The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-09-27
THE SILVER CONFERENCE.

NEW YORK, Sept. 26.-Henry Clews, in
his weekly financial circular, discusses the
probable outcome of the proposed silver
conference, as foliowsi
although, at the moment, the silver
question appears to be comparatively for
gotten, yet it would be a great mistake to
assume that it has been permanently
shelved. On the contrary, there is much
reason to anticipate that it will prove the
most potent factor in finance at no distant
future AT present the controversy is
ouiescent, because it has been referred 20
jury, chosen by the leading governments.
TO say what, il anything, can be done to
restore silver to its former status as one Of
the money metals. But what if that jury
should never reach verdict? Or what if
Judgment should be rendered against re-
storing to the metal its lost powers2
"As the period for the assembling of the
conference draws nearer, the chances OF
any helpful result seem to become less
promising. According to such limited in
timations as escape from official quarters,
the possibilities appear to be mainly two,
which are equally possible and equally
fatal. Our advices from high sources i'll
London give considerable credibility to
the report recently put forth by the agent
of the Associated Press in the British
metropolis that il is very doubtful
whether the conference will ever assemble
Premier Gladstone, there seems to be no
doubt, is infiexibly opposed to any repre-
sentative Of England taking part in any
discussion that contemplates "a change IN
the monetary standard of Great Britain
This phrase may seem somewhat vague,
and may leave greatdeal TO conjecture as
TO what that country would refuse to ac-
cept; but it may be taken rule of in
terpretstion ordinarily applicable TO Mr..
Gladstone's utterances, that when lie
is most vague he means most. 1t is
reasonable 10 expect from ali Mr.. Glad
stones past utterances on financial mat
ters that he is an unqualified adherent of
the strictest school of single standard
men. Mr.. Goschen and his chief have
shown themselves TO have strong lean
inSs toward the Manchester double stand
ard party, 30 much so that there is no
question they would have gone much
farther in helping the restoration of silver
than can be expected from the new pre-
mier. Under such circumstances, the
conference, If it meets at all, must meet
under widely different auspices from those
existing when the United States issued its
inYitatlons. Fresh explanations and stip-
ulstions are 20 be expected from the Brit
ish government, and II seems inevitable
that those statements should 20 before
the other participating powers previous
20 determining the time and place of
meeting. such interchauges could hard
ly fail To bring out the fact
could be expected from Englaud's co-oper;t-
tiou. fall is true that we have SO oft
heard about concession and cooperation
from England bang absolutely necessary
10 any amel;otsry action by the other gov
ernnaents, II certainly seems highly posi-
ble hat Mr. GladsUcne's attitude might
cause an abandonment of the whole
scheme. And even should the conference
assemble. hardly anything better than
failure could be expected as the outcome
of EnglandS attitude: for England il is
universally assumed, would be followed
by Germany. We thus have TO face a
probability that, In a few weeks at most,
all hopes OF restoring silver through an iE-
tsrnational union may have been abau-
Goned. That result would be tautamount
20 liking irrevocably and for prolonged
period the depreciation and the instability
of this metal The doom of silver would
be sealed, and the grave problem would
be forced upon the United States how
most quickly 70 get rid of silver and put
Ats finances upon the single gold basis
w AsHINGToN, Sept. 20 There has been
no arrangements yet concluded for hold
ing the international monetary confer
enees. Correspondence on 1.-The subject OF
the place for the meeting TSas interrupted
10y tue cholera scare, and lt is now As ur,-
certain as ever where the conference will
he held. i date for its assembling. which
canuot De wei! announced until after the
placs of meeting has been agreed upon. is.
of course, equally a matter Of DOUBT.
treasury officials say IL IL doubtless the
basis Of the report printed In some of the
western papers that Senator Allison of
iowa, one of the commissioners from TN.
United States, could not attend the con
ference but would remain in Iowa during
the campaign. There is no probability
now that the conference will be held until
after the election. so that the senator NAV.
without regard TO that event, continue
his campaign services without interrup-
SION.
But the delay may result in losing to the
country and conference the services of SEN
ntor Allison. he Is chairman of the senate
committee on appropriations. and his ah-
sence would seriously cripple the commit
tee in its work. This especially is true sr
this time. The next session OF conrress
will be short one, lasting but three
months, including the holiday recess The
work of the committee Is usually done. 10
q considerable extent. in the month that
tnteryenes between election and the meet
ing OF congress. IN view OF the importance
OF the task committed TO him by the SEN
ate, II is not improbable that Senator Ali
San may conclude that he can be of more
service in Washington than st the moue-
tary conference. and decide 10 remain Ar
home. There has, however been no Off
ciai correspondence upon the subject: ii
has only been informally considered as
one of the probabilities