The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-05-24

Memphis, May 23-The Sound
money" convention which met at the
Auditorium today, and adjourned sine
die after two sessions. was a demon
e'E&tion in support of the financial
p cy Of the administration.
Six u'-ndred delegates. representing
nearly every southern state, made UP
the gathering, which listened to an
argument by Secretary John G. Carlisle
against the free coinage of silver at a
ratio of 16 to l. heard speeches by
Congressman Patterson, of Tennessee,
and Catchings, of mississippi, and
other sound money" leaders of the
south, and adopted a platform setting
forth their views upon the question
now uppermost in the public mind.
The absence of political reference in
the addresses of the speakers was
Spticeable. The audiences were made
up largely of business men who Eher-
ally applauded the arguments of the
secretary of the treasury and the
utterances of the other speakers.
But once or twice during the after
noon or evening was the name Of
President Cleveland mentioned, but on
these occasions the crowd went wild
with enthusiasm.
a Big Audience.
Upward of 5000 people We're present
at the Auditorium at 2:l5 o'clock, when
Chairman W. J. Crawford called the
conxaRaon to order. While the gather
ing 80 effecting an organization, and
getting down to business, the crowd
gradually filled the vacant seats, and
by the time Secretary Carlisle began
his address, the large hall was COM
fortably hlled. Mr.. Crawford. in his
capacity as chairman Of the committee
of fifteen, appointed by the Associated
Mercantile bodies OF Memphis, under
whose auspices the convention is held,
called the meeting to order.
Mr.. Richard H. Clark, of Alabama,
presented the name Of Congressman
Catchings for perman- Mt chairman in
neat and highly complimentary
speech. This convention, said Mr..
Clark, was an evidence that the people
do rot believe in debased money and
CO not want to be dragged down 10 the
level of Mexico and China. The people
represented in this convention, believed
in the just and equitable Use of silver
as 3smoney metal, but they would not
deliYer the country TO a syndicate of
pKneoWners or place in jeopardy the
Business OF the country because of a
craze-a condition of public sentiment,
which he likened to a prairie fire,
which would feed upon chaff and soon
burn out. The leaders in the silver
movement were the men who had
taken up in succession all the political
and economic heresies that had been
before the people in the past decade.
The present cutlery he 1ikened to the
extreme doctrines advocated by the
Populists in recent years, and their
fallacies. he declared, would soon be
buried in the ocla warehouses. He
urged confidence in the judgment
and good sense of tie southern people. !
Tvo-t thirds of the product of that sec
ton must be sold in foreign countries
and paid for in the money of the
world. The prices OF their products
were fixed in the markets of the world, |
where no American legislation can put
q fictitious value on silver.
Mr. Clarke eulogized President |
Clasnland and Secretary Carlisle, his |
TenSrks arousing the first outburst of |
enthusiasm of the convention. The |
cheering at the mention of the presi- /
dents name was particularly hearty /
and protracted. In conclusion, he pre-
Catchings for permanent chairman of |
the convention, landing the gentle
mans public record on the money
question and assuring the convention
of his eminent fitness for the position |
of presiding officer.
Taffy from Catchings.
The selection OF Mr.. Catchings waS
made by a unanimous viva voce vote,
and the congressman accepted the
honor in a graceful speech. He said:
Gentlemen Of the convention, there
come times in the life Of a man wher
words fail him when he wishes to ex-
press the emotions by which he is
moved. Such time has now crossed /
my path. Could I live forever I could
not express TO my friend from Ala
bama the impression which MS warm
words have left within me.
Gentlemen, in my judgment no con-
Ventiou ever assembled for a nobler
or higher purpose than this. Brought
together from almost every southern
state, coming from every walk in life,
representing as you do all vocations,
industries and conditions in life. I
speak the truth. that not man has
come here to advance a personal end
.3rsa selfish purpose. Believing that
sa1e free independent coinage of silver
Ts<7ae 16 - 1 ratio would be disastrous
= 49, private and public interests. that
Ne Gave laid aside our private affairs
for the time to take counsel together
how best 20 prevent it. The character
of the degelates to this convention is
far beyond the reach of captious criti-
cism and adverse comment. This body
Is composed of the great mass of
honest intelligent, patriotic citizens. I
If we are right, we are not only right {
now. but we are eternally right We !
have assembled to give testimony to |
the faith that Is in us. We have been
misrepresented from one end Of the |
land to the other; epithets have been
hurled against US; we have been
CHARGED with entertaining views !
which we scorn and disdain It is said. I
for instance, that we are rnonometal- {
lists Let US here and now place the {
lie upon that charge. (Applause.)
Contracting the Currency.