The record-union., 1891-04-16
Special to the REcoRp-ux1ox.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
KANSAS CITY, April ia full repre-
sentation Of the Western States CONNER
cial Congress was present this morning
when President Francis called the sec
Ond days session to order. The subject
under discussion was ''The General Bus
iness and Agricultural Depression-Its
Causes and Remedy"
+. J. Skiff of Denver read a paper on
Population and Raw Material" He
said: population and raw material in
one section must have trading treaty
with the population and raw material oil
some other section of the country. Hence
arose the significance of commercial
reciprocity between the States south and
the States and Territories west. Produc-
ton and the accumulation of surplus was
the controlling power in commerce. SO
long as man lives in isolated communi-
ties, each laboring to supply only. its own
necessities, there could be no commerce.
All that portion of the United States lying
west of the Mississippi River gathers halt
a continent, not only in It's area, but in
its resources of wealth and capabilities
OF maintaining large population. With
In this area were contained twO-thirds the
natural resources the Union. 1t was also
capable of maintaining large pOpula-
tion proportionate to its area. No one
would question the ability of the Western
or Southern States to support rs large a
number of people to the square mile as
now live in Pennsylvania, with Has per-
sons TO the square mile. All i'll all, the
figures confirm the truth Of the state
ment often made that the United States,
in its area and material resources, is
capable of maintaining 500,000,000 OF
people"
Guests of the Congress were then in
yited to address the meeting.
Ex-Governor George w. Click OF Kan
sas said the subject Of the greatest interest
to the Western farmer was the great agri-
cultural depression. The greatest cause
of this depression was the inSufficiency
of markets. The remedy was a wider
field for the disposition of the farmer
surplus. Blaine's reciprocity schemes
and Secretary Rusk's efforts in extending
the markets tOr live stock We're partial
remedies for the present depression.
Speaker Elder of the Kansas House OF
Representatives said those who had an
imperfect knowledge Of the situation
were accustomed TO lay the blame
upon the farmer, but there were other
conditions and they were nearer the root
alton of the law Of supply and demand.
which, in turn, was caused by the mercen-
ary consolidation Of capital by unscru-
pulOus persons. Such combinations were
trusts. and they We're the octopus which
had fastened in its grip the farmer, who,
while the most numerous of all the in
duStrlal classes, was at the same time the
most helpless and of all men the most
miserable. The trusts were thanked by
speculative boards of trade and bucket
shops, which forced false values upon the
people. Another cause Of the depression
was too contracted market. The farmer
wanted a wider field. They wanted reci-
procity. Reciprocity was a good thing
and they wanted all they could get of it.
Another way of relieving the situation
was by increasing the volume OF money.
Still another way was by a combination
of farmers against opposing combina-
tiOns, The farmers were now trying the
latter method.
DR.. Parsons stated that he was directed
by the Secretary of the Department OF
Agriculture to represent that department
at this Congress. He spoke of the causes
of depression in agriculture. One was
the loss of foreign markets to farmers
because diseased cattle would not be
bought. The way to regain the market
was TO eradicate the disease. DR.. Parsons
explained what the department is doing
III the way of quarantine and inspection
10 stamp out disease among the live stock.
L. 5. Hall, President of the Missouri
State Farmers Alliance, was the next
speaker. The greatest cause of the pres
ISnt depression, he said, was partisan poll
tics. The last national campaign was
fought on the line of the economic ques-
ton. The other causes for depression
were high protective tariff, decreased
volume of money, the raising of freight
and passenger rates to pay dividends on
watered stock. The remedies were low
tariff, an increase in the volume of the
currency and the regulation of railroads
so that they could pay dividends only on
the actual capital invested.
\ recess was taken until O'Clock
At the afternoon session letters of re-
gret Were read from Edward L. Atkinson
of Boston and Senator William NJ Stewart
of Nevada.
A lengthy paper by Edward Atkinson
of Boston was read. He said in part:
There is no question pending on which
the future welfare of the people of the
country may so much depend as upon
the legislative treatment Of the money
question. What we need in order TO as
sure stability in our monetary system, 10
maintain unit of value on a gold basis.
and to give elasticity To the circulating
medium, are three Acts, as follows: First
Providing for the free coinage of dollars
of gold or silver, in just measure, that the
bullion of either kind shall be brought to
the mints 10 be converted into coin, pro-
yided such Act is accompanied by an
other. Second-To repeal all Acts OF
legal tender by force of which farmers.
mechanics, Iaborers or creditors NAV be
compelled 10 accept payments in silver
or gold at the option of the debtor. Third
The repeal of the Acts relating to bank
ing which prevent the issue of notes pay
able in coin on demand at such times and
in such proportions as the business of the
country may require -
Mr.. Atkinson deals at length with the
question of money and credit, and refer
ring to the various gold and silver coins.
certificates and Treasury notes Of the
United States, says: $50 long as these
various instruments of exchange are re-
deemable or convertible into one
kind of dollar, and that the
best kind, or 50 long as they
are equal to each other in their purchas-
ing power, and kept so by being kept
convertible into the one metal, gold. OF
its equivalent, which is the standard OF
fhe worlds commerce, credit may be
good and business active. Any doubt OF
quality of money impairs credit. The
free coinage of silver dollars, without q
corresponding change in the acts of legal
tender, would be tampering with the
unit of value, and would be a cause OF
grave discredit. The proposal to open