The Lamar register., 1893-03-04
THE sl-Me1ALLlc LEAGUE.
Meeting of Leading silver Men at WASH
inCtou.

on the 22nd
General Warner, the president, in his
opening address, stated the aim OF the
league to be the securing of legislation for
the free and unlimited coinage of silver.
This question, he said, was the most impor-
tant one now before the American people, or
before the civilized world. 1t over-shadowed
the tariff question, which in his opinion was
but a result of the restricted coinage OF silver,
and 1t was really at the bottom OF the Irish
question. 1t was also at the bottom of the
labor question and was responsible for the
condition of the laboring men. He urged the
league to fight not only against the repeal of
the Sherman act, but to labor until silver was
put on parity with gold. The two political
parties during the campaign denied that the
silver question was an issue, but as soon as
the election was over it was the only issue
that the president-elect had given serious
consideration to.
At the evening session speeches were de-
livered by Colonel A. &. Shinn of Kansas,
Mardon Butler of South Carolina, Represen-
tatives Bland and Hatch of Missouri, and
Chief Justice Huston of Idaho.
Mr.. A. C. Fisk of Denver and Senator
Jones OF Nevada delivered the principal
speeches Of the convention Thursday. Mr..
favor Of free coinage.
Senator Jones speech was exceedingly able
and conspicuously moderate in tone.
There was also notable absence Of that in-
tense bitterness which characterized some of
the speeches both Thursday and Friday. The
senator told OF the work OF the international
conference. Before the conference began he
was to a degree opposed TO it. He believed
that this government should do its own think
Ing and should also regulate its own none
tary and other affairs, and in addition to this
| he was not at all sangune TO the result
| But he thoroughly convinced that the
| conference had done Il great work for silver.
| When the session began there was the strong
est opposition to ;he expressed purposes OF
| the conference, especially on the part of
Great Britain, but that determined opposition
| had been in measure succeeded by feeling
much more favorable to silver
Since the conference adjourned he had re-
| eeived letters from Mr.. Balfour and other
| prominent leaders in England which showed
that the conference had set the nations to
thinking upon this subject, and the feeling in
favor of silver was surely becoming more
| widespread.
The senator was much encouraged by the
outlook and there is not the least doubt that
his speech was much of surprise to many OF
| the delegates. They were not prepared to
| hear from able and strong a bimetallist as
Senator Jones words OF such unqualified In
| dorsement of the international agreement
| project. His speech was listened to with the
closest attention by everyone present.
! He said that l6 per cent. OF the population
of London was living upon charity, and yet
the English commissioners asked the United
/ laIa t.,
OF the value of silver and adopt the policy
that brought about this wretched condition.
The proposition now before congress to Issue
more bonds, he said was deceptive trick.
1t meant simply that the banks wanted to
control the circulating medium of the coun-
| try.
X. f. Kolb, candidate of the Populists for
governor OF Alabama in the receLt election,
in a short address, indorsed the aims of the
convention.
Henry Jones of Atlanta, Georgia. declared
that the president-elect had larger follow
ing in this congress than he would have in
the next.
General Field, of Georgia, candidate for
| vice president on the Peoples party ticket,
spoke, severely criticising the president-elect
for trying 10 defeat the election of candidates
| before the various state legislatures who rep
resented the wishes of the people on the silver
| question.
Resolutions were adopted dcnouncing the
attempt to repeal the law of 1890 and the
issue of new bonds, aud demanding the free
and unlimited coinage of silver.
At the opening of Fridays session speeches
were made by T. II. Tebbles of Nebraska and
Mr. Dean of New York.
Representative Lafe Pence of Colorado
made speech. The state Of Colorado, he
said, was for free silver at all times, but it was
| a mistake to suppose that the mining inter
ests of the state were more important than
the agricultural. The agricultural products
| OF Colorado were more In 1892 than both sill
yer aud gold. 1t was, therefore, apparent
that Colorado had no selfish motive in its ad-
yocacy of free silver He would ask nothing
| of President-elect Cleveland and expected
nothing, but would oppose and denounce him
whenever opportunity presented itself.
Old party lines were being rapidly wiped out.
We did not forget in June, he said, what
was taught us in May. and we carried 1t in
| our memories until November when the bal
| lot created revolution in American politics.
He contrastcd General Weaver in his cam
| pagu with Fremont, and said that four years
| hence he would be the Abraham Lincoln of
the American people.
| He held that the most encouraging signs
| for the success of the Populist party was the
selection of Judge Gresham TO be Cleveland's
| secretary of state. This gentleman, he said,
| eight years ago was postmaster general and
secretary of the treasury under u Republican