Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-22
Gathering of the Delegates to the
Conference in This City.
GEN. WARMERS OPENING ADDRESS
Officers Elected and Committee
on Resolutions Appointed.
o L II E r S P E AKERS

Wizards Hall this morning. The ianitorl
mad failed to turn on the heat and there
was complaint on all sides that The nall
was loo cold for the delegates. After the
conference had gotten started the janitor
appeared and fixed the heating apparatus
Ihere were no decorations in The nall and
no notices of any sort. Gen. Warner and
number of the league folks wore silver
tadges, marked "16 to L. but outside of
tfat there was nothing to denote whether
the gathering was made up of Rothsc hilds
or the reverse.
The delegates began to gather shortly be-
1cre the appointed hour. There were a
number Of more or less prominent visitors.
among them Senator TilIman and Congress-
man Latimer of South Carolina They did
not remain, but went away before the con-
terence was called to order Among those
VINO renamed in the meeting, however,
were Senators Butler and Stewart and
Representatives McLaurin of South Caro-
lima and Allen of Utah.
Early on Hand.
The hobnobbing and handshaking began
early this morning at the headquarters OF
the Bimetallic League. All new arrivals
were cordially and warmly greeted and
the financial and political situation was
discussed with much freedom. 1t cannot
be said that the delegates to the conference
peiohs ~ any IL is a repre-
sentative gathering of men who have
made up their mind to leave the old parties
and to cast their fortunes with rev one
over half of the number are republicans.
i ne balance are democrats and poDusts
Among the new arrivals who repor;ed at
the league headquarters this morning were
Cen A. c. Fiske of Colorado. Alex. Troop
of Connecticut w. x. Grant, Mann Page
Edmond Alloocke, ]. H. Hopson and j. h.
Beverly OF Virginia, Robert X Tomlinson,
X, Z. Difendegfer. A. 6. Dulin and W. }.
Gheney OF Pennsylvania, J. r. Mckay Of
Illinois, Jack Bowden OF South Carolina.
Among all the delegates there was the
same expression of sentimeut-Jhat there
was no longer any hope for silver any of
the existing parties. r. Z. Difenderfer, a
Philadelphia manufacturer, said ia a Star
reporter that he has always taken a prom-
inent part in republican affairs in mis- city,
but that he is now ready to Join with any
party which is honest in its efforts for
silver. He does so because, he says, the ex-
change between this country and eastern
countries is running the manufacturers.
Japan is getting rich at the expense of
American manufacturers.
Judge Starke Of Ohio cne of the prom
ne Mt delegates, was rather inclined 10 the
opinion. that the silver men ought to make
their fight through the populist party, the
machinery of which is already in opefa-
ton, but he was one of the few who felt
ttat way. He was populist candidate
for the supreme court of Ohio and is favor
ably inclined to that party. Even the pop
ulist leaders, however disclaim any direct
connection with the present movement, ex'
cept to give it their sympathy because its
purposes are similar to their own.
Called to Order.
1t was 10 O'Clock when General Warner.
mounted the platform and openei the
meeting. The delegates iilled The first lows
of chairs in the hall, and it is probable that
there were one hundred and fifty present
The few spectators who walked in were
notified that only those who had been in
vited were expected to remain. This noti-
fication was given by Secretary Deyine of
the Bimetallic League, and doorkeeper
was put at the door TO keep out all EXCEPT
those entitled to be present
General Warmers opening address was
eXteinporaneous. He lid not use notes.
Gen. Warmers Address.
General Warner stated why and how
the conference had been called. Its object
was to decide on the policy to be pursued
by the silver men in he coming campaign.
which he regarded as the most important
in the history of the country. United ac-
ton is necessary. 1--WE must ,lnite or We
are lost he said. eve cant win pv Tight
ing IN separate deta chments in organiza-
tions controlled by gold men. The hand
writing is on the walls of the old parties |
and We must tear down the walls Shall
the silver men for once nave a chance To
vote Tor candidates for President and Vice
PRESIDENT who are with them? The uues-
ton is whether We are willing 10 nut our
cause above party. If me cause is NOT
paramount, then We ought to lay it aside;
Out II is paramount, and We must fight for
It, The gold power as att ampting TO per-
manently establish gold standard but the
power is broken now"
HE alluded to the government borrowing
foreign money, and SAID that borrowed mon
ey would never remain in country. There
must be an end TO borrowing some time ,
Inc speaker said he had asked Senator
yesterday when this borrowing would cease
but the Senator did not answer
The proposition to cancel the currency and!
to turn the power over to banks to issue
money would produce a monetary revolu-
ton. Even in England it had been decided,
that it would lot do to allow the Bank of
England TO issue paper money. This countryl
would never allow the banks to take chargef
CT the issue of currency. 1t would be placing
the property of the people of the country
in the hands of the banks.
The Gold Standard Attacked.
Gen. Warner attacked the gold standard
and asked If the people would submit to any
such conditions. He did not believe they
would. His allusion to the issue of bonds
for maintaining gold standard as a crime
was loudly applauded. In some way" he
said, 1--WE will have to free ourselves FROM
the domination of England" 1t may take a.
war to do so, but he hoped it could be ac-i
comp,ished in a peaceable manner.
The speaker rid!culed Secretary Carlisle's
operations of the treasury and described
He also ridiculed Senator Sherman's plan.
and created much laughter.
A Debtor People.
THE trouble with u.s." the speaker saId,f
lis that We are a debtor people. The in-
terest on what We owe is S400.00o.O00. and
must be paid in gold or goods. The cred,
itors demand gold. All the great railway
systems in the United States are owned ,nl
England. Great Britain dominates the
world not through her navy but through
her financial system The old scriptu,a al
lessoa that the borrower is the servant Of
the lender is illustrated in this country
We must free ourselves from England and
must do il now"
Gen.. Warner next touched on the inter-
national difficulties arising out Of a gold
standard for this country.
Must Come Together.
''The condition OF things makes it neces-
sary," he continued, that come to-
gether. We not fighting the republic
cans or democrats or populists, but the
gold power That power is organized" II