Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-07-03
THE SILVER CONFERENCE.

IL ~ Il NOANl LRll>NNL.
state EimctaisistS Hold u Confer.
ence and Adopt Revolutions Re.
publican SILVER Mcn Effect "a Sep.
arate Observation-Disclosures Com
vemtiOns Endorse Teller.
A meeting OF independent silver adj
vocates was held at Tacoma, Tuesday,
at III A. NJ. in Chickering hall, in &C
cOrdance with call from the Presi-
dent OF the Bime,allic Club, of this
city, and the presiding officers of SINH
lar organizations at Shelton and Ia
coma. About 100 representatives were
in attendance. The meeting was
called to order by Chas. III. Aver, of
this city, and Attorney General w. c.
Jones was elected Chairman and John
B. Hart, of King, Secretary. A COM
mittee OF Fifteen was appointed on
resolutions, and thereafter the confer
ence partook more of the nature of a
class meeting than a political conven-
ton. Vigorous and entertaining
speeches were made by John b. Hart,
w. C. Jones, Col. Lyons, NJ. z. Bull
ger, G. w. Thompson, Chas. ii. Aver,
A. II. Garretson, j. Il. Rodgers, and
others, after which the conference adj
jour ned till the afternoon.
At the afternoon session the follow
ing resolutions were presented by the
committee and adopted
The bimetallists of the State of
Washington, assembled in conference,
without regard to political party or
past utilization, at the city OF Tacoma,
on this Both day of June, 1896. dis.
claiming any intention or purpose to
speak for or bind the respective parties
OF which we are or may be members,
urge unanimity of action for the pur-
pose of restoring silver to it's place as
standard money OF the United States,
and hereby submit for the considera-
ton of the people OF the State Of
Washington the following declara-
tions of principles.
First-We believe the financial
question to be the paramount nation
al issues in this campaign.
Second-Wc believe that the power
given to congress to coin money and
regulate the value thereof is high at
tribute of sovereignty to be exercised
as such.
Third-We believe that the people
OF the United States should take the
metallic money from their mountains
instead of issuing bonds in time of
peace and mortgaging posterity TO Sc.
cure their payment.
Fourth-We believe in the use of
both gold and silver as equal standard
money, and that the government Of
the United States should Immediately
open its minis to the free, unrestrict-
ed, unlimited coinage of gold and sill
yer at the ratio of 16 parts of silver to
one of gold.
While agreeing with the statement
made in the national Republican plat
form as to the distress prevailing
throughout this country, we disagree
as to the causes producing the same.
We believe that these conditions are
distinctly traceable to the contraction
OF the volume of standard money re.
sulting from the characterization OF
silver, and not to the slight difference
OF 6 per cent. between the Mckinley
tariff and the Wilson tariff, and we are
unalterably opposed to perpetuation
OF the Cleveland and Carlisle measures
which have produced these conditions.
Fifth-We believe that 30 years
fruitless efforts and the failure of five
international monetary conferences to
accomplish anything except to empha-
size the unalterable opposition of cred
itor nations to enter into any compact
looking to the restoration of silver as
q standard money has conclusiyely
proven international bimetallism to
be q delusion, and that the pretended
desire of certain class of politicians
to restore silver by international
agreement is the last refuge OF silver's
foes.
We believe as State issue that a
liberal exemption from taxation of
personal property and improvements
on land is necessary TO the prosperity
Of the agriculturists and toiling masses.
John Wiley of Seattle introduced
the following resolution, which passed
without dissenting vote:
Resolved, That we, without regard
to party, indOrse the course of Hon.
Henry M. Teller in placing principle
above party allegiance, and in refusing
to stultify his honorable record of
twenty-five years in Congress. sur
render his manhood and support a
gold standard.
The conference adjourned after
several more enthusiastic speeches.
Letters were read from George
Turner of Spokane, J. Coombs OF Port
Townsend, III. j. Snively OF North
Yakima, and George McConnville OF
Cathlamet expressing hearty with the
sympathy with the movement
After the meeting of the bimetallists
had formally adjourned meeting of
the silver Republicans was held. At
torney-General w. c. Jones acted as
chairman.
The question of a name for tn cir
movement was the the first matter
that occupied the attention of the sill
yer Republicans. There was q feeble
attempt TO have new name adopted,
but it was Overwhelmingly voted down.
The leaders OF the movement all
thought that the Republicans who be-
lieved in the free coinage of silver
would not join any new party, and the
name OF the free coinage Republican
party" was adopted with whoop. A
State organization was Immediately
formed and w. c. Jones was made
chairman of the Sfafa CON, n,iffan