New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-13
VIZ. DOBSOy'S DISCLOSURE.

Mr. James Dobson. the well-known wOonen
manufacturer Of Philadelphia, who is now, as
he has ever been, Il Republican OF great innu-
encc. gives an entirely new explanation or Inc
Washington conference which he attended IL
was not designed to promote a new party, or
a bolt from the Republican party, and Mr.
Dobson says, in emphatic words: mo new
.party for me- No. sir; am a Republican, ana
Il believe that the Republican party is the best
las the most available agency to accomplish
"public good" Why, then. did he and others
like him 60 to Washington TO confer with the
silver boilers? His own declaration is OF i'm
portance:
Whatever Interpretation may have been placed
upon the conference that was not its purpose.
The original idea, It was preached TO me, was
TO show the silver Senators who had blocked the
massage of the Dingley Revenue bill! that higner
customs duties were OF as much consequence to
the mines, the sheep and the lumber OF the
West as to the mills and factories OF the East.
II seemed worth while to make an enort 10 con-
vince the silver Senators that they were only In
turing the material interests or their states
without advancing the cause of silver, by mold
ing up the revenue bill. Why. there were sew
eral manufacturers invited to the conference VINO
do not favor bimetallism.
This statement Is entirely consistent with the
fact. now we'll known, that several rhanufact-
urcrs who were present fatty dlsavowed the
next day any sympathy or accord with the
silver Senators and their purpose. while others
are known TO have been present who are en-
phatically opposed TO free coinage. But Mr..
Dobson's disclosure OF the real purpose or the
manufacturers--the purpose which they were led
TO suppose was the only object OF the confer
cnce-cxhiblts in n stronger light than ever the
dishonesty of those who ccntrlyed the confer
ence with deliberate intention TO misrepresent
II. and afterward did falsify its character aud
action. Mr. Dooson himself. though exceeding
" earnest in urging the restoration OF silver
TO Use does not believe In free coinage by this
country without agreement with other coun-
tries for he says:
These results ir my deliberate Judgment. can
only be accomplished. first. BY higher tariff
duties, which shall furnish revenue sufficient to
pay the running expenses OF the Government
ard. second. by the reconciliation OF silver. by
an international agreement. III possible
The word only" and the subsequent remarks
OF Mr. Dobson entirely exclude the idea that this
country by separate action can fix the relative
value OF silver. lie goes on to say that Eng
land is ready TO join soon rs we make the
effort TO bring II about; that ''al the members
"of the Government wish TO see blmctalllsm re-
stored throughout the world and that they
open negotiations with other Governments 10
"restore the relative stability OF the two metals.
Whether he Is mistaken In this or not. the belief
he holds Is given as the basis OF his Efforts 10
'remonetlze silver by international agreement"
and not by separate action. II follows that the
position Of Mr.. Dobson himself has been abso
luiely mlsrcprescnicd by the silver men. who
have pretended that he was In accord with the
silver boilers.
1t is only just 10 Mr.. Dobson and not high
compliment either TO say that his argument for
restoration OF silver TO monetary use is alto
gcthcr more forcbe than has been made by any
silver Senator or journal II presents points
which well deserve consideration hereafter. But
the immediate question Is whether "A sensclcss
demand for separate free coinage In this co'in-
try shall be presented as condition without
which the wool growers Of Montana and Iiah
and Colorado, and the woollcn workers Of the
Eastern States, shall not be permitted TO have
needed protection. That line Of action is not
only condemned by Mr.. Dobson, but 1t was pre-
csely the course which he attended the confer
ence to protest against and prevent, II possible.
His picture OF the prostration OF great indus
tries is in itself terrible arraignmcnt OF the
boiling Senators, who had the power 10 pass a
Dill giving materiai, 'houeh not cohpi'', ~
lief. and who have obstinately refused. Mr..
Dobsons payroll was Sl3G.000 per month In
1893, and it Is now only 100000. Not half the
people, he states, who were working full time
with good wages in Dolan's mills in lS!3 can
get any work al all there now. THE Textile
Manufacturers Journal shows that out Of
422S7 employees in the woocn mills answering
circulars only 27,20G are now at work. or %
per cent the payrolls also showing an average
reduction Of 1873 per cent since 1892: and sim
liar results are shown In other branches Of the
woollcn industry, in dress goods, carpets, blan-
kcts, yarns and knit goods What the silver
boilers have don for the wool growers Of their
own State The Tribune has already shown.