The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-08-02
THE B1METALLETS.
Ex- Senator Reagan Wards Of 6
Partisan Controversy.
THURMAN OPPOSES FIAT MONEY.
~,ho Chairman Insists on n "stable Gu r.
rency" in the Shape of Gold and Sill
ver-senator Stewards Harsh Criticism
of Secretary Carlisle.

ver-senator Stewards Harsh Criticism
of Secretary Carlisle.
CHICAGO, Aug. 2-The attendance at
the national convention of the American
5imetallic league Is larger than at any
previous assembly of like character In
the history Of financial legislation. The
First Methodist church, where the open
Ing sessions were held, proved much too
small to accommodate the delegates, and
today the convention mot in Central
Music hall. where the future sessions will
be held.
d, After the address of welcome by Mayor
Harrison Chairman Warner, of the Bi-
metallic league delivered his opening ad-
dress, In the course of which he said,
speaking of the Sherman silver purchase
law:
"The members OF congress, the speaker
of the house, who signed that BILL the
president who approved it, never knew
that 1t demonetized silver. There was but
pne man in the United States senate who
knew that the act of 1873 demonetized sill
yer, and yet he has never been hung or
phot for treason. That act will be known
In history as the crime of 1873 Let tho
memories Of those who stand connected
with 1t rot In oblivion"
At the afternoon session the committee
on permanent organization reported as
follows: Chairman, Allen w. Thurman, of
Ohio; secretary, Joseph Hutchinson, of
Colorado; assistant secretaries, Lee Gran
dell, of Washington, and Amos Simpson,
pf Illinois; sergcant-at-arms, Champion S.
Chase. of Nebraska. The slate went
through with a whoop
While waiting for the report of the COM
tnittee on credentials Delegate j. Schill-
ing, the Wisconsin labor leader, proposed
that Governor Waite be invited to speak.
This was greeted with cries of Eyes" and
mo-" about equally divided. The chair
suggested that it would be better to pro-
coed In proper order, but Schilling per-
Flsted and made formal resolution that
Waite be invited to take the platform. In
The midst of the copfusion Governor Waite
arose and In good natured manner said
he was ready to speak for himself, and
that IL he was wanted to talk he would be
glad to do so in the proper time and when
the machinery of the convention was in
proper order. The delegates gave the gray
headed governor round of applause.
Bchilling subsided and the episode ended
The Illinois delegation had considerable
trouble in selecting its member of the
committee on order Of business, and finally
Hon. A. j. Streator, the venerable ex-
Greenbacker, and ex-presidential candi-
date, was selected. After this the roll was
called for members of the committee on
resolutions.
Just before the call of the roll was be-
gun, however, the convention came dam
Eerously near splitting upon rock, and
Tor while 10 looked as though an after
Moons turmoil was In sight. The contro-
eersy was preclpitated by Delegate
Thomas, of Colorado who, in behalf of tho
delegation, moved that the committee on
resolutions be selected one from each po-
tltical party in each delegation. [Slight
applause, Kisses and confusion, and cries
Of "We want no party lines"l Securing
permission to speak to the proposition, he
bald that the convention might be charged
with belonging to or being under the dom
snation Of one of the three great political
parties, and it was more than important
that no such impression should go out
from that hall. They wanted nm Amer.
can party of free coinage, one having no
suspicion Of being under the control Of
English gold or of the Rothschilds.
Donald Fletcher of Nebraska, declared
that they wanted a new party, under a
hew Byme, and with a new flag Re
peated Kissing and cries of mo- were the
response. Paul Vandercook, of Nebraska,
kx-commander-in-chic OF the Grand Army
Of the Republic denied that the delegates
were there to form a new party. They had
hAEedl1 u phIly-lHb IeDplb party, the
only party that had plank in It's declara-
kion of principles for free coinage This
party was not going to throw over all the
est of its principles for silver, it was not
going intoa new party, and il that was tho
object and purpose of this convention, my
attempt to carry it would result in a
showing OF very many empty seats
Hearty applause greeted this sentiment,
and then Senator Reagan, of Texas, APP
pesred upon the platform in the role of
beacemaker. He said that he had been
called here,as had been the rest of his col
leagues, without any reference to any po-
bitical party, but simply as citizens of tho
United States for the purpose of arresting
the course Of the bondholders and gold
mon, and restoring the money of the peo-
pie to Its proper position. The moment
they introduced politics 1t would produce
stTife and confusion; it would mar har-
mony of action and render nugatory what
ever might be accomplished by the conven-
= tion. He appealed to them TO let politics
alone.
Senator Reagan's talk had its effect and
Delegate Thomas withdrew his resolution
-. From the committee on credentials came
report that $40 delegates were entitled
TO vote, and that they came from forty
two states and territories BY this time
The decks had been cleared for the perma-
hent organization, and Allen W Thur
man WAS welcomed with rousing cheers
whom escorted to the platform. Chairman
4 Thurman plunged Into his address with.
put preface, and nearly every sentiment
evoked applause and other evidence of en-
thusiasm. Mr.. Thurman said in part:
"The fight between those who believe
that he circulating medium of this coun-
try should be hard money-thut is, real
money, gold and silver and paper, redeem
nble in the same, and those who believe in
the use of soft money-that is, paper prom
lses to pay money redeemable in other
promises to pay-is on.
II am against an irredeemable currency
In every way, but howeve= il it is to be de-
creed that we must have fat money; if our
circulating medium is to be based on fiat
alone. then / am in favor of its being is.
sued by the government and not by indi-
viduals. But there Is no need of fiat
money, for while it is true there is not n
sufficient amount Of gold. yet there is
enough real moncy-gold and silver-upon
which our currency can safely rest.
"The best money, the most honest money
Is that which will give to the people as
near as possible stability of value. The
claims of the single standard men that
tLis eau be maintained only with gold
alone believe has been so often disproved
thRt 1t Is even unnecessary to refer to 1t. ~
Mr. Thurman had no doubt that the
presidents mes sage to be sent 10 congress
upon August will contain the catch
penny phrase Sound and stable cur
fency" He wanted the president, for
whom he had great respect, to define this
phrase and to give the people his reasons
for saying that gold alone will make the
stable standard.
In conclusion he submitted proposition
q. 70 agree to the repeal of the Sherman law