The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-28
SILVER WINS
At Omaha, but Not by the Old
Time Large Majority.
IDAHO GOVERNOR A PEssIMIsT.
He Thinks Times M Growing Worse
The Trans-Mississippi Congress
Adjourns Until Next Year.

EESSS consumer parT OF to0aN session N
a discussion Of free silver. Some hesitancy
was exhibited about provoking a discus
sion on this topic. but after the ice was
broken, the delegates became quite en-
thus.astic. The following telegram from
Gov. W. J. Mcconnell, Of Idaho. created
much comment among the delegates:
Tt the president and members OF the
trans-Mississippi congress: notice by q
press dispatch that Mr.. Whitmore, in his
remarks yesterday, said the silver quesr
ton had recently lost ground. and that
il was no longer a subject OF first interest
with the convention. / beg leave TO
record a difference Of opinion on that
subject. The delegates who constitute
your congress are sent there, not by
the votes of the people. but by appoint
ment. and I suggest 10 you, gentlemen,
that you make a mistake II you indorse
any resolutions announcing 10 the civilized
world. that the opinions OF thoughtful men
in the West have changed on the Ques-
ton. Great reforms have not been rapidly
accomplished. Civilization itself was Of
slow growth. Although the people OF the
West a been informed from day to day
that times are improving and that the
country IS becoming more prosperous,
shipments Of gold to foreign nations from
commission houses to which consignments
OF the products of farm and range have
been made admonish US that a crisis has
been reached. A few days since ii was
heralded all over the United States that
the peaceful opening OF the Nez Perez
reservation in this state had been accom-
plishe Today government buildings are
being erected thereon, and the Ab0rerS
employed are paid the munihcent sum of
81 a day. out OF which they pay So a week
for board. l implore you, gentlemen OF
the convention, not to be deceived. Some
thing is wrong. If those who favor the
rv,rI rsn ~ raf mill vaaIa 4. 11n.r q ayS that
we are benefited by the demonstration
of silver: if it can be shown 10 us that
81 a day for laboring men IN public works
is better han So: that 7 cents is better
than Is. the people Of the state OF Idaho
will quickly submit. But so long as the
present conditions confront us We will
not allow such assertions as those credited
to my very good friend TO pass unchal-
lenged."
Mr.. Whitmore said that he had not in
tended To say much during the present
session Of the congress, but, being chair
man OF the executive committee, he felt
called upon to reply TO The telegram. He
said: ~ appeal TO every man Of this con-
gress TO prove that / never made any
such remark about the silver platform,
either here in the congress or anywhere
else. | make these remarks because l
consider it my duty to do so as an official
Of this body. IS A member / am entitled
to whatever individual opinions l may
have, but as an official l must be UMPIRE
JUDGED in what / say"
The following was unanimously adopted:
Resolved. Thatwe urges speedy construc-
ton of the proposed railroad from Butte,
Mont. via Boise. Idaho, TO the Pacific
coast. This will shorten the route to Du-
luth. at the head of the Great Lakes. from
the coast go miles, and from points in
Idaho proport.onately. giving advantages
80 a mart yuafar and Nhaan freight route
to the markets of the East"
After a fve-hour discussion Of financial
issues the commercial ongres declared
for the free and unlimited coinage Of silver
at the ratio Of 16 TO 1. The vote was 80 for
gold. 127 for silver. W. ]. Bryan led the
friends of the white metal, and j. L. Web
ster, of Omaha. the opposition. The de-
bate was spirited and participated in by
most of the delegates. This resolution was
finally adopted:
Whereas. An ap~preciating money STAN
dard impairs all contracts, bankrupts all
enterprises, makes idle money profitable
by increasing it's purchasing power, and
suspends the productive FORCES or our peo-
pie and,
whereas, The spoliation consequent up
on the outlawry of silver in the interest Of
the creditor class by constantly increasing
the value OF gold is undermining al indus
trial society; therefore
Resolved, That we demand the imme-
date restoration of the free and unlimited
coinage of gold and silver at the present
ratio of Is to /, without waiting for the aid
or consent of any other nation, such gold
and silver coin TO be alike a full legal ten
der for all debts, public and private"
Mr.. Webster, in behalf of the minority
of the committee. presented the following:
Resolved, That We are in favor OF true
hi-metalism, which consists in the largest
poucfh1e fyaa nf both gold y nd silver QE the
standard money of the country compati-
Bile with the power of the nation TO main
tain the equal purchasing and debt-paying
power OF the two metals;
Resolved. That we are emphatically op-
posed 10 the free and unlimited coinage of
silver at the ratio Of Is 10 / under present
existing conditions; that such coinage
would destroy the parity between the two
metals: that the silver would drive the
gold out of circulation and thus destroy
hi-meta1lism and produce silver mono
metallism; therefore, be It further
Resolved. That we believe this long
continued agitation on the silver question
has had much 10 do with the present fin
ancial depression. producing want OF con-
ddence. threatening the stability and per-
manency Of prices and is a constant men
ace to the national credit. exciting appre-
hension abroad and uncertainty at home
President Bryan asked unanimous con-
sent to intro3uce the following memorial
in behalf Of the Nebraska delegation:
whereas. We believe that m exposition
Of all the products, industries and civih-
N lion Of the states west Of the Missis-
sjnpi river. made a. some central gateway
where the world can behold the wonder
ful CAPABILITIES of these great wealth-pro-
ducIag states. would be Of great value.
not onIy to the trans-Mississippi states.
but to all the home-seekers in the world;
therefore. be IL
Resolved. That the United States con-
gress he asked 20 take such steps as may
be necessary TO hold a trans-Mississippi
exposition in Omaha during the months
OF August, September and October in the