The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-05-24
Party Lines are Not Drawn at
the Memphis Convention.
CONG. cATcHINas CHAIRMAN.
Secretary Carlisle, and Other Prom
inent Speakers, Give Interest
ing Talks on Honest Money.
Associated Press.

Memphis May 3.-Upwards of 5000
people were present at the Auditorium
this afternoon when Chairman W. j.
Crawford called the convention to order.
Mr.. Crawford in his capacity of chairman
of the committee of fifteen appointed
by the associate mercantile bodies OF
Memphis, under whose auspices the con-
vention is held, called the meeting to or
der.
Richard H. Clark, of Alabama, present
ed the name of Congressman Catchings
for permanent chairman In neat and
highly complimentary speech This con-
venltion, said Mr.. Clark was evidence
that people do not believe in debased
money, and do not want to be dragged
down to the level of Mexico and China.
People represented in this convention
believed in the just and equitable use of
silver as a money metal, but they would
not deliver the country to a syndicate
of mine owners or place In jeopardy the
business of the country by the crazed
condition of public sentiment which he
likened to prairie fire, and which would
feed upon chaff and soon burn out. The
leaders in the silver movement were men
who had taken up in succession all the
political and economic heresies that had
been before the people in the past decade,
The present outcry he likened to the ex-
treme doctrine advocated by the Populists
in recent years, and their fallacies, he
declared, would soon be buried in oceala
warehouses. Congressman Catchings was
elected chairman. He said
Gentlemen, In my judgment no con-
vention ever assembled for a nobler or
higher purpose than this. Brought to-
gether from almost every Southern state,
coming from every walk Of life, repre-
senting as you do all yocations, indus
tries and conditions of life. l speak the
truth that not man has come here to
advance personal end or selfish purpose
Believing that free and Independent coin
age at 16 to 1 ratio would be disastrous
to all public and private interests
we have laid aside our private AFFAIRS
for a time to take council together as to
what is best to prevent IT.
He then introduced Secretary Carlisle
1T is contended by a large number oi
advocates Of free coinage THAT the effect
of their policy would be to establish what
they call bi-metallism and double stand
ard. l confess my inability to under
stand what is really meant by double
standard or measure of value The idea
is incomprehensible to my mind, because
cannot conceive how 1t Is possible Il
have two different legal and authoritativ
meanings for the same thing in use at thu
same time. A pound weighing 16 ounces
and a pound weighing ounces are botf
declared by law legal pounds. Instead o.
using both gold and silver as we do nov
in larger amounts than ever before II
our history, we should instantly expe
more valuable metal from the countr!
and make the other the sole basis o
our currency. We have now pracdca
bi-metalllsm-the use of both metals al
money; we should have then practlca
monometallism; the use Of only one meta
| as money. This Is a conclusion based OF
facts established by the experience of al
nations in all ages
At the night session a lengthy platform
was adopted. 1t says in part:
1--WE would rejoice over the adoption o
real bl-metallism, but in view Of tn
continued fluctuations in the price o
silver in the open market we realiz
that 1t is impossible for, the Unite
States Independently to adopt bi-metal
lie standard and we deem 1t unwis
and hazardous to the best interests Of 1t
people for this country to attempt It's es
enlistment We favor the policy of thi
country standing in the attitude Of read
mess at all times 10 cooperate with til
other powers in any effort they ma
inaugurate looking to the adoption {
true bi-metalllsm, but in the meantim
and until it's successful operation Is II
sured, to maintain inviolGte its existin
standard of value"
President Cleveland's policy was stronI
ly endorsed.