The herald., 1897-09-10

C. K. MCLATCHIE
ment that inasmuch as the sole power is
conferred upon congress to coin gold and
silver and fix the value thereof as debt
paying or tender money, it is the duty of
congress to coin and fix the value o* sill
yer as we'll as of gold, and to do so with
out asking the consent Of foreign ma
tions; and our history shows that until
recent years it has always Of its own
motion exercised this power.
Demonetizing silver at once deprived
it of its most important function and
had the effect to diminish its demand
and thereby depreciate its value; and
this action at the same time also in
creased the demand for gold, the other
legal tender money, and necessarily in
creased its relative value. The result
of this contraction of redemption money
was, and continues to be, to the interest
of the creditor nations like England,
and as manifestly to our injury, being
nation of borrowers or debtor nation.
This being so it is folly to suppose that
such creditor nations Will voluntarily
agree to the restoration of silver as mon
ey, and hence any one who favors BIZ
metallism when it can be brought about
only with the consent Of the leading
nations is either insincere or the victim
of delusion. Very few are now credu-
lous enough to believe that such
scheme is practicable, and it is not at
all likely that it will again be submitted
to the American people. In fact, as sill
yer continues to depre reciate, consequent
upon its characterization, the opponents
of bmetallism, with apparent glee, call
attention to the constant divergence in
the relative value of gold and silver as
evidence that the latter can never be re.
stored to its former place as money.
The next vital issue. therefore, will be
whether we shall permanently establish
the single gold standard in this country
or whether we will take Independent
action for the restoration of bimetallism
as recognized by the constitution.
Firmly believing that the shrinkage
of the volume of redemption money, re-
sultng from the single gold standard
and the outlawing of silver as tender
money, is injurious to this country, my
vote will, as heretofore. favor the res
toration of silver to its former position,
without delay and independently of
other nations. Very respectfully yours,
WALTER VAN DYKE.
PERMANENT OFFICERS
After a large number Of letters had
been read the election of permanent
officers was proceeded with. No slate
had been made up, so there was no slate
to break but as the utmost good feel
ing and consideration prevailed in
very short time the following officers
were placed in nomination and elected
by acclamation:
| Hon. George w. Baker, Oakland,
chairman; j. N. Phillips. Los Angeles,
first chairman; L. T. Hatfield, Sec
end vice-chairman; ]. H. Woolman, San
| Diego third vice-chairman; w. c.
Petchner Los Angeles, treasurer; F. ].
Cooper Los Angeles, secretary
| The actual business of the conference
having thus been accomplished brief
and pointed remarks were in order.
Judge Lamme in few pithy remarks
outlined what he thought ought to be
the general plan Of the organization, and
how the greatest amount of good might
be done with the least expenditure of
labor.
| c. X. McClatchie of Sacramento made
few remarks of the most inspiring
kind. He alluded TO the fact that his
father had been an old-time Lincoln
Republican, and as a consequence he
haS been baptized into the Republican
party with all its traditions. The silver
question had always been championed
by the Republican party, he said, and
in this state as in others it had repeated
" placed itself on record as pledged to
replace it in it's proper place as standard
money of the country. IF the Repuh-
Icon party won't come to us" said the
speaker, land l think il will, but If it
does not, then we have nothing to Gao but
stand firm on a true. Republican issue"
Mr.. McClatchie concluded by paying
tribute of respect to Senator Teller of
Colorado, who rather than sacrifice his
self-respect and prove renegade to his
principles walked out of the national
convention.
Judge Phillips also made a striking
little address. He made the compari-
son between the birth of this state or
ganization and the birth of little iE-
fant. Its friends are waiting-some
close at hand anG, others at distance
filled with anxious hope. In the throe@
of difficulty and the pain of temporary
defeat the organization had been born
in that shadow which would give oppor-
tunity for it to conserve its strength, in
readiness for the time when in blaze
of light the conflict for truth and right
would rage.
Harry l.. Baker of San Francisco
spoke briefly in appreciation of the
honor done his father in electing him
to the responsible position of chairman.
Other e-minute talks were made by
F. w. Vooght, Alameda F. O. Frazer,
Los Angeles; B. c. Shepherd, Ontario;
r. A. Thomas, San Diego; L. NJ Holt.
Los Angeles; Judge Touchton, Ventura;
C. c. Thompson. Pasadena; r. NJ.
Thomson, Los Angeles; w. G. Adams,
Ventura and w. H. Baldridge, San
Diego.
The secretary was instructed to send
| kilograms to the Hon. William Jennings
Bryan and also to C. N. Towne, chair
man of the National Silver Republican
party, informing them of the organiza
tion just perfected in California, and the
conference then adjourned subject to
the call Of the chair.
Moral Enthusiasm
Moral enthusiasm is a rare quality,