Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-01-14
AGAINST FREE SILVER,
Leading Democrats in Favor of an In
ternationnl Monetary Gnnference.


ternational Monetary Conference.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. 10.-It
grows more apparent every day that
the present Congress will not make any
espessas effort to pass free coinage of
silver bill. Leading members of both
houses arc of the opinion that legis-
lation OH the subject can wisely be de-
layed. The lower House could easily
pass the most ultra free coinage bill and
carry it over the Presidents promised
veto. The Senate could undoubtedly
pass bill, but it could hardly muster a
two-thirds vote to. kill the veto.
Hence leading senators and repre-
sentatives favor delay. The gist of the
opinions of several of the leaders is
given below.
Chairman William M. Springer Of the
ways and means committee, is outspoken
for delay. He said:
81 am bimetallist and as such can
not support any policy that would rele-
gate silver to the rear OF eliminate it
from political discussion. On the con-
trary, would make it a great national
and international question and would
settle it upon lines as broad as possible
and at the earliest time practicable"
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE.
He then argues that nothing can be
done by the present Congress and that
settles the question, he claims, until De-
cember, 1898. In the meantime he
favors the holding of a great interna-
tional monetary conference at the
Worlds Fair in Chicago. This Congress
should be popular one, to which the
President of the United States should
be instructed to invite all nations with
which we have diplomatic relations. He
continued:
"The representatives on behalf of the
United States should be appointed by
the President of the Senate and the
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
At least seven representatives should be
appointed by each, not more than four
Of whom should be members of the same
political party, and who should repre-
sent SO far as possible the different
shades of opinion upon the coinage Of
silver. Those appointed by the Presi-
dent of the Senate should be members of
the Senate and those by the Speaker of
the House should be members of the
present House of Representatives 1t
might DO we'll, also, to authorize the
Secretary of State and the director of
the mint in office at that time to act also
as representatives from the United
States"
Chairman Springer claims that If this
great conference fails to come to any
definite agreement, the people Of the
United States will be greatly enlightened
by the discussion of the silver question
and Congress will be better able to pass
tirst-class bill.
SENATOR CARLISLE SAYS DELAY.
Senator John S. Carlisle of Kentucky
is opposed to the passage Of free coin
age bill by the present Congress, and
favors the international conference plan
He said:
Il think that il is the only practical
thing that can be done at this time. OF
course, the agitation of the question can
go on in and out of Congress for an in
definite length of time without really
accomplishing any practical result; but
If "a monetary conference can agree
upon some plan which would receive
the approval of the countries interested,
the whole question may be satisfactorily
settled. | do not think this agitation
that is going on now is doing any good,
but that it is doing harm all the time.
Il do not think it is good policy for
the Democratic party to adopt.a free
coinage platform, for the very obvious
reason that there is division in the
party itself upon that question"
SENATOR PALMER IN LINE.
Senator Palmer of Illinois readily ac-
knowledeed that he favored the pro-
posed bill for an International Con
gress. II see no meanG,' said he, "of
determining the parity of gold and silver
coin, otherwise than by international
agreement of the commercial nations.
A free-coinage platform for the Demo
cratic party would be simplyiimpossible."
WILL FIGHT FOR FREE SILVER.
The International Monetary Confer
ence cannot be held without great oppo-
sition from many Democratic Congress
men. Culbertson of Texas, said Of the
proposition: II believe it is a betrayal
of the interests Of the people of this
country to the money power of New
York and New England
Congressman Farsney of Missouri,
said: "The best way to settle the silver
question is to settle it. 1t is a living issue
and it cannot be postponed"
Senator Chiffon and Representative
Kilgore of Texas, and Representative
Shiyely Of Indiana, all oppose the Inter-
national Congress.