The age-herald., 1897-08-19
A GREAT THRONG
 TO HEAR ECkELS
(continued From First Page.)

~ say HLttile0 the people SHllll pS lAS'- u from this 'FbS1y of death" or whsther they shall stiG continue to carry 1t. The people at the polls still declared, after a campaign which knaw no othzr isue, for complete emancipation. But from tho-e who stand within the inner c!re'e O. leg islative oction tfe announcement comes that nothing can be done unless ieonces- sions are made to interests, the harmful results of which no man can forsit 1l If surh be the truth, the duty is placed upon every citizen who has his country's good at heart and would put an end 70 the losses 50 long entailed upon his fel- lows, to Taise his voice in protest aga nst either inection or concession asl1 thus make ths country's declaration at the polls more than barren victory Win the American people the most potent force Tor good is the might of public op.n- ion. Against the power of it wha7 onca aroused no legislator has ever yet be n able to stand no matter how lzud his bUastful threats or arrogant his d. meanor. Enforced by it the repsal of Q statute that was defended for weeks by those who proclaimed that there nevsr could be with them, either oomprom SC or surrender was wrung from unwil inG ard hostile legislators. It did erase the Sherman silver purchasing act. It will accomplish no less today for the welfare of the citizen if it is again as earnestly appealed to.
 "I. myself. have never in the past wa vered in the belief, nor do I now. that in the end we will be possessed of a bank ing and currency system so strong as to make impregnable the country's credit. Its coming may be long delayed and only be attained after a tremendous loss of capital and injury to labor. It was the misery and distress entailed by the as sgnats and mandates of the French rev olution that placed France upon the solid rock of sound finance It took the threat ened starvation of the peasantry of a great nation to wipe out the corn laws of England, but the victory when ob tained was complete. And thus, in con- formity with the course of history, it is possible that before the nations finan- cial structure rests upon a foundation firm as the eternal hills," the American people will be called upon to pass through the awful experiences and loss which would follow in the wake of un- checked paper and silver fiatism. But at last, no matter how prolonged the strug- gle or great suffering, with the acqui- essence of all, the monetary principles which accord with the worlds business experience, all financial research, and every dictate of common honesty, will here prevail in complete and enduring triumph."eFna TT esi7 ora no1 .fs
 Interesting discussions of practical banking questions followed MT. Eckels' address. oa, .,4.,.... .,.
 "Is a credit bureau or bureau of in- formation to prevent losses from bad debts possible among banks?' was the subject discussed by J. w. Leathers, of Kentucky.
 MT. J. P. Branch, president of the Mer- chants National bank of Richmond, Va, in discussing the question, What legis- lation is needed in respect to the curren- cy," said:
 "I maintain that our currency should be the best. Nothing short of the best will suit the great and varied interests of our country. It should be safe and stable; it should be adequate to the neads of the country; it should expand and con- tract automatically; it should be simple and uniform. Itishould be so distributed throughout our territory that every man entitled to credit should be able to ob- tain its use at fair rates. competent, non-partisan currency commission should be appointed and it seems to me they should advocate:
 "First-The final adoption of the gold standard
 "Second-The gradual cancellation of the governments demand notes, said cancellation to be not further than new currency issued by the banks; the depos- its of government revenue in banks of the country ana the retirement or the government from the banking business.
 "Third-They should advocate the re- peal of the circulation tax on banks and thereby make possible currency that will expand and contract automatically with the needs of the country, said cur rency to be under the supervision of our national government to be surrounded by ample, practical and efficient safe- guards.
 "If the currency commission does not solve the problem and guide the people to demand currency reform based on eternal principles, it is my solemn con viction that with the inevitable return of hard times the people will>solve the question for themselves and free silver may be the least of our evils"
 committee will be appointed to take action on the ggestionS embodied in