Silver Party
The Silver party was a reaction to the economic depression of Nevada and The West during the 1880’s and 1890’s and a fight against the banking interests of the eastern states who advocated a tight money scheme and the gold standard. The "Free Silver" party, active from 1892-1911, was based on promoting the bimetallic money standard using both silver and gold as legal tender in unlimited amounts to stabilize rates and supply. Those out West believed that the two national political parties did not reflect their interests.
Of course, there were other political parties at this time that ran candidates, including, the Prohibition Party, Greenback Party, Populist Party, and the Socialist Party. Sometimes, the Silver Party did not run their own candidates but endorsed the other party’s candidates; hence, there are political history designations such as S-D and D-S, meaning that the Silver Party, at their nominating convention, also endorsed the Democratic candidate for the office.
As a means of asserting their views more effectively, the people of Nevada early in 1893 began to form themselves into local associations called silver clubs. This movement extended to every part of the State, and resulted in a State organization, which was formed at a convention of the clubs held at Reno on 24 June 1893, which was styled the Silver Party of Nevada. The following resolutions were adopted at this convention:
"The citizens of Nevada, representatives of the various silver leagues, irrespective of past party affiliations, in convention assembled, do set forth the following declaration of principles: 1. We demand the full remonetization of silver and the free and unlimited coinage thereof at the present ratio of 16 to 1.
2. We are radically and unalterably opposed to the National Republican and Democratic parties on the question of the free coinage of silver, and we denounce the action of their recent national conventions as inimical to the material interests of the people of the United States, and especially to those of Nevada and all the other mining States and Territo— ries; and we hereby repudiate the nominees of their conventions."
The result of the balloting in November was a victory for the Silver ticket. The Silver party electors received 7.264 votes, the Republican electors 2,811, the Democrats 714, and the Prohibitionists 86. The State Legislature that was chosen at the same time was composed almost entirely of men belonging to the Free-Silver party.
The Silver party held its convention at Reno, Sept. 8 and 9, 1899. A committee was appointed to confer with one from the Democratic convention, with a view to fusion; they offered the Democrats choice of nominees for the offices of Lieutenant Governor, Comptroller, Regent of the University for the short term, and Superintendent of Public Instruction. The offer was rejected, and there was no fusion.
The platform of the Silver party approved the platform of the National Silver, party at St. Louis in 1896, and the financial plank of the National Democratic party at Chicago reaffirmed devotion to free and unlimited coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1 by independent action of the United States; opposed the Republican policy of increasing the bonded debt, and the issuing of money by banking institutions; asserted faith in the loyalty, ability, and wise leadership of William J. Bryan, and predicted his nomination as standard bearer in 1900.
It favored the holding of Cuba. Puerto Rico, and the Philippines until the American people have time to consider the best policy in regard to their final disposition, the construction of the Nicaragua Canal, and the foreclosure of the mortgage on the Central Pacific Railroad unless the principle and interest is paid within one year. The re-election of Senator Stewart was advised, and Senator Jones and Congressman Newlands were commended.
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