The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-02
BOARDS OF TRADE.
MONETARY CONVENTION AT
INDIANAPOLIS.

indianapolis, Ind, Dec. ALI the
cities invited to the preliminary confer.
ence III this city, called by the local board
OIL trade, looking toward IL national mon
etary convention, responded excepting
two. These were Louisville and Kansas
City. Owing to the late arrival of sew
eral delegates, the initial session was not
called to order until . o'clock this after
noon. When j. c. Adams, president of
the board of trade of this city. called the
conference TO order the following organ
lzations were represented: Cincinnati
chamber of commerce, Chicago board of
trade, Cleveland chamber of commerce,
Columbus board OF trade, Detroit board
OF trade, Des Moines commercial eX-
change, Grand Rapids board of trade. In
dianapolis Commercial Club, Milwaukee
chamber of commerce, Minneapolis board
of trade, Omaha board of trade and peo-
ria board of trade.
President Adams in his addl ess said:
1.-The Indianapolis board of trade in
common with the business interests OF
this country, believe that the result of
the recent election was an earnest protest
against the debasement of our monetary
system as well as positive declaration
in favor of sounl, stable and infiu-
encing currency. In furthernnce of these
views this board issued call to the
boards of trade and commercial bodies of
what is known as the Central West, liz
wiling them to send delegates to Il preim-
mary conference which convenes to-day.
This conference will consider the atvisa-
bility of issuing more extended call for
larger convention OF the commercial
bodies of the principal cities to discuss
the question what ought to be done, to
cure the radical defects in our monetary
system and if deemed practicable and for
the best interests of all to create non
partisan commission. composed of able,
experienced and fair minded business
men. whose duty shall he to formulate Il
plan which will remove existing weak
spots in our present cumbersome and dc.
fcctive SYSTEM place the finances of the
nation on II sound and adequate basis and
prevent the possibility of frequent none
tary disturbances Permit me to saw,
gentlemen, that behind this call, in an
swer to which you have convened to-day
here. turks no plan, no scheme or posi-
bility behind which it is proposed to alter
or change our present system OH any par
ticular plan or OH special line.
within the last thirty days the PEG.
pie of this country have shown that they
are unalterably opposed to cheap and
fluctuating dollars of an uncertain value
1--WE must not take this overwhelming
expression Of the people rs u final and
complete settlement Of tue issues in.
VolVed, nor rs an unQuestioned accept
ance CT our present monctarys.system,b but
rather as II protest against Il step back
ward. Between the lines of the returns
of the recent election there is shown n
pronounced public sentiment fnvorinc
currency reform with IN evident purpose
on the part Of conservative and reflective
men to examine into our national finances
ana remove with the least possible delay
Whatever weakness or defects may mp.
pear.
Different views are entertained as to
methods of procedure and details of plans
in the matter of currency revision, but
after grievous.and costly experience wc''arc
forced to TIE conclusion that the time has
now arrived when the Government must
either discontinue the banking business
with it's expensive and implicated system
or 90 into it on a broad, better defined
and more comprehensive scale. The game
is not worth the candle. The burden ;s
too heavy to be safely borne and no indi-
vidual, corporation or government can
conduct business on II safe and sound
basis who has demand notes calling for
millions of dollars in existence and circu-
lation which notes are liable i'll i period
VI SUI iiiSSiNl anu lUitllC 10 Dc Drought I'd
the counter for redemption and when so
redeemed are reissued, thus acting ms n
standing menace to the Government re.
serve and n continual threat to the trade
and business of the country, causing dis.
turbance and unsettled values Of every
character.
''The cause of our trouble is not diff.
cult to locate: to determine the best
course to pursue and to apply remedial
legislation that will provide the great ma
ton with sound uniform and elastic
currency, whether it he gold, silver or
paper, is the INTELLIGENT purpose and par.
amount question which will claim the
best thought and business Judgment of
the conference which you are about to
consider the propriety of calling.
'Politicians are proverbially timid even
To the verge Of cowardice but when sem
timent is crystalzed and given definite
shape by the commercial bodies and bus
mess men of the nation, il becomes a
moral force and recognized power which
our law makers will not ignore or refuse
To heed
1.-The attention Of the country is CEN
tered on this gathering and well it NAV.
for no movement of recent years has en-
bodied so much thought. eurnestness of
purpose, and exalted aim or has given
promise OF such fruitful results rs the
action you are about to take
At the conclusion of Mr.. Adams
speech, Hugh H. Hanna, of indianapolis,
was selected ns fem porarv chnirp,op In