Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-06-07
AT THE OPERA HOUSE

Tho Addresses by Mr.. James II. Wiilock'
OF Pittsbure and Major Jed Hotchkiss'
OF stauuton, Va.
There was quite q fair attendance OF
business men and citizens generally at
the Opera House last evening, to listen
to the addresses. under the auspices or
the Bankers Association, by President
James Fl. Wilcox, Of the Second Ma
tional Bank of Pittsburg, and Major
Jed. Eotchkiss, of Stanton, Va.
The meeting was called to order by
Mr.. Dalzell. Of the City Bank, who
briefly introduced Mr.. Wilcox, as the
first speaker.
Mr.. Wilcox was warmly applauded
as ne came forward His topic was the
timely one of Sound Currency
He said, in part:
I'm speaking on sound money be-
fore the West Virginia Bankers Asso-
citation. I feel that / am at once enjoy
iue q privilege ana performing duty.
lIy pleasure arises from speaking TO
an audience of such intelligence,
though i can hope to say little original
upon q subject which is being dis
cussed with great ability by the lead
ing men Of the cClntry. Every repe-l-
t0n of good doctrine is one more bio"
ST. hlresy, and at such time as this,
when financial heresy is rampant, 1 be-
Feye iJ TO be the duty Of every man 10
add testimony TO The growing accum-
ulation of evidence on the SIDE OF rlShJ.
THE country must be educated TO
regard this vital question in true
Nght. The very persistence on the
neretics has gained for their teachings
an adherence which has become men
ace to- the commercial, agricultural,
dustrial. financial and political III
ests of this country, and that persist
ance must be met with equal perseVer-
ence in the cause OF sound doctrine. j
am the more pleased TO be speaking
here because West Virginia and west
ern PENNSYLVANIA have so much IN
common in their commerce, industries
and even in their natural surroundings
that they should have community OIL
thought on so serious subject.
III is unfortunate that partisan pol
itics and patriotism can hardly be re-
g9rled ais synonymous terms. II is 70
he regretted that this matter has often
in the past been made q question Oh
partisan politics. On so simple cues
ton of business honesty, IT. would be
the greatest misfortune that party
lines should be drawn, and there IS
much announcement in the fact That,
independent of partisan alhiations, the
most conspicuous leaders of America
are uniting 10 uphold the true and de-
m0lish the false.
IT cannot do better than quote from
recent speech Of the Hon. Secretary
of the Treasury as follows: The cues
tfon presented 70 us by the agitation
now Going on. is whether the minis of
rbo United States shall be thrown open
10 all the silver in the world, that any
individual or corporation may desire
m have coined. free of charge, into legal
ronder dollars-that u.s. legal tender in
tre United States only-at ratio OF
1901
81 have never been. and en- not now.
unfri7ndlv TO silver in the sense or
dosfring TO see it excluded from the
monetary system of The United states,
or of any other country. but know that
If cannot be kept i'm circulation along
Win cold by means Of any ratio the
lov- of any one country may attempt
90 establish between the TWO metals.
and that the only way to- secure the
use of both ut the same time is 10
make one Of them the standard or Value
and SO limit the coinage Of the other
-hor the government which issues them
and receives Them. for public dues may
ba able az all times 20 maintain their
exchanged ilitv. either directly or indi-
~.rtiv through the operation OF its fis-
eel system. am therefore in favor Of
-be preservation of the existing stand
ara of value. with such use Of legal
lender silver coins. and paper convert
ifls into coin on demand, as can be
maintained without impar.ns or en-
dqneering the credit OF the government
or diminishing the purchasing or debt
having power of the money in the
4 hands Of the people This is what
moon by the term sound money and
i- my opinion. il is what is meant by
IN Notwithstanding majority of the 0ppo-
,-Dts OF free coinage m the ratio OF is
+ to- /
This is q definition which all can
understand.
WHAT MAKES SOUND MONEY?
.There are many essential Qualifca-
fors for sound money. but the most
important Is. that it shall be univer-
+ sauv ecceDtabla. and the elementary
/ ~srrirement for universal acceDta5ility
( Is fxilv and stability OF value. It has
been aptIy said that the standard mon