The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-06
THE FREE COINAGE MOVEMENT

The committee of the New York Cham
Der of Commerce having in charge the
crusade against free silver has made public
summaryeof reports received from vari-
Gus States concerning the present status of
the silver movement. 1t is evident from
the tone of the report that the intention of
the committee was to encourage the gold
men, and, as far as possible, discourage
the silver men, in the prosecution OF the
campaign. This is made clear by the
opening statement that the movement for
free silver is waning, and due allowance
must be made for the bias of the commit
tee in order to appraise the true value of
the report.
Eliminating from it those portions which
are only expressions of opinion and weigh
ing only the facts stated in it, we shall find
1t far more encouraging to the silver men
than to the advocates of the gold standard.
The only facts of any note that can be con-
sidered favorable to the gold men are the
defeat of the Silver Democrats in Ken
lucky and the alleged success of Hoke
Smiths campaign against silver in Geor-
gia. Neither of these facts is likely to dis
courage any silver man who has any
knowledge of the situation. The Ken
lucky Democrats, on the eve of cam
paign, felt bound to adopt platform in
dorsing the Democratic administration;
they made it clear, however, that the sill
yer movement is not without force among
them by nominating strong free silver
man for Governor. There is certainly
nothing in that to encourage one side
more than the other, and that it should be
cited as great victory for the gold men is
an evidence how much they need encour-
aging.
Of Hoke Smiths campaign little can be
said. That a speech by an official of Cabi-
net rank should draw large audience is
in the natural order of things, and it is folly
to make from the size of the crowds that
throng to hear him an estimate of the ex-
tent to which the people favor his views
and support the policy of the administra-
ton to which he belongs.
While the features of the report favor
able to the gold side of the controversy are
of this doubtful character those that show
growing strength among the silver men
are more certain in their significance. The
report states that the movement in Ohio.
has become very strong, and that strenuous
efforts are now being made by Brice and
other gold-bug Democrats to head it off, to
the extent at least of preventing the Dem
ocratic State Convention from adopting a
free.silver platform. In Pennsylvania the
silver movement is led by Senators Came
ron and Quay, supported by the Manufac-
turers' Club of Philadelphia, and with
such leadership and backing is making
good Roadway among the people.
Concerning the outlook in the Middle
West the report states that in Indiana, Hi
nois, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin
the people are largely in accord with what
the committee calls "silver magnates."
The only encouragement given to the gold
men in regard to these States is the asser-
ton that the crops are good and that when
the farmers find themselves once more
prosperous they will be content with
things as they are and will cease to de-
mand the reconciliation of silver.
This is the sum and substance of the re-
port of the committee after seeking in
formation from leading men in all parts OF
the Union. 1t is but a seanty showing of
the results of such great efforts. If the
gold men can find anything in it which
justifies the assertion that the movement
for return to bimetallism is subsiding,
they must be able to read something be-
tween the lines that is not visible to the
eyes of the general public. 1t is report,
in fact, which adds nothing to the popular
knowledge of the situation. On which
side the majority of the people stand will
not be known until the vote has been cast
in the Congressional elections next year.
In the meantime it seems to be certain
that the sentiment in favor of return to
bimetallism is increasing both in this
country and in Europe. 1t needs no re-
ports from prominent men to assure US OF
that fact. 1t is written broadly in the
news of the day. Ali the forces OF COM
merce and industry are leading up to it,
and far-seeing statesmen are advocating it
in England France and Germany, as well
as in America. 1t is one of the great re-
form movements of the world to which
every omen augurs success.