Crawford avalanche., 1891-04-23
COMMERCIAL CONGRESS.
DELEGATES FROM TWENTY
FOUR STATES MEET.

Their Object Is to Consider Means oi
Promoting Business Interests or Their
seatss-Letter from President Harrison.
The first Western States Commercial
Convention convened at the Coates
Opera House, in this city, says Kansas
City, Mo-, dispatch, with delegations
present from twenty-fo states and ter
ritories
The convention was called to order by
State Senator Kelly, OF Kansas. He in
tr0duced Rev. DIR. Hayes, who offered a
prayer. The convention then proceeded
10 temporary organization. On motion
of Governor Francis, of Missouri, Sena-
tor Kelly was chosen temporary chair
man. In long speech Of acceptance he
SPHsd shd nhes1 az - varGoso s5G 70
OF peculiar interest to the West and
South Mr.. Kelly laid all the blame Of
agricultural depression upon too small
circulating medium. Ass relief he sug-
gested the recoinage of silver; the rails
!. ing OF silver money to the standard Of
gold.
The Hon. John w. Springer, OF Illi-
nois, was elected Temporary Secretary.
The Chairman then presented Gov.
Francis, OF Missouri, who welcomed the
delegates on behalf of the State. He
said that the congress marked a new era
in agricultural, commercial and financial
history. In the early history of the
country such dissension and dissatisfac-
tion as now exists resulted in revolution.
The people of the West were now crying
for relief, but the manner of relief was
sought, not by arms, but by this deliber-
ative congress. Different causes were
assigned for the depression of Western
interests. Let the cause be what it
may, the effect was the same There
was deep-rooted dissatisfaction, and
there was unanimous desire that the
evil OF depression be abolished, and that
Western interests be stimulated. Here
tofore Federal legislation has been in
the interests OF the East Congress has
been favorable to the creditor class, and
the West was heavy debtor. 1t was
necessary now for the West to stand
together, and there were many things
that the West desired, the advocacy of
which should be unanimous, earnest
and continued. The West wanted freer
trade with Mexico, Canada and South
America and all the countries of the
world. The West wanted the Missis-
sippi connected with the great lakes. IL
wanted improved railways, so that one
could step on vestibule train at Kansas
City and step off 1t at Buenos Ayres. 1t
wanted fuller volume Of currency.
These were things that would relieve the
distressing condition of affairs, and these
were things on which the West must act
together.
L. ID. Wight Thatcher welcomed the
delegation on behalf of the State of Kan
sas. An adjournment was then taken
until 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
Upon reassembling letters OF regret
were read from those who had been given
special invitations to attend the congress.
Among the number was one from Presi-
dent Harrison, in which he regretted his
inability to be present In response to the
invitation extended him. He also said:
public discussion Of the conditions affect
ing agricultural and business prosperity cannot
but be helpful, IL II is conducted on broad lines
and is hospitable to differences OF opinion. The
extraordinary development OF production OF
agriculture which has taken place in a 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, very
naturally has called attention to the value ana,
indeed, the necessity Of larger markets. / am
necessarily the best market for the producers
as Il measurably anticipates him, In proportion
10 its nearness, from the exactions of the trans
portation companies. II the farmer could de-
Of his farm wagon, his Independence ana his
profits would be larger and surer. IL seems TO
me quite possible to attain n largely increased
market for our staple farm products without
impairing the home market by opening the
manufacturing trades TO competition In which
foreign producers paying a lower scale OF wages
would have the advantage. police that would
reduce the number OF our peopls engaged In me-
chanical pursuits or diminish their ability to
purchase food products by reducing wages can
not be helpful to those now engaged in agricul-
ture The farmers insist that the prices of
farm products have been too low-below the
point Of fair living aud fair profits / think so,
too, but venture to remind them that the plea
thoy make involves the concession that things
may be too cheap. A coat may be too cheap
we'll as corn. The farmer who claims good
living and profits for his work should concede
the same to every other man and women who
tolls. i look with great confidence TO the COM
pletion Of reciprocal arrangements, especially
with the Central and South American States, as
furnishing new and large markets for meats,
breadstuffs and an important line Of manu-
factured products. Your deliberations will
probably also embrace the consideration OF the
question of the volume and character of our cur
rency IL will not be possible, ana would not be
appropriate for me In this letter to enter upon
any elaborate discussion Of these questions.
One or two things will say, and first, believe
that every person who thoughtfully considers
the question will agree with me upon propo-
sition which is at the base OF all consider
alton of the currency question: namely, that
any dollar paper or coin, that Is issued by the
United States, must be made and kept in its
commercial uses as good as any other dollar.
izsd by the United States Government is accept
ed I'm commercial use as the equivalent OF the
best coined dollar that we tissue, and so long as
every coined dollar whether Of silver or gold is
assured Of an equal value I'm commercial use
there need be no 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, I'm buying or selling. rated at less
value than other papers OF coined dollars, We
have passed the limit Of safe experiment in
finance. II we have dollars Of different values.
only the poorest will circulate. The farmer and
the laborer who are not I'm hourly touch with
the ticker the telegraph will require, above all
other classes OF our community, dollar OF full
value. Fluctuations and depreciations are al
ways at the first cost OF these classes of our
community. The banker aud the speculator
ticipate, discount. and often proht by such
fuctuations. 1t ie very easy under the impulse
of excitement or the stress OF money stringency
10 fall into the slough of q deprecated or irre-
deemable currency. lt IL q very painful and slow
business TO get out when once In. have always
believed, and do now more than ever believe In
bimetalism and favor the fullest use of
silver In connection with our currency that IL
compatible with the maintenance of the parity
of the gold and silver dollar In their CONNER
cial uses. Nothing, I'm my judgment, would so
much retard the restoration of the free use
of silver by the commercial nations Of the
world as legislation adopted by us that would
silver monometalism. Tho legislation adopted
by the hrat session of the Fifty FIRST Congress-
was assured by leading advocates of free cofn-
age representatives OF the silver States, would
promptly and permanently bring silver 10 12o
per ounce and keep IL there. That anticipation
has not been realized and for reasons not vet
agreed upon diminished the demand for silver
IN China and Incia.
Here ami There.
THE organs of smell in the turkey vul-
ture and carrion crow are so delicate