The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1895-12-21
ALL FOR SO uhD MONEY
American Farmers Are Sciidiy Against
Free Silver.

II
Free silver.
The friends of free silver were given
an unexpected and unwelcome shock
by the farmers national congress a
few days ago. A resolution was pre-
sented requesting congress to place
gold and silver on parity and calling
for ar international conference upon
the monetary question. This resolu-
ton had been prepared by ]. G. Offut,
of Indiana, and was favorably reported
by the resolutions committee.
The free silver delegates Immediately
presented an amendment to the section
which provided that the president OF
the United States should call an inter
national congress of all nations willing
to unite in the equal use of both gold
and silver by adding, ''at ratio not to
exceed sixteen to one." The amend
ment was to put viva voce vote by
President Clayton and the nays APP
peared to have an overwhelming ma
jority.
The silverites, however, were not
willing to acknowledge defeat and
| clamored for roll call. The delegates
| from the north, east and south were
practically united in opposing the six
teen to one idea, and the contingent
from the western and what are known
as the silver states found themselves in
a sad minority. The congress refused
to adopt the amendment by vote of
two hundred and fifty-one and nine
| fourteenths to one hundred and four
and fve-fourteenths. The resolution
was then passed without further de-
bate.
The victory of the sound money ele-
ment in the congress was emphasized
later in the day when resolution de-
claring opposition to the further issue
of Understanding treasury bonds or
notes under any circumstances was
lost A resolution favoring congress
sional enactment against the beef trust
was adopted.
The twenty-first annual convention OF
the American Bankers association con-
vened at Atlanta recently. The action
of the farmers congress was naturally
subject for open and frequent con-
gratulations among them. Robert j.
i Lowry, president of the Lowry Bank
ing company, Atlanta, said:
1.-The refusal OF the farmers congress to
adopt the sixteen to one amendment Is an In
dication that the members Of that organiza-
tion have been doing considerable amount
of hard thinking There can be but one basis,
and that is gold. When that is established.
silver will take care of itself Every bank 10
Georgia, with one lone and solitary exception.
fayors sound money The one banker cx-
cepted can scarcely be said to be opposed to a
parity OF gold and silver, and he is certainly
not for silver at sixteen to one am pleased
with the action OF the farmers congress. and
especially that its disapproyai Of silver should
have been expressed in such unmistaksble
terms
J.. j. P. Odell, of Chicago, president
of the American Bankers association,
said:
THE action of the congress is vindicatior
of the judgment OF the advocates OF sound
money. who time and again have maintained
that, given time to think, the agricultural and
producing classes would arrive at q proper
appreciation and understanding Of the cues
, ton 1t was certainly a severe defeat for the
| advocates OF silver at sixteen TO one
AS for the resolution which was adopted
calling for an international conference OF al
nations wishing to place gold and silver upcr
parity, can see no objection in such q con.
ference, but am free to say. in my opinion
such a conference would be devoid OF results
; Nothing of value has ever yet been established
through conference of that character. Tnt
; defeat OF the pro posed amendment b5 vote o
over two to one shows rapid reaction to-
! ward sound money, which is natural ana u
be expected"