Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-03-26
SILVER QUESTION.
Triends of the White Metal and
Protectionists Confer.
HOKE SM TIL and CRISP TO DEBATE.
They Will Discuss the Financial nuestio"
at Eight Places In Observation-Disclosures
Democrats Decline PROPOSE
tion Of the silver Wing.

WASHINGTON, March 20.-A confer.
ence was held in this city yesterday
between the republican silver senators
who voted against the consideration OF
the house bill in the senate and num-
Der of manufacturers, principally OF
Pennsylvania. for the purpose OF. II
possible, arriving at an understanding
on which the silver advocates and
the protectionists can unite. Inc
conference was preliminary to
others which will probably he held
and while it resulted in no joint dec
laration, those prcsentexpressed them
selves as satisfied that the result would
be to promote both interests, and that
an important step had Teen taken in
bringing them nearer together.
The conference was organized by
choosing Senator Dubois as chairman
and Mr., Wilhelm secretary. Brief
speeches were made by all the sena-
tors present. They defined their posi-
ton ia such manner as to make II
plain to the manufacturers that there
could be no protective tariff lerlsla'
ton either at this session OF congress
or the next without the rehabilitation
of silver and that bimetalism and
protection, as regarded from their
standpoint, constituted an indlvisible
issue before the country.
Some OF the manufacturers them
selves Endorsed the position as being
the logic of the country's necessities
and political condition. President
Dornan Of the Manufacturers club OF
Philadelphia. expressed the opinion
that tariff duties could not be made
high enough to protect our manufac-
turers If our country remained on a
gold basis. MIR. James Dobson came
out unqualfedly for free coinage by
international agreement II possible;
otherwise, by independent action. He
believed that independent action would
induce international action. Free coin
age might create temporary disturb
;ances, but 1t was the quickest way to
permanent relief from the Ills from
which the country is now suffering.
Henry A. Frye, Of Philadelphia, said
the sooner we took independent action
for bime tallism the better 1t would be.
He declared for protection and bimet'
allism. Charles Heber Clark, editor OF
the Manufacturer Of Philadelphia, said
he had labored in season and out Of
season to convince the manufacturers
that protection would only prove eff
cacious in conjunction with the resto
ration Of silver. Richard Campion de-
.clared himself in favor Of the restora
ton Of silver, but thought that the
cause Of bimetallism was not advanced
BY the defeat Of the revenue measure.
Senator's who were interviewed witt
regard to the meeting expressed the
opinion that this was the first note o.
warning to the republican party
against the adoption Of single golt
standard plank in the St. Louis plat
form or the nomination OF golt
standard man on straddle plank
Many letters in harmony with the pur
poses Of the meeting were received
from manufacturers throughout tn,
country who were unable to be presen
at the meeting. Senator Cameron
name was mentioned incidentally II
connection with the presidency dur
ing the meeting and met with eviden
approval by many present
HoKE SMITH AND CRISP TO DEBATE
WASHINGTON, March 20.-As a result
of correspondence hetwean Sa"rata p