The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1893-07-05
MONDAY, AUGUST
Then Will Congress Convene in
Extra Session.
The President Yields to the Tremen
dous Pressure,
Issues the Proclamation and
Leaves Town.

At First He Was 10th to Listen to Unso-
lIcited AdvIce-The Country's PeriIous
Financial Condition Which Was Precip-
itated by India's stoppage of the Coin
age of Silver, Together with the De-
mand For the Repeal of the Sherman
Law, fastened Matters.
WASHINGTON. July 3.-The president
yielded Friday and issued proclama-
ton converting the Fiftythird congress
in extra session on Monday, Aug. Z. at
noon. The kilograms and letters which
have been received from every part of
the United States almost without inter
mission for more than week finally
moved President Cleveland from his de-
termination to stand by the early part
of September for an extra session of
congress. For several days he had been
weakening in his decision and becoming
persuaded that the situation was suffi-
GENTLY grave to necessitate the meeting
of congress in the sweltering days of
August.
The pressure TO bring this about has
been simply tremendous, and it finally
had its effect. AT first the president re-
scented the advice which was gratuit-
ously offered in such large quantities
1t was only after struggle with his
own notion of what was the thing to
do, and an appreciation that he was be-
ing blamed for want of action, that he
changed his purpose, and after present
ing his determination to the cabinet for
its approval, that he issued the procla-
nation and left for Buzzard's Bay. The
president will be absent from the cap
ital three weeks or more, his stay de-
pending upon circumstances.
The cabinet was in session over three
hours. The financial situation was al
most the only topic discussed. Mr..
Cleveland and each of his secretaries
had been overwhelmed with messages
demanding an extra session of congress
at once. The strongest arguments in
favor of early action were made by Mr..
Lamont, and. after long discussion,
August was finally selected as the best
compromise between the presidents
choice of September and the peoples
demand for an immediate session.
Even before the action of the Indian
government in stopping the free coinage
of silver, the financial situation was
hazardous, but that move of the Indian
government made the converting of con-
gress a necessity if the country was to
he saved from panic that would have
surpassed the horrors of 1878. Money
has been gradually getting so close, and
1dlluICS VI DdIlhS anu puSlllGSS lDSLlUll-
tions have been so many because of this
scarcity, and the general distrust SO
widespread that the danger of panic
has been increasing each day.
The clamor from all over the country
for the repeal of the Sherman silver
purchase law is believed to have had
its effect also. There is danger, how
ever, that the expressions given forth
by congressman and senators and even
members of the cabinet to the effect
that the president hesitated about is
suing u proclamation for the earlier
extra session of congress because he
was not persuaded that it would be
possible to repeal the Sherman law,
which has been claimed by the major
ity of those who talked about the
financial situation and its dangers as
the cause of the untavorable condition
of business, may cause a feeling of
doubt as to the probability of repeal
ing the law and make the situation
worse. because the president himself is
supposed to believe the issue of the
extra session doubtful.