is not so strange a thing after all.
To be a reformer requires warm blood,
as a rule. Your calm, cold man is, usu
ally, not much of an agitator. Indig
nities and injustice are less felt by the
phlegmatic nature than by one whose
every nerve is nourished by blood
from a heart that feels not only its
own but others woes. But this hot
blood is apt to betray the reformer
into indiscretions at times. A real or
fancied lack of appreciation of his ef
forts, on the part of those from whom
he feels that he has the right to expect
it, grates harshly upon his spirit, and
he is very likely to use intemperate
language, He must be very careful to
have the brain exercise due nrfhresua
over the heart, and must remember
that only children call each other
names in moments of passion.
And now in regard to the matter
that caused the controversy between
our respected leaders.
Wharton Barker’s name has been
suggested as one proper to be consid
ered in connection with the next pres
idential nomination of our party. The
reason urged in favor of his nomina
tion commend themselves to many.
The objection that he is not a Populist
or at best only a new comer into the
party seems to me to lack weight.
Like myself and many others, he was
a Republican. He fought manfully
for the cause of the common people
until convinced that it was impossible
to bring about the reforms for which
he labored within Ijie own »party.
Then, like the rest of us, he left it
The ideas which he represents are
essentially Populism, I understand
it, he advocates no principle today
that has not been a part of his doctrine
for several years. He is no new con
vert. His nomination would have no
element of fusion about it. (I fused
once, as a greenbacker, and learned a
lesson. Shan’t fuse any more, never,
if I know it) It is only a question of
policy, whether or not he is the most
available man for the place.
Mr. Barker is one of the few cool re
formers. Yet, what he lacks in impet
uosity, he makes up in force. He is
strong, persistent and consistent. He
certainly has qualities worthy of con
sideration when we come to name our
standard bearer in the next great bat
tle for human rights.
The objection that in nominating
him we must pass by others who have
borne the burden and heat of the day,
appeals to my heart. Those are the
men who deserve to be honors d. But
who of our tried and true laborers,
would feel himself honored by leading
our forces to defeat when, perchance,
some one else could have led them to
victory? Ay, there’s the rub. who is
the man that can draw after him all
the reform elements, Populists, Liber
alists, Socialists, Prohibitionists, Single
taxers and the different organizations
of whatever name whose aim is the
betterment of the condition of man
kind? And it is only by the union of
all these that we can win our way.
For the solution of this question all
our wisdom and charity is necessary.
In its discussion all bitterness and
jealousy must be laid aside. Each
must feel that others, though holding
opinions differing from his own, may
have the good of our cause as near
their hearts as he. Let each present
his plan for the campaign and urge it
with all the strength of his convictions,
but let him be mindful that some one
may possibly have a better, And let
there to adopt the
better, T-Ja when adopted, let the
pledge for its support be “our lives,
our fortunes and our sacred honor.”
Then you can look for us of the
trenches to come forward with a shout,
and win a victory that will count for
the uplifting of the human race.
F. P. P. OFFICE MOVED.
The People’s Party Paper office
has been moved to the new 5 story
marble front building No. 57 South
Broad Street, known as ‘ ‘The Herald”
building. No. 57 South Broad is near
the corner of Hunter and Broad and
directly in the rear of High’s block.
An easy climb of two flights places
you in the main office, where subscrib
ers and patrons are always welcome.
On your next visit to Atlanta call
and see your paper in its new quarters.
With one of the best equipped plants
in the South and in commodious quart
ers, the People’s Party Paper prom
ises to continue in 1898 as well as it has
in the past to be the best reform paper
published.
Club Baltera Attention.
The year 1898 promises to be a red
letter one for Georgia Populism. Sub
scriptions will be more easily obtained
than ever and reform literature put
into every home in the state. We want
you to enroll now for the work. Send
for special terms to club raisers.
People’s Party Paper.
Club Department.