Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-17
WASHINGTON NEWS NOTES.
Senator Faulkner Thinks West Nir-
gfnia aRedeemed-"Frcc Coinage"


WASHINGTON, d. c.. July 16.-(spe-
cial )-Senator Faulkner of West Nir-
ginia, who is the chairman Of the Demo-
cratic Congressional Campaign Commit
tee. left for his home to-day, after
making partial preparations for the work
of the coming campaign. He is in hearty
accord with the action OF the Chicago
convention, and thinks the nominees are
the best that could have been chosen
He is more than hopeful Of West Nir-
ginia, and believes that the silver ticket
will be the means of redeeming the state
TO the Democracy. Speaking Of the stu
alton there, he said: Il believe that
the sentiment throughout the state Is
Overwhelmingly I'm favor OF Tree silver
In my own county l know personally OF
a great many Republican votes that come
10 US on the strength Of the Chicago Il
mand for the free and unlimited coinage
ol siNer The Fourth District t0rneriy
represented by Mr. CapeharL j. almost
unanimously for silver. That district Is
bOrdered on the west by the OnlO river
Is largely agricultural, ana the silver
sentiment is very strong there. In the
Third District there is also a preponder-
age. and the district formerly represented
bv Postmaster General Wilson is similar
in sentiment The First District Will also
probably give a majority for silver
The West Virginia State Convention
will be held August l2th, at Challeston'
and a state ticket on silver basis
throughout will be nominated. All or
the aspirants for nomination before thus
convention have already declared thenl-
selves for free silver, and all the can
didates for congressional nominations on
the Democratic ticket will be silver men,
The white metal has a strong hold on
West Virginia, and ii is confidently be-
lleved that the State will 80 Democratic
in November next
FREE COINAGE"
Director r. f. Preston, Of the Mint,
has in response TO numerous inquiries,
eyplained what free coinage" means, as
aprlied 10 silver, and in doing so has
e-iven information that was sadly needed
bv the average voter. lie says tnat
any one who has silverware of any sort
can have il coined into dollars at the
United States Mint. regardless Of the
value of bullion. The value of silver
to-day i'm the markets OF the world Is
about thirty pounds Of silver TO one OF
gold. At the ratio Of 10 10 l. our dollars
would be worth 50 cents, which III thls
country would circulate for their face
value. but which would only be accepted
at their bullion value abroad
The meaning Of 16 10 ] is that the pure
silver in the standard dollar is about in
weight sixteen times that of the pure
cold dollar. The silver dollar contains
s71.25 grains of silver. while the gold dol
lar contains 23.22 grains of gold.
Regarding the consequences OF free
coinage law, Director Preston makes the
following very important announcement:
Unless Congress enacts some specia.
provision preventing ii. the nations or
the world, in case a free-coinage law IS
placed on the statute-books, can ship all
their bullion to the United States for
coinage. Here il Will receive the govern
ment stamp. and will be used TO buy
American goods for shipment abroad. The
result will be that foreigners win get all
American goods at half price, while
Americans will have to pay the full rate
for them. There Is this danger OF our
trade being injured. At present silver
,s admitted free OF duty In the United
states. Treasury officials say that un-
less Congress placed a high tarin on the
white metal. so as TO prohibit its impor-
ta,ion. the nations OF the world would
make the United States the dumping
ground for their silver, retaining only
sufficient quantity OF the metal in their
circulation TO act as subsidiary COIN
PERSONAL POINTS.
Mr. and Mrs. Benoni Wheat will leave
Tomorrow for a stay Of several weeks
at Virginia Beach.
Mr. Grayson Burruss, Of Richmond.
who has comfortably located his family
at Berkley Springs for the summer, was
in the city to-day. and visited Alexandra
on business.
Professor Conrad, formerly OF Blacks
burg College, who resides here, regards
the Chicago ticket as a very strong one.
He knows Candidate Bryan quite inti-
mately, and has very high opinion OF
him.
colonel H. W. Fuller, general passen-
ger agent OF the Chesapeake and Ohio
railway, arrived here yesterday. looking
wen. and in the best OF spirits.
Mr.. Joseph Bryan, OF Richmond, ar