The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-01-05
MONETARY CONFERENCE.
AN INTERVIEW WITH ONE OF TIE
AMERICAN DELEGATES.
Senator Allison Admits that the Conference
was Barren Of Results But Hopes For
eign Countries Have Received a
Beneficial Lesson

NEW YORK, Dec. Ex-senator w.
b. Allison, one of the d elegates to the
International Monetary conference
recently held at Brussels, speaking of
the Monetary Conference said: I'm
some respects it was satisfactory,
others not. If you ask me for tangi-
BILE results l must admit there are
few, but breaking ground you know is
an important part of building house,
and we did break ground for better
things to come. Just what these
things will be it is impossi-
BILE for me to say or any man to
predict. This much, however, is
certain, the delegates who took part
in the conference and who are all
men of fine intelligence, went away
in hopeful, earnest frame of mind,
more than ever convinced of the impor-
lance, may say the necessity of TAX
ing some general action in regard to
this vast monetary question. The
conviction itself 1 consider most en-
couraging sign, for there is nothing
so hard to combat and so fatal to ad-
vancement as ignorance and apathy.
Before this conference, many of the
delegates were not keenly alive to the
Importance of the problems which
they have been called on to solve, and
tho M tho fn1innr
ton.
Now all is different. 1 am struck
by the general disposition of the as
sembly to admit that TIE existing
monetary relations of civilized ma.
tons is unsatisfactory and calcula-
ted to seriously hamper and
check the carrying on and develop
ment of the worlds commerce. L ad-
vocated the st ength of the free coin
age of gold and silver at the minis of
nations entering into the union with
the provision that a certain ration be-
tween gold and silver be maintained.
/ believe i'll coming all the gold and
silver presented. The ratio l refer to
is between the value of the metals as
coined into dollars, that is, the mum.
Der of grains in each. [ think that a
ratio can be maintained by law. Some
think it will fluctuate with the vary
ing production from mines of silver
and gold but such has not been the
case in the past"
The senator was asked how his ar
guments in favor of free coinage of
silver were received by European del
egates.
'Not very well, must admit" he
said, "but did get them to acknowl-
edge that there was more to be gained
va more abundant use of silver in
heir coinag @ as far as consistent with
the present monometalic system.
That makes me hopeful of some def
mite result in accordance with our
policy when the conference meets in
May.r
"Ahd how about the Sherman law?
Do you think any action will be taken
by the present congress?"
The senator smiled, "No, we do not
propose to deprive our friends, the
enemy, of the pleasure of arranging
that little matter as they may think
best. Of course L do not know any
thing about it, but L have strong
impression that the Sherman act will
not be interferred with by the present
congress-"
land after the next congress meets,
will they be able to take any action
touching on the monetary system of
the country during the recess of the
international conference?"
ut was specifically stated that any
one of the countries represented was
free to alter its monetary system
during r. cess in any way it might see
fit according to its immediate necessi-
ties"