The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-03-31
rn,IADELrnrA mAsurAcrunEns
They Have Big Meeting Negative TO
the Washington Affnir.

Philadelphia, Pa, March 30.--Since the
meeting in Washington about two weeks
ago between certain manufacturers of
this city and the Western silver Sena-
tors, the club has been agitated by the
reports sent out of that meeting. Some
of the gentlemen present al the meeting
had not hesitated to say that they were
fairly "buncoed" by the silver men into
meeting them, and that the alleged re-
port cf the meeting was misleading,
and In many essentials false. Then the
club determined rs position, should be
made fairly known. a special meeting
for that purpose was called for to- o-night
and 1t was at that meeting that the club
lodged the issue. The assembly rooms
OF the Manufacturers Club not being
large enough to accommodate ,all who
wished to attend the meeting, It was
called TO order in the banquetting hall
of the Union League Club. When Pres
ident Robert Dornan called the meet
ing to order he faced what was probably
the largest assembly of manufacturers
which ever gathered together in Phla-
delphia. Fully 600 men were present
and hardly great manufacturer In
Philadelphia was absent. a list OF those
az the meeting would be little more than
q directory OF the various manufac.ilr-
ing Interests of Philadelphia. The silver
men and bimetallists came to the meet
ing full OF light, but the gold men were
all-powerful, and carried things through
with a rush.
President Dornan in calling the meet
ing TO order stated that 1t had been
caileu 1or The purpose of discussing tho
purpose which has been agitating the
country for many months. but particu-
iariy on account of the reports arising
out OF the late meeting at Washington.
He stated ii was only fair TO say that
those who went to Washington and met
the silver Senator's went there indiyid-
ually and not as members of the club
and that nothing that was done at the
club bound the club to any line of
policy.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Dornan,s
remarks the gold men offered resolu-
tion limiting all speeches to five min
utcs. This was adopted by an over
wclming majority
Then the gold men opened their al
tack under the leadership of Rudolph
Itia nkenburs, Il manufacturer of yarns.
Mr. Blackenburg stated that he agreed
with the opening remarks of the chair
man, that the visit to Wathington
should not be construed as representa-
tive OF the action OF the club
When we saw that capital, the
friends of free silver were making out OF
TINS visit" said Mr.. Blhnkenbure. .this
meeting was called to put on record the
irrevocable opposition OF this club to free
coinage. That visit to Washington has
been spread broadcast over all the coun-
try and has placed us in ~ wrong posi-
tion. 1t was only deep laid schon,e a,
the free coinage men to affiliate the man
ufaciuiers OF Philadelphia with ,ree sill
We. when on the contiarv the Manu-
facturers Club Is emphatically opposed
to IT,"
Mr. Blankenburg presented a series of
resolutions. which were intimately
adopted
The resolutions follow:
whereas. False and mislea ding report c
have been spread broadcast over the
country rs TO the conference "A; Wash
ington on March 10. between a number
of philadelphia manufacturers ana
those free silver Senators WHO. .houc,
elected as Republicans ana avowinr
themselves protcctlonists. decline t.
vote for the Republican revenue meas
ure known as the DIngley bill, unless
coupled with a free silver colnnr re
amendment, and where these reports.
nave created the impression that the
friends of protective tariff are willing
To compromise the cause of protection
by endorsing the free and unlimited
coinage of silver nj a ratio of lG to /. in
SXchange for additional protection; and
whereas. These statements are not
ohiy compromising to the integrity and
patriotism OF our manufacturers as in
ulNluuals, but especially so as members
or the Manufacturers Club; therefore.
be il
Resolved. That the Manufacturers
Cub. speaking for its members. en-
phatlcaliy denollnces. as false the state
ments made by the friends of free silver
ana echoed by the advocates of free
trade: that our Philadelphia manufac-
turers are willing TO barter with tho
silver Senators for the free coinage of
silver in exchange for additional pro-
lection.
Resolved. That the question of BIZ
metallism can be permanently settled
only through an international agree
ment and that the Manufacturers Club
declares It's unaltcrable opposition 10
the free coinage OF silver by the United
States alone, firmly believing that such
a policy will result in disaster at home
and dishonor abroad, and would onIy
operate to place this country upon the
basis of silver recommendation
Friends OF silver offered amendment.
and substitute after amendment and
substitute, but all to no purpose. When
all of these had been voted down Rob
ert McWade. editor of Wharton Ra arker's
Free Silver Paper. endeayored to So
cure yea and nay vote, but that effort
also was n failure. A viva yoce vote
was taken and the Blankenbure resolu-
tions were adopted by practically
unanimous shout.
motion to adjourn quickly followed
and was agreed to as quickly as Of
fered. The meeting was in session lust
about an hour and half