The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-11-27
FREE COINAGE ADVOCATES
Opening Session of a National COnven-
ton of Persons Interested in Silver.
Speeches by L. N. Rumsey. of 81. Louis. and Hon.
Al. Warner, of 0hio-The Latter Elect
ed Chairman-Committees Appointed.

VI cVCtldtOISt ~ $500
The great hall was handsomely aud APP
propriately decorated. Emblems OF the
character of the convention were to be
seen on all sides. while flags and bunting
greeted the city's visitors from the en-
trance of the stage. 1t was 11:15 when
James Campbell called the convention to
order. After briefly reciting the inception
of the project to bring the silver men OF
the country together. Mr.. Campbell intro
duced l.. NJ. Rumsey. of st. Louis. as tenn
porary chairman, and Albert Singer, as
temporary secretary of the convention.
Temporary Chairman Rumsey was given a
warm welcome when he rose to make his
opening remarks. Among other things he
said:
1T is fair to presume that there is not a
single delegate present who does not feel
the weighty responsibility resting upon
them individually as representatives to
this convention, for upon the results of
this assembly will depend largely the de-
in the Immediate future. You are not a
La x-making body, it is true. but as all laws
are the results of the popular will, and as
You have been almost as popularity
sent to represent the people OF this
Congress sent to voice the will of the peo-
pie in Washington. it follows that the Con-
gress of the United States may find. through
your deliberations and conclusions, that.
as you are the latest representatives from
the people upon the question of the silver
coinage laws, they must obey the will
of the people of the United States and en-
act the laws your body cannot enact, which
will give to the people of the United States
the privilege of coming their silver as freely
as they coin their gold.
1.-The gentlemen who will address You
upon the vital questions to be discussed
during this convention will make clear as
MONDAY the necessity for the free and un-
limited coinage of silver. SO that no person
In the United States who can read need be
ignorant of the untold advantages such a
law would give to this country, and also.
incidentally, to the entire world. In SO
large an assemblage it would be strange if
there were not those who have some pet
hobby, no doubt very excellent and desir-
able in some other convention. but the time
for the discussion of this monetary question
Is so brief that, it is hoped, IL extraneOus
subjects will be attempted to be pushed
upon the attention of this cOvention."
At the conclusion of his address the va
rious committees-credentials. permanent
organization and resolutions-were ap-
pointed. and the convention took a recess.
After the adjournment of the convention
the committees on permanent organization.
resolutions and credentials met. Hon. r.
r. Bland was made chairman of the resOlu-
tions committee, and the committee dis
cussed its work. and will hold another
meeting and report tomorrow. The COM
mittee on permanent organization had sew
eral nominations for permanent chairman,
among them Gen. A. j. Warner. of Ohio;
Senator Stewart. OF Nevada: Hon. K. z.
Bland, of Missouri, and Mr.. McMichael, of
Colorado. After a general discussion and
the statement that Senator Stewart did not
n,n 20 bA oil @E 4hn fl.A.
names were withdrawn and General War
ner was elected unanimously. Mr.. Albert
Singer, temporary secretary, was made
permanent, with three assistants. A resO-
luton was also offered in this committee
to be recommended to the convention to ap-
point a permanent executive committee of
one member from each State and Territory,
with ten at large. to call q future cOnyen-
ton.
The convention reassembled at 3 p. NJ.
and was called to order by Temporary
Chairman Rumsey. On motion OF Mr.. Curtis,
of California, it was decided that the doors
of the convention shall be thrown open to the
public. The entire afternoon was spent in
discussion of how the convention should
vote. some conrending that each delegate
present should be entitled to one vote,
others that the delegations should vote full
strength by proxy. no matter how many
delegates were in the convention. The
matter was finally settled by the adoption
of a resolution offered by Senator Stewart,
of Nevada. that each delegation should be
entitled to twenty votes, ana that all over
that number in any delegation should be
allowed one vote each. The committee N
permanent organization reported the fol-
lowing permanent officers: Chairman, A.
J.. Warner, of Ohio; vice-chairman. j. M.
McMichael, of Colorado; secretary. Albert
| Singer, of Missouri; assistant secretaries, +.
l.. Dana, of Colorado; T.. J.. Palmer. of Kan
sac; j. A. Greer, of Pennsylvania.
Upon taking the chair, Mr.. Warner
thanked the convention for the unexpected
honor. and said that a subject than which
none other affected the people of the entire
world with equal weight was the silver
question. Since Germany, in 1872, followed
later by other European powers and partly
by the United States, demonetized or linn
a vital Issue. and in the discussion BIZ
metallists had won the victory. The at
tempt to change the money standard from
gold and silver to gold alone was worse
than a ~mistake-was almost q crime. The
men who favored such a course knew what
the consequences would be On the debts
ami commerce of nations of the world. and
they were aided by men who did not realize
the far-reaching results of the change. The
decentralization of silver had made the gold
STANDARD different than before that act.
Demonstration of silver was, in fact. a
great crime, and its restoration was
now the important question of the
world: The people had suffered more
1 1lOIU Ddu mOuCtdte lCgioi1tiOn THAN 1rOIn
any other cause. The first duty was stabil-
ity of the finances. What was asked was
restoration OF that money standard which
existed for ages-that silver be placed on
an equality with gold. at the ratio which
has existed. 1t was the duty of the coun-
try to restore what should never have been
disturbed, and this convention had assem-
bled here to decide on the best methods to
be pursued in reaching the desired end.
II. Is. Cham berlain, president of the Den
Yer Chamber of Commerce, on behalf of
that body, then presented, in q happy
speech, a solid.silver gavel to Chairman
Warner.
A number of resolutions to be referred to
the committee on resolutions were read and
SO referred. The committee is considered a
very strong, one, and. 1T is ex-
of the convention briefly and
SO clearly that they will be easily under
stood. The COMMITTEES is composed as fol-
lows: Arkansas, b. ID. Williams: Arizona,
John G. Loss; Alabama. A. Irwin; Colorado,
i. II. B~uchanan; California. Hon. +. NJ.
Pixley: Idaho. William Hindman; Indiana,
Peter p. Kennedy; Illinois. Hon. G. L.
Waite; Kansas. A. II. McLennan; Kentucky,
Henry Watterson; Montana. w. G.. Gal
higher; Missouri. II. L. Bland; Nebraska,
William Wallace; New Mexico, J.. A. Maza-
naris; New York. Thomas Jordan; Nevada.
Francis Y Newbanks; Pennsylvania. w. j.
Chayney; Texas, Charles Longuemae;
Utah. c. G. Goodwin; District of Columbia,
i. Z. Michels; Michigan. Hon. Benjamin
Colvin; Wyoming. w. NJ. Grant; Tennessee,
Al. kellar; Virginia: John w. Porter.