New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-15
RrsINEsS MEN IN SESSION.
,prsrpEST HARRISON SENDS A LETTER TO
THE COMMERCIAL CONGRESS
MS VIEWS ON RECIPROCITY, SILVER AND THE
NEEDS OF THE FARMERS-LETTERs FROM

MS VIEWS ON RECIPROCITY SILVER AND THE
WEEDS OF THE FARMERs-LETTERs FROM
SECRETARY RysK AND OTHERS
xansas city, April i4.-The first western s'aves
commercial Congress convened az noon wt"s "~ tno
co.tss opera House. with delegations present from 'no
so,.o,r,nr states and Territories: California "aen
,.r Idaho Colorado, New-Mexico, Wyomihs'
Montana Kansas, Iowa. Nebraska, Missouri MlnneSU'o'
WISCONSIN Michigan Illinois, Indiana, Ohio' henVu0As'
rennessee Alabama, Mississippi. LOUISIANA "eoie,
Taxas and Oklahoma The delegations are coinpVI "
calmly OF business men. When the name Oh 'oN''
u,.tI,ee ~ New.Orleans, was called, 1t was
,.cocnized as one Of the leaders Of the cUEehe =,
Nerorleans who executed the eleven Italians cnIses
with Chief HenHessy's murder. "nen Ho "a
N the stage his appearance was sieeoeu VIZ" IN, ~
plause Without acknowledging H. he q"i'A-'
seat. -. hr stote Soma
90. Va,,v ~ Kansas BY motion Of Governor rranois'
~ Missouri Senator Kelly was chosen teniPoieiS
man IN long speech of acceptance NO oApio.'e "'s
object of the congress to DC 'no =. ~ ~. 90
various questions of peculiar in'e[esU " '"o $3.50
sorth John W. Springer of Illinois, was elected
80 ew socrahary Governor Francis welcomed the
s,atss on behalf Of the State. He said the con-
rress marked g new era In agricultural commercial
and financial history. There was deep-rooteo Qs
satisfaction and there unanimous desire that the
eVii
,er,sts he stimulated The West wanted freer trade
uitb Mexico Canada and South America and with
ALI the countries of the world. The west wanted
the Mississippi connected with the Great Lakes. IL
wanted improved waterways 1t wanted an IN
teruational railway 1t wanted fuller volume Of
currency. 7. Dwight Thatcher, OF Topeka, welcomeu
the delegates on behalf Of Kansas.
Letters of regret we're read from those who had
received special Invitations to attend the congress-
Among the atters one from President Harrison
II was as follows
Executive Mansion,
Washington D. c., April z.
10 Hon. II. B. Kelly, Chairman Kansas City, Mo.
Dear Sir: have the acknowledge the receipt
your letter Of March "a inviting me to attend the meeting
Of Commercial Congress of the Western Agricultural ana
Mining States assemble in Kansas City April IA 10 H.
purpose considering measures affecting the genera
AGRICULTURAL prosperity Of the Mississippi
valley regret that it will not be possible for me
70 accept this invitation If am not detained here by
public business probably start about that time Tor the
Pacific Coast by Southern route and if that purpose
should be thwarted will be by considerations that will also
prevent the acceptance Of your invitation
pubua discussion OF the conditions affecting agricul-
rural and business prosperity cannot but be helpful If it is
conducted on broad and is hospabe to differences Of
oninon The extraordinary development Of production OF
agriculture which taken place in recent period in this
by OF the rapid enlargement OF the area OF
tlage under favOrng snu laws OF the United States,
very naturally has called attention to the value
and indeed the necessity Of larger markets.
am one OF those who believe that home market is
necessarily the market for the producer, as it
easurby emsncipates him, in proportion to its near
ness from exacons OF the transportation companies
the farmer could deliver his surplus produce TO the
consumer OF his farm wagon his independence and
his profits would be larger and surer IL seems TO me
ouit possible attain largely increased market for our
stanle farm products without impang home markets by
opening the manufacturing trades TO competition in which
foreign producers paying lower scale OF wages would
have the advantage. policy that would reduce the
I'm
diminish their ability purchase food products by re-
aucing wages cannot be helpful to those now engaged
In agriculture The farmers insist that the prices OF
farm products have been too low, below the point OF ar
living and profits. think too but venture 70
remind them that the plea they make involves the con-
session that things may be too cheap. coat may De
100 cheap as we'll as corn. The farmer VINO eia!ns u
rood living and profits for his work should conceoe Ihe
ZANE to every other and woman who tolls look
with great confidence to the completion OF 1urthef
reciprocal trade arrangements, especially with the Oehra
and South American States as furnishing new ana large
markets for meats breadstuhs, ana an important e
manufactured products.
Persistent and earnest also being made. and
considerable measure has already been at
taned TO secure removal OF restrictions which we
regarded unjust the admission and use OF our
meats and live cattle in some Of the European countries
look with confidence to successful termination VI 1o
pending negotiations because cannot but assume that
when the absolutely satisfactory character Oh the sanitary
inspections now provided by law is made known 10
these foreign States they viii promptly relax ther us
eliminating regulations No effort and Of the powers
vested in the Executive VIII be Iet uhuseu W seouo oil
end which is desirable.
Your deliberations will probably also embrace the con-
hderaon Of the question Of the volume and character OF
pur currency 1t will not be possible and would not DC
appropriate for In this letter to enter upon any
elaborate discussion Of these questions One or two
thnxs say, and Arst, believe that every person
who thoushtfully considers the question will agree with
me upon a proposition which is at the base Of all my
consideration Of the currency question: namely that any
oin is SSH
must made and kept in It's commercial uses as good as
any other dollar. So long As any paper meney issued or
authorized by United States Government is accepted in
commercial equivalent Of the best ned dollar
that we issue, and so long as every coined COLLAR
whether OF silver gold is assured OF equal value in
commercial USE need be fear as to an excess OF
money The more such money the better. But on the
other hand when any issue Of paper or coined dollars
is in buying and selling rated at less value han other
paper or coined dollars have passed the limit Of safe
experiment. finance. II we have dollars OF Inherent
values only the poorest will circulate The farmer and the
aborer who are not In hourly touoh WIN inc eAeF Vi e
telegraph will require all other classes Of our CON-
munity dollar full OF value. Fluctuations and de-
precautions always at the first cost Of these classes OF
community. The banker and the Spectator antic.
pate discount and often profit by such FLUCTUATIONS IL
Is very easy the impulse Of excitement or the stress
money sngency to fall into the slough Of deprecated
or rredeemable currency. 1t is very painful and SLOW
business 70 get out when once in.
have always believed, and do now more than ever be
ueye In bimetasm the fullest Of silver In
connection currency that is compatible with the
maintenance Of parity OF the gold and silver dollar In
their commercial Nothing in my judgment would so
much retard Of the free use Of silver by the
COMMERCIAL nations OF world legislation adopted by
US that would result In placing this country upon
basis Of silver monometlism The Legislation adopted
by the first of the List Congress was assured BY
leading advocates ee coinage representative Of the Sill
yer states promptly and permanently bring silver to
ls Der ounce keep there. That anticipation has not
bean realized Our larger Of silver has apparently and
for reasons not yet agreed diminished the demand for
silver In China and India.
Of the fact that 1t Is impossible In this letter
70 elaborate and that propositions only be stated
en- aware that have said may be assailed In points
where it is easily defensible but where have not at
tempted 70 present the argument have not before ex-
csptng an official way expressed myself on these SUBJ
es but feeling the dignity and Importance
Of the assembage In whose behalf you speak, have ven
red without bigotry Of opinion, without any assump'
Of nfanibty but as American citizen, having a