The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1896-02-28

secure the restoration OF the c0nstltt
tional standard of gold and silver b
the free coinage o. both metals at tn
existing ratio. will be held at the Su
|. building Washington. d. c.. Januar
! p. 1896 The object of the conferenc
IL 10 deliberate on the situation at tina
time and TO arrange for holding a ma
tional convention TO nominate candi
dates for president and vice president
and for conducting A national cam
paign on the above issue. Recon
events. IL is believed. make such con
ference more important than when tn
inclosed resolution was passed. Yo'
are respectfully invited TO attend thi
conference and participate in its de
liberations. Very truly yours.
A. j. WARNER.
Pres. American Bimetallic League
H. G. MILLER.
Chr'n National Silver Com mittee-
r. c. CHAMBERS.
Pres. National Bimetallic Union.
j. NJ DEvINE.
Acting Sec Am. Bimetallic League.
About 200 invitations we're sent out
and more than 100 Of those invited were
present. while nearly all Of the others
sent cordial and sympathetic letters
Gen. A. j. Warner presided.
The proceedings were harmonious
throughout There was little good
natured sparring between delegates OF
different political parties. but IL merely
emphasized their earnestness in the
common cause Many of the speeches
with which the proceedings were in
terspersed were of high order Of abil.
ity. dignified in tone as befitted the mo-
mentous character Of the question un-
der consideration
Nor was the conference a mere whirl-
wind Of orafory- II was assembled fol-
practical work. and work II did
The committee on resolutions and ad.
dress consisted of the following named
gentlemen:
Senator John r. Jones. chairman; Jos.
eph Sheldon. Of Connecticut; J. H. Lor-
inner. of Pennsylvania: Hon. j. L. Nc.
Laurin. of South Carolina. and H. +
Bartine. OF Chicago. Ill. Gen. A. J
Warner was subsequently added to the
committee.
The Pennsylv ania delegates. headed
BY Mr.. Wharton Burker. were espec-
tally anxious for a declaration coupling
bimetallism and protection. The com.
mittee. however. with the exception Of
Mr.. Lorimer were unanimously agreed
that such a course would complicate the
situation. and that the conference
should deal with the monetary issue
alone.
Accordingly. the following declara-
ton Of principles was presented to the
conference:
The Resoluts0oa
The paramount issue at this time in
the United States is indisputably the
money question 1t is between the gold
standard. gold bonds and bank cur.
rency. on the one side. and the bimetal.
lie standard. no bonds. and government
currency. on the other.
On this issue we declare ourselves tc
be In favor Of a dstinctively Ameri-
can financia system. We are unaltera.
bly, opposed TO the single gold standard
and dema nd the immediate return "a
the Constitutional standard OF gold and
silver. by the restoration by this gov.
eminent. independently Of any foreign
power, Of the unrestricted coinage OF
both gold and silver into standard
money. at the ratio Of 16 TO I. and upon
terms Of exact equality. as they existed
prior to 1873: the silver coin to be a
full legal tender. equally with gold. for
al debts and dues public and private
We hold that the power to control and
regulate q paper currency is insepara-
BILE from the power to coin money; and
hence that all currency intended to cir
culate as money should be issued and
its volume controlled. by the general
government only. and should be legal
tender.
We are unalterably opposed to the
issue by the United States OF interest
bearing bonds In time Of peace, and
we denounce as a blunder worse than
. crime the present treasury policy,
concurred In by a republican house,
OF plunging the country in debt by
hundreds of millions in the vain at
tempt to maintain the gold standard
BY borrowing gold: and we demand the
payment of all coin obligations Of the
United States as provided by existing
laws. in either gold or silver coin, at
the option OF the government. and not
at the option OF the creditor.
Whereas. The characterization Of sill
YER In 1873 enormously increased the
demand for gold. enhancing its pur-
chasing power and lowering all prices
measured by that standard: and
Whereas. Since that unjust and indie
fenGbls act. the prices Of American
products have fallen upon an average
nearly nifty per cent, carrying down
With them proportionateiy the money
salus Of III othes forms ef property.