Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-04-25
SENATOR FAULKNER ON SILVER.

Senator Charles J. Faulkner of
West Virginia has expressed himself
as being decidedly opposed to con-
yention of Democrats in this State to
take action on the silver question.
Speaking Of his own views on the SUBJ
iect of silver the Senator said:
have always believed that the great
est crime committed during the last
twenty years was the demonstration OF
silver at a time when there was no pos
sible excuse for it, even by its advocates.
| always supported the free and unlim-
tied coinage of silver until its demone-
tization in India. Since then | have
not been satisfied that this government
would adopt wise policy by throwing
its minis open to free and unlimited
coinage of silver at ratio of 10 to or
any other ratio, for ! am one OF those
who believe we shall never depart from
the ratio of is TO l should silver be re-
stored to its former position. | voted
last session in favor of coming the
American product. Even to this extent
| had some doubts as to the wisdom OF
the policy, but in the Frustrated condi-
ton of prices | was willing to expert
ment to that degree.
The world needs larger circulation
of metallic money, and this fact is being
appreciated by those who control the IL
nancial affairs of Europe. Perhaps be-
fore Congress reassembles that senti-
ment will have crystalized sufficiently
to induce the assemblage of an interna-
! tional conference organized to re-estab-
! lish silver in its former position. You
can see from this statement that have
ALWAYS been friend OF the white metal
not a silver monOmctallist, but an
honest bimetallist, for the reason that
we need both gold and silver as the basis
| of our circulating medium, and in my
Judgment the elimination Of either
would be equally disastrous Under
these circumstances, in an off year
when no practical result can flow from
! the declaration of convention except
TO widen the breach and TO diSorganiZe
the party. could not approve of the
policy some are urging who favor con-
vention for this purpose. When the
people act through delegated conven-
ton it should be from high motive OF
public interest and to carry into practi-
cal effect a public policy. Such could
not be the case in "a convention called
during the present year. 1t could not
bind or control the action Of the con-
ventions to be held next year for the
purpose Of sending delegates to the next
national Democratic convention. 1t
would be child's play.
When that convention is called 1t Will
be fitting and proper that the sentiment
of the people of West Virginia shall then
be expressed by the appointment OF its
delegates to represent it, shall not
hesitate to express my sentiments on
thiso or any other public question at the
proper time and do what | can to carry
out the views believe will promote the
interest of the whole people. But as
Democrat will expect to yield to the
aggregate wisdom of the representatives
of our great organization, whom | have
no doubt will next year clearly and I'M
equivocally give expression in its plat
form to the party policy that should
control on this subject.
Ex-senator Camden was in Wash
ington on Monday. He was asked his
opinion of the convention and replied:
Ny feeling would be against calling
such convention at this time, over a
year in advance of an election. The
Democratic national convention of next
year will have to pass upon the financial
question. That convention will decide
what the Democratic position on the
silver question shall be, and don't think
the Democrats of any of the States
should in advance of the national con
ventions action commit themselves in
a way that might place them out of line
with the majority of the party in the
next campaign.