The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-06-19
FREE COINAGE CONVENTION
THE SIBLEY IDEA.
Southern and Western Silver Men
Plentiful at Memphis.

Friends OF silver, representing twenty
States of the South and West, began two
days convention in Memphis Tenn, We'd
nesday
Fifteen hundred delegates. comprising
Democrats, Republicans and Populists, but
with "honest money" ms the slogan of all.
filled the lower Hoor and large portion Of
the balconies at the Auditorium when the
gathering was called 10 order.
A permanent organization was effected
with Senator Turpie, oi Indiana, ns chair
man, and addresses were delivered by that
gentleman and Alex. Delmar. OF California,
IN the afternoon. and by Congressman Sibley,
OF Pennsylvania; q. $. Thomas Of Denver
and Aaron Wacott, OF Indiana, in the even
ing
Politically, the most significant incident Of
the first days proceedings was the clear and
emphatic statement OF Senator Harris, Of
Tennessee, who was the controlling spirit In
the management OF the convention.
Al the evening session, which began
promptly at 8 O'Clock, Senator William NJ.
Stewart OF Nevada presided and introduced
Congressman Joseph q. Sibley of Pennsyl-
yania.
MIR. sibley was greeted with thunders OF
applause, and In two hours speech arous.
ed his audience to a high pitch oil enthusiasm.
He made an earnest appeal for independent
political action In 1896 and occupied good
deal of time illustrating the necessity Of
breaking away from the old parties. His
auditors we're evidently with him, for every
attack upon Secretary Carlisle, the presi.
dent or Senator Sherman was greeted with n
noisy demonstration. and every time he ask.
ed the crowd If they would remain with
their old parties and continue the domina-
tion OF the English money power he was
greeted with n chorus OF Noes" He paid
his respects to the president and to
Secretary Carlisle in very plain language,
calling them TRAITORS for their part in III.
conspiracy TO demonetize silver and fasten
upon the country hardships Of Il gold stand
ard. All such outbursts as this were greeted
with tumultuous applause.
Mr.. Sibley expounded the four political Ak
IONS which, be said, contained the result of
his study OF the money question, they we-e
Fret, double the volume Of money and you
double prices; second, divide the volume Of
money and you divide prices; third. double
the volume Of money and you divide the
debts; fourth, divide the volume oil money
and you double the debts.
At the conclusion OF Mr.. Sibley's speech
there were persistent calls for Mr.. Bryan Of
Nebraska, but that gentleman evidently de.
sired more favorable opportunity and more
time In which to deliver his views upon the
silver question, for he declined to respond
Mr.. Charles s. Thomas OF Denver, occupied
the remainder OF the time Of the evening ses-
et3n.
b Gke orator OF the second day was Senator
Stewart. It was an attack on the Roths-
childs as the money power OF the world, whom
he charged with creating the panic Of 1898.
He said they had robbed the United States OF
gold to convert the silver debt OF Austria into
gold obligations, and had made S40e. GOO, 900
on the deal. Gladstone and Cleveland, he
described as the willing agents Of 'the gold
trust," the one suspending free coinage in
TAlk nd ha thAK lsp.. q skat ahaet
clause Of the Sherman act
Congressman Allen spoke after Mr. Stew
art. and at the afternoon session Senator
Jones, OF Arkansas presented the report OF
the committee on resolutions, which was un.
animously adopted. They assert that the
recent depression was due to a conspiracy
by which silver was demonetized and that
the effect OF the gold standard is to establish
one standard for the creditor and another for
the debtor. No just law establishes one
measure OF value for the borrower and one
for the lender. The restoration OF silver as a
money metal on an equality with gold, at q
ration OF 10 to ], IL demanded. II is also de.
clared that while International agreement ia
desirable. the United States should not wait
upon this agreement, nor surrender the
sovereign right to regulate its financial af.
fairs In the interest OF its people.
AZ expected the resolutions contain moth
ing more than strong presentation of the
free silver sentiment OF the gathering.
After the adoption OF the platform Senator
Jones Of Arkansas was called for and made q
brief speech. He was followed by Gov
Prince Of New Mexico and Senator Tillmar
Of South Carolina. The latter was listened
TO with the closest attention. He ridiculeG
the ''soHnd money" convention OF last month
saying that 1t did not represent the South as
1t did not include a single farmer. He char
acterized the gold dollar as 200'cent dol
lar, which the creditor class OF the east wa
Intent on maintaining.