The San Francisco call., 1896-08-10
One Is to RemonetiZe Silver and
Establish a System of
Free Trade.
GERMAN FLEET MANEUvERs
Deal by Which the Petroleum Trade
of the World Has Been
Pooled.

conference was held on Thursday evening,
at the residence of Professor Sering of the
Berlin Academy of Agriculture, to which
were invited Baron Won Hammerstein-
Loxten, Prussian Minister of Agriculture,
Domains and Forests; DR.. Thiel, First
Councillor of the Ministry of Agriculture
Hon. Edwin T. Uhl, United States En-
bassador to Germany; DR.. Schumacher,
who has made two official visits to the
United States for the purpose of studying
the agricultural conditions prevailing in
America; Mr.. Turke of the agricultural
manufacturing firms; David Lubin of Sac
ramento. CAL, as the representative of the
Patrons of Husbandry, and two or three
other prominent agrarians. Baron Won
-Loxten and ambassador
Uhl, having made prior engagements,
were compelled to absent themselves from
the conference, but all the others who
were invited were present.
Mr.. Lubin presented a number of ques-
tions for discussion bearing upon the pros
pective causes and effects and remedies
connected with the decline OF prices in the
agricultural products of the world. Among
the numb ber of remedies suggested by the
questions submitted were the remonetiza-
tion of silver at ratio of 16 to and the
establishment of a free.trade system. The
submission of the questions was followed
by discussion which lasted five hours.
Professor Sering delivered an address in
which he expressed his belief that the
prices of agricultural products had reached
their lowest figures, but he admitted that
while they would not fall any lower it was
possible that they might remain stationary
for long time to come.
Abiding to Mr.. Lubin's contention,
which was that if the effort to establish a
free-trade system should fail the farmers
of the United States ought to be granted
bounties on their exports by the Govern
ment, Professor Sering said he was not
surprised at Mr.. Lubin's demand, but he
warned him and the others of his hearers
that if such a system of bounties were
established it would Immediately elicit
strong retaIiatory measures in Europe,
and perhaps cause the creation of pro-
tectionist union of the European coun-
tries against the United States. 1t was a
mere delusion, he continued, for the agri-
culturists of the United States to sup
pose that France and Germany could be
starved into surrendering. The Argentine
Republic and Russia, he said, could pro-
vide an ample supply of wheat, meats,
ETC., for an indefinite time.
DR.. Schumacher. who followed Profess
sor Sering, concurred in that gentleman's s
opinions, and contended that the coinage
of silver at the ratio of 16 to ! in the
United States would necessarily induce
very serious economic conflict with
Europe.
MIR. Turke, whose commercial connec-
tions are chiefly with the Argentine Re
public and Russia, expressed himself as
convinced that both of those countries
were only beginning their careers as the
grain providers of the world. Russia, he
said, was developing in the production of
grain amazingly, and he predicted that
within a few years the whole of Southern
Siberia would become serious competitor
for supplying Europe and the rest of the
world with cereals.
Professor Sering suggested the creation
of an international alliance of the agrarians
of the world, with q central bureau in
London, Washington, Berlin or Paris, and
that the alliance hold an annual meeting
OF delegates from the various agrarian in
stitutions. The proposal was deferred for
the action of future conference.
Baron yon Hammerstein Loxten had pre-
viously received Mr.. Lubip, who was in
troduced TO the Minister of Agriculture by
EN- bassador Uhl. Upon this occasion
Baron Won Hammerstein declared that he
was in full sympathy with Mr.. Lubin in
the latter's anxiety in regard to the decline
in the prices of agricultural products.
Prussia, he said, was suffering equally
with the rest OF the world from depression
of business and prices. He added that he
was glad that Mr.. Lubin was about to dis
cuss the problem with which they were
confronted with the leading economists of
Germany. Baron Won Hammerstein later
introduced Mr.. Lubin to Professor Sering
and DR.. Schumacher. A report of the
proceedings of the agricultural conference
has been furnished to Baron von Hammer
stein.
The inhabitants of the Lower Rhine dis
tricts had long been in expectation that
the Emperor would make q tour of their
section of the empire in accordance with
his announced programme. and had made
elaborate preparations to receive his
Majesty with all possible honors. 1t was
expected that the Kaiser would be present
at the dedication of the restored church at
Wesel and unveil the statue of his grand.
father, Emperor William I, at RurA ort on
Friday, and these places were the centers
of attraction to all who could possibly
make the journey. When it was an
nounced that the Emperor could not pos
sibly be present, owing TO illness, the peo-
pie were greatly disappointed, but the
programme previously arranged was car
ried out TO the letter ana the exercises at
tracted crowds of people. The Empress
and Prince Henry of Prussia, who repre-
sented the Emperor, his brother, were re-
ceived with every manifestation of enthu-
siasm.
Although an attack of catarrh was given
as the reason for the Emperor abandoning
his proposed trip to the lower Rhine, there
is no doubt that political affairs were the
chief cause OF his remaining behind. but
the story now in circulation, that a crisis
in the Chancellorship is impending is a
mere resurgence of fayorite theme of
late when current politics become a little
dull. The North German Gazette, in its
issue of yesterday, made the announce
ment that the Car had notified the En-
peror that he and the Czarina would visit
Breslau about the 9Th of September, upon
the occasion of the Silesian military
maneuvers. The proximity of this event
alone discounts the idea that Prince
Hohenlohe will resign within the next few
weeks, if, indeed, he does SO for many
months to come.
The usual stock of stories are in circu-
lation in connection with the Emperors S
recent tour of the northern seas chief
7