Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-03-26
Protectlon aud Free snver coinage.


All doubts about the rumored com
bination between the advocates Of free
silver coinage and tho manufacturers
who seek protective legislation at the
hands OF Congress, was removed by a
conference held at Washington Thurs
day. Tho existence of the selfish
alliance was then fully shown.
The conference was between large
delegation of manufacturers, headed by
Mr. James Dobson OF Philadelphia, and
the Republicans silver Senators who
voted against the House Tariff bill in
the Senate. Tho conference ia thus re-
ported in the morning papers:
Brief speeches were made by all tho
Senators. They defined their poeition
in such manner as to make il nlain TO
the manufacturers that there could be
no protective tariff legislation either at
this session of Congress or the next
without the rehabilitation Of silver, and
that bimGtallism and protection, as
regarded from their standpoint, consti.
tuted an indiyisible issue before tho
country. Some Of the manufacturers
themselves endorsed this position as
being the logic of the country's neces.
sities and political conditions
President Dornan Of the Manufac-
turers' Club of Philadelphia, expressed
the opinion that tariff duties could not
be made high enough TO protect our
manufacturers IL our country remained
on a gold basis. Mr.. James Dobson
came out unqualifiedly for free coinage
by international agreement, il possible !;
| ~ ige hxr tRAnnnRIn,,N II
believed that independent action would
induce international action. Henry A,
Frye OF Philadelphia, said that tho
sooner we took independent action for
bimetallism the better it would be-
He declared for protection and bime.
| tallism.
Senators who were interviewed with
regard to the meeting expressed the
opinion thnt this was the first note Of
warning to the Republican party against
the adoption of single gold standard
plank in the st. Louis platform or the
nomination of a gold standard man on
a straddlo plank. Many letters in har.
mony with the purpose of the meoting
were received from manufacturers
throughout the country who were un-
able to be present at tho meeting.
This conference, it is said, is the be-
ginning Of movement in favor of free
silver among Republican manufacturers
in the East, which is likely to have
an important bearing upon the Re-
publican campaign. In spite Of the
fact that great deal OF money has
been contributed TO assist Mr.. McKin-
ley by Eastern manufacturers, 1t is as
serted by no less authority than Chair
man Carter OF the national Republican
committee, that the men who contri-
buted more than seventy per cent OF
the money used to run Harrison's CAM
paign in 1892 are now holding back and
have assumed the position that free sill
YER and protection should 60 hand in
hand.
In other words, the rest of the coun-
try, through legislation by Congress,
is to be made to pay tribute to these
two selfish interests, now united for
common purpose. They are preparing
to move upon the st. Louis convention,
and secure the nomination of Mckinley
upon platform demanding high pro
tective tariff taxes and the free and
unlimited coinage of silver. at tho
ratio of 16 to /.
1t Is evident that the country cannot
look to the Republican party TO make
the battle for honest money in this
years. campaign. That party is hope
lessly committed to protection and FREQ
silver coinage. The sound money fight
will have to be made in the Democratic
convention at Chicago.