The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-11-27
THE SILVER CONVENTION.
Over Three Hundred Delegates,
Representing All Sections, in At
tendance at ST. Louis.
Address of Temporary President
Rumsey on the Work Before
the Convention.
Ohio. Colorado and Pennsylvania Honored
In the Selection Of Permanent Onicers
for the BODY.

ST. LouIs,,Noy. 26.-The National Silver
convention met this morning. Three hun
dred and fifty delegates were present, and
large number of spectators. James Camp
bell called the convention 10 order and in
troduced l.. NJ. Rumsey OF st. Louis as
temporary chairman, and Albert Singer
temporary secretary. Rumsey said; "You
are not law-making body, il is true, but
as all laws are! the results Of the popular
will. and as you have been almost rs popu-
larly sent TO represent the people of this
United States as are the members of con-
gress sent TO voice the will Of the people in
Washington, it follows the congress Of the
United States may find through your de-
liberations and conclusions that you are
the latest representatives from the people
upon the question of silver coinage laws;
that they must obey the will of the people
of the, United States, and enact the laws
your body cannot enact. which will give TO
the people of the United States the privi-
lege Of coming their silver as freely as they
coin their gold. In so large an assemblage
il would be strange If there were not those
who have some pet hobby, no doubt very
excellent and desirable in some other con-
vention, but the time for the discussion of
this monetary question is 30 brief, II is
hoped no extraneous subjects will be at
tempted to be pushed upon the attention of
this convention"
AT the conclusion of his address various
committees ON credentials, permanent or
ganization and resolutions we're appointed,
and the convention took recess till 3 p. IN.
The convention reassembled promptly at
3 o'clock. Tne entire afternoon was spent
in a discussion of how the convention
should vote, some contending that each
delegate present should be entitled TO one
vote; Others that the delegation should vote
its full strength by proxy, no matter how
many delegates were in the convention.
The matter was finally settled by the
adoption of resolution offered by Senator
Stewart, of Nevada, that each delegation
should be entitled TO twenty votes, and all
over that number in any delegation should
be allowed one vote each.
The committee on permanent organiza-
tion reported the following permanent Off
cers Chairman, A. j. Warner, of Ohio,
vice chairman, j. McAIichael uf Colorado,
secretary, Albert Singer, of .aissouri, as
sistant secretaries, i. l.. Dana, Colorado. 4.
j. Palmer, Kansas. ]. A. Greer. Pennsyl-
yanih.
Chairman Warner, upon being introduced
10 the convention by Senator Stewart,
thanked that body for the unexpected hon.
or. lie said that no subject interested more
people than the silver question. Since Ger
many. in 1872, followed by other European
powers and partly by the United States, de-
monetized silver rs money, the question
had been vital issue, and in the discussion
the bi metallists had won victory. The
attempt to change the money standard FROM
gold and silver 10 gold alone wasworse than
mistake-it WAS crime. The demoneti-
zation Of silver had made the gold standard
different than before that act; the demone-
ti2ntion of silver WAS, IN fact, great crime,
and it's revocation wns now the important
question before the world. The people had
suffered more from bad monetary legisa-
tion than from any other cause. The first
duty WAS stability Of finances. What WAS
asked was the restoration Of the money
standard which had existed for ages-that
silver be plnced on an equality with gold at
the ratio which has long existed. IL was the
duty of the country to restore what should
never have been disturbed, and this conven-
tion had assembled here 30 decide upon the
best methods 10 be pursued in reaching the
desired end
II. B. Chamberlain, president of the Den
body, then presented a solid silver gavel TO
Chairman Warner. number of resolu-
tions, to be referred to the committee on
resolutions, were read, and 80 recorded.
The committee is considered very strong
one, and il Is expected will embody the
wishes of the convention briefly, and SO
clearly that they will be easily understood.
After the announcement that there would
be reception at the Merchants Exchange
TO night, the convention adjourned.
The committee ON resolutions is as fol-
lows: Arkansas B. ID. Williams; Arizona
John C. Loss; Colorado, T. B. Buchanan;
California, Hon. y. NJ. Pixley; Idaho, VIM.
Hindman; Indiana, p. =. Kennedy; Illinois,
Hon. G.. Il. White; Kansas, A.
II. McLennan: Kentucky, II. Wat
terson; Montana, w. q. Gallagher;
Missouri, X. L. Bland; Nebraska. Vim.
Wallace; New Mexico. Jaman Zaris; New
York, +. Jordan; Nevada, Francis Y. New
banks; Pennsylvania, w. j. Clancy; Texas,
Charles Longuemarp: Utah, 9. G. Goodwin
District of Columbia, j. G. Michels; Michi-
gan, Hon. Ben. Calvin; Wyoming, w.
Grant; Tennessee, A. j. Kelar; Virginia,
John Porter.