The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-04-15
WESTERN CONGRESS
A Letter from the President Dis
cussing Silver.
SOUND VIEWS ON GOVERNMENT
By Charles Francis Adams Who Says the Coun-
try is Suffering Chiefly from Too Much
Governmental Interference.

KANSAS SlI1, April lts-1uS AtS1 w
ern States Commercial congress convened
at noon to-day with delegates present from
the following states and territories Cali
fornia, Washington, Idaho, Colorado, New |
Mexico, Wyoming, Montana, Kansas,
Iowa. Nebraska, Missouri, Minnesota, |
Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Ken
lucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi |
Louisiana Georgia, Texas and Oklahoma |
The convention was called to order by
State Senator Kelly, of Kansas. He IL
troduced Rev. DR.. Hayes, Of this city, who
offered prayer The convention then pro-
ceeded TO temporary organization Senator
Kelly was chosen temporary chairman.
In long speech of acceptance he explained
the object of the congress to be con-
sideration of various questions of peculiar
interest to the west and south. Kelly laid
all the blame Of the agricultural depres-
sion upon q too small circulating medium.
As relief he suggested the free coinage OF
silver, the raising Of silver money to the
standard of gold.
John w. Springer, of Illinois, was cleo
ted temporary secretary. The chairman
then presented Governor Francis, who
welcomed the delegates on behalf of
Missouri. He said the congress marked
an era in agricultural, commercial and
financial history. In the early history of
the country such diSsenSlon and dissatlS-
faction as now exists resulted in revolu-
ton The people of the west were crying
for relief, but the manner of relief was
| sought not by arms, but by this delibera
tive congress. Different causes were as
| signed for the depression of western inter
ests. Heretofore federal legislation had
been in the interest of the east. 1t is as
necessary for the west to stand together
and there were many things the west de-
sired, in advocacy of which it should be
unanimous, earnest and continued The
west wanted free trade with Mexico and
Canada, and South America, and with all
| the countries of the world. The west
wanted the Mississippi connected with
| the great lakes; it wanted improved water
ways: it wonted fuller volume of cur
rency. These were things that would re-
! lieve the distressing condition of affairs
and they were things that the west must
act together upon.
7. Dwight Thatcher, of Topeka, wei
coined the delegates on behalf of Kansas
| An adjournm ent was then taken until 2
o'clock this afternoon.
| Upon reassembling letters of regret were
read among them being one from President
Harrison. President Harrison says: "Pub-
lie discussion of the conditions affecting
agricultural and bushes property cannot
but be helped if conducted on broad lines
and is hospitable to differences of opinion.
The extraordinary developments in the pro-
ductiGn OF agriculture which have taken
place in recent period in this country, by
reason of the rapid enlargement of the area
of tillage, under the favoring land laws of the
United States, have very naturally called
attention to the value, and indeed, the
necessity of larger markets. | am one of
those who believe the home market neces-
sarily the best for producers, as it emanci-
paJes him, in proportion to its nearness,
from the exactions of transportation com
panies. If the farmer could deliver his
surplus produce to a consumer out of his
farm wagon, his independence and his pro-
fits would be larger and surer.
ut seems to me quite possible to attain &
larger increased market for our staple
farm products, without impairing the home
market by opening our manufacturing
!, trades to competition in which foreign pro-
ducers are paying lower scale of wages
and would have an advantage. A policy
= that would reduce the number of our PEG
i pie engaged in mechanical pursuits or di-
;, minish their ability to purchase food pro
! ducts by reducing wages cannot be helpful
! to those now engaged in agriculture. Thu
: farmers insist the prices of their product
/ have been too low, below the point of fai
= living profits. / think so too, but | Ventur
y to remind them the plea they make involve
n the concession that other things may be to
cheap, may be too cheap as well as corn
n The farmer who claims a good living an
9 profits for his work should concede tn
\ same to every other man and woman VIII
2 toils.'
o The President concludes by saying b
looks with great confidence to the develop
n me1t of reciprocal trade relations wit
= Central and South America and the re
n moval of European restrictions on our mea
!, and cattle. No effort and none of the pow
r. ers vested in the executive would be lei
. unused to secure an end which is so desir
Ia able.
70 "Your deliberations will probably ais
~ embrace consideration of the question
~. the volume and character of our currency
y 1t will not be possible, and would not b
L. appropriate for me in this letter to ente
40 upon any elaborate discussion of thes
questions. One or two things | will sd
and first, believe that every person WI
70 thoughtfully considers the question wi
a agree with me upon the proposition, whic
is at the base of all my consideration of tt
currency, namely: that any dollar, papt
or COIN issued by the United States, mu
be made and kept in its commercial uses
- good as any other dollar. So long as an
v paper money issued or authorized by Il
United States government is accepted
commercial use as the equivalent of ii
D6SJ coined OOllar GudG we issue, anu
rs long as every coined dollar whether of 81
~ yer or gold, is assured of equal value
49, commercial use there need be no fear as
~ excess of money. The more of such none
ms the better. But on the other hand wht
rs any issue of paper or coined dollars in blu
lie, ing or selling is rated at less value thu
10. other paper or coined dollars, we ha
all passed the limit of safe experiment
re finance. If we have dollars of differe
VIC I'M ri a "a
err farmer and laborer who are not in hour
re- touch with the ticker or tel
A graph, will require, above all 9th
H. classes, dollar of full vaiu
en- The fluctuations and depressio
o. are always at first cost to these classe
rs. our community. The banker and specul
d. tor anticipate, discount and often profit
RS such fluctuations. Ihave always believe
ON and do now more than ever believe,
nv bimetallism and favor the fullest use of S
v: yer in connection with our currency that
re compatible with the maintenance OF t
DO. parity of the gold and silver dollar in thu
yn commercial uses. Nothing, In my jud
ment, would so much retard restoration
he the worlds finances as legislation adopt
om by us that would result in placing this COT
ed try upon basis of silver mono-metallis
Nv. The legislation adopted by the first sessi
ed of the Fifty first Congress, ] was
as sured by leading advocates of free coinae
nd and representatives of the silver state
ne would promptly and permanently bri
nd silver to 129 per ounce and keep it the
he That anticipation has not been realize
Our larger use Of silver has apparent
and for reasons not agreed upon, dim
ished the demand for silver in China a
), India. In view Of the fact that it is i
leu possible in this letter to elaborate and I'll
ter propositions only can be stated. am aw,
is, that what have said may be assai
ew in points where 1t is easily defensible
Mt where have not attempted to present