Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-20
SILVERAND MANUFACTURERS
a Conference Between Bimetallists and
Protectionists.
The First Note of Warning to the
Republicans Against Adopting
Single Gold Standard.

A conference was had in this city yester-
day between the republican silver Senators
who voted against the consideration of the
House tariff bill in the Senate and a number
of manufacturers, principally of Pennsyl-
vania, for the purpose of arriving, If pos
sible, at an understanding on which the
silver advocates and the protectionists can
unite. The conference was preliminary to
others which probably will be held, and
while it resulted in no joint declaration.
those present expressed themselves as salts
fled that the result would be to promote
both interests and that an important step
had been taken in bringing them nearer
together.
The meeting resulted from a correspond
ence between Mr.. VIM Wilhelm of Potts
vile and Senators Teller, Dubois, Carter,
Mantle, Cannon and Jones of Nevada.
Those Senators were all present at the
meeting, as were Representatives Hartman
Of Montana, Allen of Utah and Wilson of
Idaho and representatives of the following
named manufacturing interests: Carpets,
woolens, lumber. silk. yarns, street rail-
ways, groceries, worsteds, wire. knit goods,
surgical appliances, upholstery, rugs, dyes,
buggies and electrical appliances.
The conference was organized by choosing
Senator Dubois as chairman and Mr.. Will
nGlnl secretary. bTleI speeches were ulduc
by all the Senators present. They defined
their position in such manner as to make
it plain to the manufacturers that there
could be no protective tariff legislation
next without the rehabilitation of silver,
and that bimetallism and protection, as re-
Garded from their standpoint, constituted an
indivisible issue before the country.
Some of the manufacturers Endorsed this
position as being the logic Of the country
necessities and political conditions. Presi-
dent Dornan of the Manufacturers Club
of Philadelphia expressed the opinion that
tariff duties could not be made high enough
to protect American manufacturers If the
country remained on a gold basis. Mr.. Jas.
Dobson came out unqualifiedly for free
coinage by international agreement, If pos
s!ble; otherwise, by Independent action. He
believed that Independent action would in
duce international action. Free coinage
might create temporary disturbances, but
1t was tie quickest way to a permanent re-
lief from the ills from which the country
Is now suffering.
Henry A. Frye of Philadelphia said that
the sooner that Independent action was
taken for bmetaIlism the better 1t would
be- He declared for protection and bimetal-
lism. Charles Heller Clark, editor of the
Manufacturer of Philadelphia, said he had
labored In season and out of season to con-
vince the manufacturers that protection
would only prove efficacious in conjunction
with the restoration of silver. Richard
CamPion declared himself in favor of the
restoration OF silver, but thought that the
cause OF bimetallism was not advanced by
the defeat of the revenue measure
Senators who were interviewed with re-
gard to the meeting expressed the opinion
that 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 gold
standard man on a straddle plank. Many
letters In harmony with the purposes CT the
meeting were received from manufacturers
throughout the country.