Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1892-05-18

Energetic friends Of silver and advo
Gates of free coinsge so welded Il
their own views OF the only prope
methods to accomplish given result
that they are absolutely deaf to All.
suggestions of a possible similar out
come on different lines. These ar
the silver irreconcilables, aud they ar
to>day pooh pooling the coming con
ference, just as they did the atemp
in the Fif,y-6rst Congress to secure
the free coinage of the American sill
yer product, result which would to
day be an existent fact if it had no
been for their opposition. They ar.
the O'Donovan Rossas of the sive1
campaign. l believe that free coin
age Parnellism, SO to speak, will leat
to ultimate victory.
HARRIsoN's POSITION.
The position of Mr.. Harrison's ad
ministration upon the free coinage
question can be briefly stated. Mr..
Harrison and his Secretary OF the
Treasury, and bis Director Of the
Mint, have been aud are bimetallists
All have been committed to bimet.
allism. All to-day are convinced that
the interests of civilization demand
the use Of the two metals. Differing
from the advocates of immediate free
and unlimited coinage, they are salts.
fed America, which produces nearly
nine. tenths of the silver output, could
not maintain its parity with gold at
any set ratio without the cooperation
of other nations. They assert that
Austria has 6O,00O,O00 forms to throw
upon the market, and that France,
with 275, 100000 Of silver as a reserve
for notes, IS already wagering over q
proposition to convert it into bullion,
aod that common European consent
agrees with American bankers IN ill.,
sisting that NO one nation, by any
action it may take, can alone settle so
momentous problem of internationa al
concern. This reasoning may be fall
lacious, but it obtains, and obtains
among men who profess themselves
strong bimetallists, and whose actions,
as shall detail them, lend strong
color to the belief.
President Harrison, though doubt
full of the remedy, was willing to sign
. bill for the free coinage OF the
American product. Such . measure
could have been passed in the Senate
had the silver men permitted it. Ow>
ing chiefly to Senator Jones's ability
the present law for increased pur-
chases of bullion was enacted and
signcd by the President. l know that
he considered it then only q tempo.
rary makesh,ft, and asserted that it
would in the end prove unsatisfactory,
while temporarily relieving the situa-
ton. But the strongest
EVIDENCE OF HIS GOOD FAITH
is found in the facts which follow:
The ink was scarcely dry on the silver
bill before President Harrison insti.
tuted quietly steps looking towards
securing an international timetable
conference. He summoned to WASH
ington and saw, through the Secretary
of the Treasury in New York, several
gentlemen of means, prominence and
ability, known to be friendly to silver,
and gave them commissions to sound
the feeling Of public men abroad upon
a movement looking to the rehabilita>
ton of silver, in which the United
States should take tho initiative.
These men acted without oompensa>
ton and without publicity, but with
full authority. The results Of their
labors in Paris, in London, in Rome,
and Vienna were fully reported to
President Harrison and satisfied him
that the time was ripo for . serious
attempt to secure an international
agreement for the monetary use of
both metals. The full ASSURANCE of
England's warm cooperation was the
one thing most essential to gain this.
Secretary Foster made his trip to
London. There he spent week in FREQ
and full consultation with Mr.. Goschen
and Mr.. Balfour. He was agreeably
surprised at the cordial assurance that
England would readily accept the in
vitstion. aud still more agreeably
surprised At the statement that the
condition Of affairs in India impera-
lively demanded some action to re-
lieve the financial situation in that
country. He was informed that. while
Lombard street was opposed to any
movement looking toward bimetallism,
the merchants Of England dealing
with India were clamorous for some
change in the monetary condition
which would give stability to India's
bills Of exchange and raise the value
OF the rupee. ltaly's representatives,
also, in advance. pledged themselves
to accept an invitation to monetary
conference. President Harrison al
s...,~l