Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-01-05
The Silver Conference Not a Failure

The Silver Conference Not Failure
Not few of the newspapers of this coun-
try have expressed tho opinion that the
monetary COP ference ut Brussels was fail
ure, or at least did not accomplish the OBJ
jcct for which it was called. That this
opinion should come to prevail is perhaps
not surprising, owing to the slight degree
Of progress made and the Adjournment of
the conference for prolonged period.
Senator W. 3. Allison of Iowa, one OF the
delegates from the United States to the
monetary conference, who has just return
ed to his country, denies that the confer
ence was in any Gense failure, and he an
ticipates that the session in May will be one
Of the utmost Importance, not only to til 5
country but also to all the nations repre-
ented.
Senator Allison accounts in various wa
for the lack of progress made by the confer
ence. In the first place lie says the time of
the meeting was unfortunate in that it sp-
preached SO closely to the holiday season,
leaving less than a month to deal with this
important subject before an adjournment,
either final or to a definite date, was newt.
able. Another cause or d ay was the fact
that the European delegates supposed that
the American de egates were to be prepared
to lay before tie conference a definite aud
comprehensive plan looking to the enlarged
use OF silver only little short OF free mint
age by the United states aud by the leading
nations OF Europe. The American dele
gates, on the other hand supposed, accord
ing to Senator Allison, that il tine leading
nations of Europe were not willing to agree
10 n free mlntage OF silver at q fixed ratio
their representatives would be prepared to
state in the conference how far they were
willing to 90 as regards the enlarged use OF
silver consistent with their established
monetary policies, or how far they might
be willing TO modify their monetary policies.
Neither side was prepared, however, and
1t became necessary to prepare e. pro-
gramme, duty which fell 10 tho Ameri-
can delegates. serss of suggestions
were submitted and discussed, but it
early became evident that the plans sug-
gested for the enlarged use of silver re-
CURED moro study and more care in their
formulation than it would be possible to
bestow upon them before the time for an ad-
journmenJ over the holidays should arrive.
| The length OF the recess taken was largely
governed by the American delegates, who
held that inosmuch as our government is to
change March 4, 1t was wise to request that
sufficient time be allowed for tho new ad-
ministration to make its own suggestions to
the conference as TO what tho United States
| ha RI do
| its monetary use
Senator Allison hold, tine opinion that a
| monetary union can be established with n
view to increase the monetary use OF silver,
but he has little hope that any of the
European nations will favor movemen
looking toward free coinage. The German
delegates announced that Germany was
satisfied with its present monetary policy
and that its delegates were not authorized to
advocate or vote for any proposition which
looked to change of that policy. Later
one Of the English delegates said that Eng
land would gladly promote any pan which
would look TO an increase in the value OF
silver or its larger use as money, but tn,
monetary policy of England being to max,
gold tho standard OF value, that country wa
satisfied and not prepared to change its pol
icy. Mr., Tirard, delegate from France
who was also authorized to speak for tht
Latin union states said that in view OF wha
had been said Of Germany and England
France would not be prepared nor woulc
the Latin union states be prepared to con
slider the question OF re-openins their mint
to the free coinage Of silver. The most tina