Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-02-17
uONOMETALLISM HELD RESPONSE
BILE FOR OUR BUSINESS ILLS.
Major Mckinley Warned Against De-
lay in Settling the Money Ques-
fion-Dramatic Exchange Be-
tween Senators Chand-
Ter and Pettigrew.

Senator Palmer ana lUt
vention. the arraignment of silver hepup-
,,oa,s, ,',,,o boIted the st. Louis convention,
"a for the dramatic personal exchange
hot,,oon Mr. Chandler and Mr.. PettgreW'
az Ia,tor heing one of the boilers from the
ST. Louis convention
Mr. Chambers speech iasteu thIee ho'
and was replete with incident. 1t was on
argument against Il single stahudfo VI
either metal, gold or silver, ana warn
ing against a policy OF monometa,iishi.
Tben the senator turned to political phases
of the question, speaking III 'uin VI nn;,r -,
of Palmer and of Mckinley. MI. faiihsr
SAT across the aisle and was frequently ad
dressed by the speaker as one VINO ndo
contrib,,ted to the election OF MchihieS.
The controversy between Mr Cnahuier anu
Mr.. Pettigrew was one OF the notees' pc
sopaI episodes the senate has had IN sohe
time. the South Dakota senator oeciaftis
Mr. Chambers statements reiauVe 10 the
violation of pledges at 81. LOUIS
wholly and absolutely false Mr. chaluie, ,
did not modify his statement, but mutual
exn,anstions restored cordial relations.
The peroration of Mr.. Chandler was an
aupeaI to the incoming president ana MS
advisers to heed the needs of the people,
particularly on the money question ana
a warning of speedy political disaster GER
tain to follow delay.
The early part of the speech was pre-
sentation of the principles of hnance, tne
senator arguing against a single stanoard
of either metal silver or gold. He traced
the gradual decentralization of silver. the
closing of our mints against the silver dol
lar in 1873. to the efforts to restore silver
and the serious blow struck by England
against silver in closing the Indian mints.
But 1t remained for Secretary Carlisle, the
senator declared to strike the most fatal
blow at silver, In issuing his order that
the government would redeem its paper
obligations in gold only. By that act Sec
retary Carlisle struck out Of use vast
amount of silver and drew on the world
depleted stock of gold and gave the final
| blow to silver. From the effects of this
low depth to which 1t had been reduced by
the demonstration of silver, bimetallism
must now begin its toiIsome struggle up
ward.
Mr.. Chandler took up the fall of prices.
particularly in farm products, resulting
| from silver decentralization. He declared
| that within the last twenty years there
had been steady fall of prices of all
| classes of property. His own convictions.
that silver decentralization was at the bot
| tom of this downward movement in prices,
caused him seriously to doubt whether the
era of restored prosperity was near at
hand. He was led to the conclusion, he
said. that prices had not yet touched
bottom"
| II it had not been for the fortunate
| balance of trade in our favor during the
| past year, he said, there would have been
"a business cataclysm in this country which
would have Frustrated all interests and
| produced infinite misery in our business
| and domestic affairs. 1t was because
| gaunt famine stalked through India that
| trade was. favorable to US. for this horror
OF the Orient had proved a benefit TO US.
| For these reasons, Mr.. Chandler said. turn
| ing toward Mr.. Palmer. Democrat, of Illi-
| nois, who sat near, he was opposed to
| such declarations for permanent gold
| standard as that enunciated by the lndian-
| arolis convention.
| Mr.. Chandler said silver monometallism
| had led to the defeat of Bryan. The ctner
| element of the Democratic party had Sc
lected Palmer and Buckner on single
| gold standard platform. 1t had resulted
| in giving to these estimable candidates 1885,
ertheless, said Mr.. Chandler. the assist
| ance of these old-fashioned gentlemen in
the election of Mr.. Mckinley was in a
| worthy cause. Mr.. Palmer remained in his
seat across the aisle, smiling occasionally
| at Mr.. Chandler's sarcastic illusions to
him.
sensational episode between Mr.. Chandler
| and Mr.. Pettigrew. The New Hampshire
senator said Mr.. Pettigrew had been sent
that tn f he " would i'' support Mckinley and
sound money" And yet, within two
weeks, that senator had repudiated his
| pledge had bolted Mckinley and sound
money platform and soon thereafter had
come out a supporter of Bryan.
Mr. Pettigrew had entered the chamber
| TO his seat and interrupted: DO yoa
| fty, or as quotation" he asked.
| II make the statement answered Mr.
| Chandler, taking it from the newspaper
| reports. which are understood to have CIV
| en- correct statement of the case
| Mr. Pettigrew, with explosive emphasis.
| replied: 81 brand that statement as wholly
| and unqualifedly false in every part
| have made that explicit denial before and
| have placed ii in the record, so the SEN
ator tChandlerl should know it is abso-
lutely false"
| II understand the senator Pettigrew)
| declares the statement wholly false. Does
he mean to say he was not in a convention
which named him as a Mckinley dele
| gate?"
hemently. that the purport of your state
| mcnt is absolutely and wholly false"
"Ah, the purport of my statement is
| what the senator questions. Now. ask
| yorabIe to sound money and was named
| as delegate by such convention?
''I was delegate" said MIR. Pettigrew,
Then I do not understand this perform
| ance of the senator" proceeded Mr.. Cham
| dIer There is not so wide difference be-
tween us as might appear. He declared
| that my statement was wholly false He
| admits he went to the national convention
| as a delegate from a sound money conven-
| tion."
| position perfectly clear before the state
| convention, prior to his being chosen as a
delegate.
| The incident was brief, but was empha-
| sized by the personal manner in which the
senators addressed each other.
| MT. Chandler resuming the thread of his
remarks spoke OF the opportunities ahead
| of the Republican administration in check
ing the money power and limiting corpor-
ate influences.
lief that President Mckinley and the Other
| leaders of the party, in their advent tc
| power may, by wise designs and virtuous
deeds, indefinitely prolong the ascendancy
| of the Republican party in this country
| This can surely be done by making it the
true party of the people. to the final con.
| fusion and discontinue of those pretenders
the blind leaders OF the blind. who were
so summarily, on the 3rd of November last
all thrown into the ditch together. If, or
publican party shall content Itself with
seizing and enjoying the spoils of office
| surrendering unreservedIy to the money
power which so effectively contributed tc
its recent victory, acquiescing permanently
in the existing gold standard and treating
bimetallism as Juggling humbug ant
the promise to promote 1t as a pledge never
intended 10 be fulfilled, Republicans will
speedily find the tide of political battle
once more turned against them, and they
will soon exchange places with their now
| sore, bleeding. PROSTATE foes.
| ITO the coming triumphant president
| hopeful and over-confdent, rejoicing as
! strong man to run race. and to his choser
| currents of the future, / cannot help say.
ing warningly concerning the pending worlI