St. Paul daily globe., 1895-11-28
HOW'LL FROM IDAHO.
GOV. MCCONNELL is SURE THAT
THE SILVER AGITATION IS
NOT DYING,
OPINION HAS NOT CHANGED.
HE IMPLORES THE TRANSMITS
SISSIPPI CONGRESS TO HEED
HIS WORDS.
FREE COINAGE RESOLUTION.
The Congress Adopts One, 127 to
90, After Five Hours Dis
cUSsion.

OMAHA, Neb., Nov. 27.-The COM
mercial congress consumed a part of
today's session in the discussion of
a free silver resolution. Some hesi-
fancy was exhibited about provoking
a discussion on this topic, but since
the ice has been broken the dele
gates are becoming quite enthusias-
tic. The following telegram to the
congress from Gov. w. j. Mcconnell,
of Idaho, created considerable COM
ment among the delegates:
'To the President and Members of
the Trans-MiSsiSsippi Congress: l no
tice by private dispatches that Mr..
Whitmore in his remarks yesterday
said that the silver question had re-
Gently lost ground, and that 1t is no
longer a subject of first interest with
the convention. 1 beg leave to record
a difference of opinion on that sub
ject. The delegates who constitute
this congress are sent here, not by the
votes of the people, but by appoint
ment, and l suggest to you, gentlemen,
that you make a mistake when you
indorse any resolution announcing to
the civilized world that the opinions of
the thoughtful man in the West have
changed on this question. The great
reforms have not been accomplished.
Civilization itself was of slow growth.
Although the people of the West have
been informed from day to day that
they are improving, and that the
country is becoming more prosperous,
shipments of gold to foreign nations,
and the returns from commission
houses to which consignments of the
product of the farm and range have
been made, admonish us that a crises
had been accomplished. Today the gov,
it was heralded all over the United
States that a peaceful opening of the
Nez PerceS reservation in this state
had ben accomplished. Today the gov
ernment buildings are being erected
thereon, and the laborers employed
are paid the munif1cent sum of 81 per
day, out of which they pay So per week
for board. / implore you, gentlemen,
not to be deceived. Something is wrong.
If those who favor a gold standard
been benefited by the demonstration
of silver; if it can be shown to us that
81 per day for the laboring man on
public works is better than So; that
cents for wool IS better than Is cents;
the people of the state of Idaho will
quietly submit. But so long as pres
ent conditions confront us we will not
allow such assertions as those cred
tied to my very good friend to pass
unchallenged."
WHITMORE DENIES IT.
Mr.. Whitmore said that he had not
intended to say much during the pres
ent session of the congress, but being
chairman of the executive committee,
he felt called upon to reply to this
telegram. He said:
81 appeal to every man in this con-
greSS to prove that | never made any
such remarks about the silver plat
form in this congress or anywhere
else. 1 make these remarks because I
consider it my duty to do so as an
official of this body. As member l
am entitled to any individual opinion
1 may have, but as an officer 1 must
be unprejudiced in what | say
The following was unanimously
adopted:
Resolved, That we urge the speedy
construction of the proposed railroad
from Butte Mont, via Boise, Idaho,
the route to Duluth, at the head of the
great lakes, from the coast $50 miles,
and from points in Idaho proportion
ately, giving the advantage of a part
water cheap freight route to the mar
ketS of the coast"
After five hours, discussion on finan-
cial issues the congress declared for
the free and unlimited coinage of sill
yer on the 16 to 1 basis, and adjourned
till evening. The vote was so for gold,
127 for silver. Hon. W. J. Bryan led
the friends of the white metal and Hon.
J. L. Webster, of Omaha, led the op-
position. The discussion was spirited
and was participated in by most of the
delegates. This resolution was finally
adopted:
THE RESOLUTION.
Whereas, an appreciating money
standard impairS all contracts, bank
rupts enterprises, makes idle money
profitable by increasing its purchasing
power, and suspends productive forces
of our people; and
Whereas, the spoliation consequent
upon the outlawry of silver in the in
terest of the credit class by constantly
increasing the value of gold is under
mining all industrial industry; there
fore
"Resolved, That we demand the i'm
mediate restoration of the free and
unlimited coinage of gold and silver
at the ratio of 16 to- 1, without waiting
for the aid or the, consent of any other
nation, such gold and silver coin to be
alike a full legal tender for all debts,
public and private"
Mr.. Webster, on behalf of the
minority, presented the following:
Resolved, that we are in favor of
true bimetallism, which consists in the
largest possible use of both gold and
silver, as the standard coinage of the
country, compatible with the power of
the nation to maintain the equal pur-
chasing, and debt-paying power of the
two metals.
"Resolved. that we are emphatically
opposed to the free and unlimited coin
age of silver at the ratio of 16 to
under present existing conditions; that
such coinage would destroy the parity
between the two metals; that silver
would drive the gold out of circulation
and thus destroy bimetallism; there
fore be it further
"Resolved, that we believe this long
continued agitation of the silver ques-
ton has had much to do with the
present financial depression, produc-
stability and permanency of prices,
and is a constant menace to the
national credit, existing apprehension
abroad and uncertainty at home"
A WESTERN EXPO.
Mr.. Bryan asked unanimous consent
to introduce the following memorial
in behalf of the Nebraska delegation:
"Whereas, we believe that an expo
sition of the products, industries and
civilization of the states west of the
Mississippi river, made at some central
gateway, where the world can behold
the wonderful capabilities of these
great wealth-producing states, would
be of great value not only to the trans
Mississippi states but to all the home
seekers in the world: therefore be it
Resolved, that the United States
congress be asked to take such steps
as may be necessary to hold O. trans
! Mississippi exposition in Omaha during
the months of August, September and
October, in the year 1898, and that re-
ritorles IN congress be required to
| favor such an appropriation"
Resolutions were also adopted In ia
vor OF a congressional appropriation
for defending the harbor of San Diego
by war vessels and fortilcations; for
the Improvement OF va terways and for
| a deep-water llarbor at San Pedro. A