The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-16
Governor Richards Fires the
First Gun in the Con-
ference.
HONEST MONEY IS DEMANDED
In the Great Battle the Sentiment Is
Non-Partisan in All Its
Phases.

PIC VI od4C Lake were up early to-day 10
witness the opening of the silver confer
ence, about which SO much has been said
during the past month. From the head OF
East Temple street to its foot, in the bust
ness districts and on all the cross districts
in the section, buildings were gayly decor
ated in the National colors, while from
every flagstaff waved the stars and stripes
in honor of the great event Inscriptions,
notices and divers other devices en-
blematic of the sentiments of silver cham
pions we're also IN evidence.
The procession left the Knutsford about
il O'Clock, headed by the Denhalter Band
and platoon of police.
In the first carriage were seated: Gov
ernor West of Utah, Governor Richards of
Montana, Governor Mcconnell OF Idaho
and Ex-Governor Prince of New Mexico.
The procession reached the Tabernacle
about noon, where a large audience had
already assent led. The decoration of the
Tabernacle presented a picturesque ap-
pearance, 100 American flags and over
1000 yards of bunting having been used in
the decorations.
g. From conspicuous parts of the gallery
hung the following notices: Financial
Independence, ""Our Song Silver Threads
Among the Gold'' Sound Money, say the
Gold Bugs; Silver, say the People,; I'VE
Want a Circulating Medium. That Will
Circulate"
At II 20 O'Clock Governor Richards
called the convention to order and deliv-
cred the following speech:
In the history of nations no great wrong was
ever righted save through the concerted efforts
of earnest men. I have faith enough in hu-
mainly TO believe that the natural patriotism
of the heart is equal to the duty of honest eff
fort and tireless action in the cause of right
when the right is clearly understood. Misdi-
rected activity in any cause that concerns the
welfare OF the people advertises paternity of
ignorance rather than fatherhood of malice
We have met to-day, not as censors, parading
the causes of our discomfort heralding TO the
world the bitterness we feel over the injustice
that has made our cooperation the necessity OF
the hour, but as earnest men, representatives
OF great cause, and delegated TO the perform
ance OF duty by constituency whose inter-
ests are environed only by the geographical
limits OF the Republic. We have met as cham
pions of honest money-of money so honest
that its pure white luster is never furnished by
the tears of the starving, or rusted by the
blood OF crime as it moves through the chan
nels of commerce in a current of perpetual
hope.
that may cluster instinctvely around the self
interests OF any community or people; not to
weigh anchor upon a sea of uncertainty, in the
trade winds OF politics, but to institute q new
movement, along new lines. for the better edu-
cation of the masses on the financial problems
OF the day.
In calling this conference and. inviting the
cooperation OF Western Governors in an inter-
state educational movement in the interests of
the free coinage of silver, was impelled by
the belief that in the home circle of the Ameri-
can citizen lay the destiny of the white metal.
The time has come when we must appeal not
only TO the business sense of the voters with
non-partisan logic, but we must reach down
into the moral activities of the heart and ask
that the individual conscience stand up and
be counted on the side of the right. There
never was time in history when the moral
side of great question appealed with greater
force TO the intelligent voter than to-day with
the evils OF monometallism emphasized in the
misery that affilcts our land.
The argument of the single-standard adyo-
cate has matured from q gflded theory into a
condition that ought to appeal with irresisti-
BILE force 10 the candid observer of events 1t
becomes our duty to supplement the argument
ofsmokeless smokestacks and abandoned farms,
of broken banks and crushed commercial en-
terprises with incisive reasoning as to the
solstice that ushered in the "winter OF our dis.
content" Existing conditions, rejecting the
misfortunes of the business world upon every
phase of our industrial and social life, have
stimulated demand on the part of the masses
for q better knowledge of financial propo-
sitions that selfinterests may be respected at
the polls. In no way can the interests of silver
be better served in the receptive condition of
the public mind than through systematic
course of education that will reach the indi-
vidual intelligence in the sacred circle of the
home.
The eminent gentlemen who represent the
several States in this conference have been made
delegates with the responsibility of devising
ways and means for the carrying out of this
object, and that your labors will prove an
aggressive step in most successful campaign
OF education ] doubt not.
Already the European wing of the American
Republic is beating the air in an effort to retain
its lofty perch. The gold men of both conti-
nents read in the signs of the times the posi-
bility OF an early defeat and are bending their
energies TO the humiliation of the object of
their fears All that literature can do, all that
orstory can accomplish, all that gold can
achieve, VIII be done to strangle the growing
sentiment Tor silver. A subsidized press, con-
trolled by the financial interests that thrive on
the misfortunes of the people, has entered with
enthusiasm upon the mission delegated to it
py the cuStodians OF its conscience. The lines
VI OdllIe nave been formed Dy tne logic OI
events and the struggle for re-enforcements
promises 10 be the greatest contest in the his
tory OF modern times.
III remains TO be seen whether the blight of
recommendation that has withered the energies
OF our industrial life has burned into the heart
sEd conscience OF the citizen and made him
the willing pupil of nobler and better lessons
in finance. In the tidal wave that is now
gathering strength all over the land for the
free coinage OF silver see the avant-courier of
better days TO come. To place wholesale fnan-
cial literature in tn hands of the Eastern
voter becomes duty that overshadows every
other obligation OF public character that we
owe to our fellow men.
The object OF this conference is not to devise
arguments in favor OF the free coinage of the
white metal, for such arguments are indelibly
written upon the progress and prosperity of
the human race, but to place in the hands of
the voter these arguments fashioned into lam
guage that the wayfaring man can understand
and apply. If this mission be ACCOMPLISHED.
the victory is won. In a conference of this
character no political prejudices are invited.
and in its non-partisanship rests the pledge of
its sincerity. We do not meet as Republicans.
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