The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-08
! Addresses d Small Convention d
Silver Miners.
RECALLED PAST SILVER CRISIS,
Declared His Intention OF Calling Extra
Session OF the LegisIature-Gener
Government Hss Defsuited lite Truss
by Putting an End TO silver Coiusgc.

SALIDA, Colo. Dec. S.-The miners con.
ven ton called by Governor Waite met
here yesterday. Governor Waite, In call
Ing the delegates To order, expressed regret
that sc few had responded to the call. He
then announced his intention OF calling an
extra session Of the legislature. Judge
Mccoy of Salida. made the welcoming ad-
dress, in which he suggested the shipment
of silver to Mexico to be coined. such coin
to be declared legal tender In Colorado.
lie also suggested the enactment OF stay
law.
Governor Waite consumed over m hour
in delivering his address. He recalled tho
past silver crisis and said the situation had
somewhat improved since the darkest
hours last summer, but not over 1000 sill
yer miners out Of the 5000 thrown out of
employment have been able to resume
work. To be sure. Colorados varied re-
sources are still here, but there Ia little de-
mand for developing them while silver Is
stricken down. He then made number
of suggestions as to legislation that might
be considered at the extra session.
Aside From Silver Coinage Problem.
He recommended that state and county
warrants for the payment of which there
is no money in the proper fund at the
time OF issuance, be exchangeable for
state certificates of small denominations
that would doubtless pass as a currency
among business men; that interest and
penalties on Judgment, lands sold for
taxes, etc., be reduced to per cent; that y
state bankrupt law pc enacted.
The silver coinage problem he dwelt
upon at great length, asserting that the
right of congress to coin money Is con.
ceded, and that right is exclusive so long
as the right is exercised. This right was
given to the general government by the
states as trust, this trust calling for con-
tinuous coinage. In default of the exer-
else of the coinage right the trust reverts
tothe states or the people. BY the passing
of the enactments putting an end to the
free coinage of silver the general
Government Defauited In It's Trust.
Competent legal authority holds that the
right of the people to the free coinage Of
silver has neyar been taken away. The
extra session OF the legislature should
take action to compel an adjudication by
the United States supreme court of this
question. He held that the right Of a
state to make gold and silver coin the ten
der lin payment Of all debts collectable
within that state cannot be denied.
The remedy is for each state to enact
that the silver dollars Of the United States,
and of our sister republics in North and
South America, containing no less than
37l IA grains of silver, shall be legal ten
der for all debts. public and private. col
lectable within that state.
In concluding, he said: III we lead of in
this manner, Colorado will have plenty Of
good company in those western and south
ern states now
Ruined by tho Present Financial System.
''These states adopting our plan will
soen compel its adoption by the national
government; that will compel Great Brit
ain also to remonetize silver and go to the
devil, as, thanks be to Almighty God, the
Barings did. about two years ago"
Great objection TO special session Is
made in Denver, the bankers. the boards
of trade and commerce, the various ex-
changes, the real estate spectators. the
money lenders, and the daily newspapers
have been quite earnest in their opposi
tion. l do not believe they truly repre-
sent the people Of the state"
The convention adjourned soon after the
governor had finished his speech.