The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-05-24
NOR A SIyGLE STANDARD
Memphis Convention Vigorously
Opposes Bimetallism,
SOME POINTS OF THE PLATFORM

Would Rejoice over the Adoption of BIZ
netaIlism Were IL Possible for This
Country to Bring 1t About by Inde-
pendent Action.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, May 2t-About 1900
people were at the sound money conNeh-
tion at the Auditorium yesterday alber
noon when Chairman w. j. CRAWFORD
called the convention to order While the
gathering was affecting an organization
and getting down to business the crowd
gradually filed up the vacant seats, ana
, by the time Secretary Carlisle began ms
address the large hall was comfortably
filled.
Mr.. Crawford acted in his capacity OF
chairman of committee of fifteen appointed
| by the associated mercantile bodies of
Memphis, under whose auspices the con
vention is held. In few appropriate
words the delegates and visitors were well
coined to Memphis, the purposes of the con
vention were stated and the work Oh OF
ganization begun.
DIR. Richard H. Clarke of Alabama, pre-
sented the name of Congressman Catch
| ings for permanent chairman. In his
speech A1r Clarke eulogized President
Cleveland and Secretary Carlisle his re-
marks arousing the first outburst OF en-
thusiam seen in the convention.
The selection of Mr.. Catchings was made
by unanimous viva voce vote, and the
chairman accepted the honor in graceful
speech
The remarks of the chairman were fire.
uuently interrupted by applause. After
the selection of g. c. Matthews, associate
editor of The Commercial Appeal as sec
retary, a committee on resolutions was
appointed, and on motion of U. NJ Rose
of Arkansas, delegate from each of the
states represented was appointed without
debate.
Secretary of the Treasury John G. Car
Ilisle was then introduced by Mr.. Catchings,
and as the distinguished Kentucklan
stepped to the front of the stage the
audience rose to its feet and cheered en-
Enthusiastically for several minutes After
quiet had been restored the secretary
spoke for two hours to an intensely in
. terested audience his speech being ire
2 quently interrupted by outbursts of APP
plause. The speech was vigorous ar
= raignment of the bimetallists and plea
for the single standard.
When the convention reassembled at g
D. m. Judge U. NJ Rose, chairman of the
resolutions committee, presented the plat
form, which was unanimously adopted
without debate.
The platform favors, in the absence of
international cooperation, the retention
of the existing gold standard:
Because change from the gold to the
silver standard would have the effect to
repudiate all public and private obliga-
| tions to the extent of the difference be-
tween the bullion value of the gold and
silver dollar.
! because such transition from the gold
\ to the silver basis would destroy public
), and private confidence, and would involve
\ the country in such panic, confusion and
!, distress that the products OF agriculture
j. and the wages of labor would be unremu
; nerative.
e Because the commercial world would
4 ( become Improbable and our people en-
gagged in industrial occupations would bt
!, thrown out of employment.
Because there is not a progressive, al
enlightened country in the world which
has not elected gold as the preferable
d standard.
/. Because gold standard countries retaiI
e silver in their circulation on parity will
o gold, whereas there is no silver STANDARD
g country which can utilize gold as money
Because there is not silver country
on the globe where the wages of labor arr
IT sufficient to sustain the working CLASSES
a in comfort and independence.
!. 1--WE would rejoice over the adoption o
y real bimetallism, but in view of the con
~ tinued fluctuations in the price of silver il
1r the open market we realize that it is i'm
"a possible for the United States indepen
1t IDENTIFY to adopt a bimetallic standard, ant
b. we deem it unwise and hazardous to th
best interests of its people for this countr,
to attempt its establishment"
Resolutions indorsing the work of tn
reform committee on sound currency, o
T. New York, urging the organization il
er southern states of sound money clubs t
carry on the campaign begun at this con
lg vention.
III In response to numerous calls Cor
Id gresham Patterson made a speech on tn
work of the convention.
is At the conclusion of Colonel Pattel
cd son's remarks resolution was adopte
Il, authorizing the appointment of a commi
is tee of one delegate from each state repre-
sented to superintend the distribution {
IT. proper literature coming under their col
yn troll the chairman of the committee to
X a resident of Memphis. The conventio
adj then adjourned sine die