The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-04-15
LIKE THE COMMISSION.
Men of All Parties Commend
McKinley's Choice.
STEVENSON ESPECIALLY PLEASING,
The President Wanted the Question
Raised Above Politlcs-The Ex-Vice
President Feels Greatly Honored-sen-
ator woicott Expects Much Good.

WASHINGTON, April 14.-The naming
of three commissioners by President
Mckinley under the act of the last con.
gress to promote bimetallism was the
subject of considerable discussion about
the capitol Almost without exception
the selections were commended Sen.
ators, regardless of party. were pleased
with the selection of ex-Vice President
Stevenson. 1t appears that this selec-
tion was the presidents own, no one
appearing to urge his appointment.
The president desired q Democrat
who stood high in his party and who
was an earnest silver man. He sent for
Mr.. Stevenson and, after talking the
subject over with him, decided to max Q
him member of the commission.
President Mckinley desired that the
subject of international bimetallism
should be lifted above party politics
and that the men selected should be
those who would work in harmony to.
ward bringing about an agreement 1t
was also believed by the president that
the name of Mr.. Stevenson would give
the commission great weight abroad.
Among the earnest advocates of the
selection of Mr.. Payne were Senators
n
whom talked with the president on the
subject and recommended him as a
man who would materially aid the
cause of bimetallism.
Senator Wolcott is very hopeful of
success. He looks forward to hard
work. but says from what he learned
while abroad last year he is almost san
guine of results. Senator Wolcott be.
lieves in the selection of the commits.
sion, especially in naming Mr.. Steven
son, silver man and one who sup.
ported Mr.. Bryan. President Mckinley
has convinced everybody that he is an
earnest bimetallist. Bimetallism at
home and abroad, he says, will be pro-
NOTED by this selection.
Opposition to the scheme for interna-
tional bimetallism has developed from
an unexpected source. Morton Frewen
of England, who has given great deal
of attention to the subject and who has
visited this country several times in the
interest of silver, is now opposing an
international agreement, and declares
that the money question is one which
one nation must settle for itself. Mr..
Frewen will oppose any agreement and
use his influence against the new COM
mission when it goes abroad.
Senator Wolcott said that the gold
standard countries would oppose any
further depreciation of silver and that
efforts were now being made to pre-
vent any further fall of silver in India
also that the demand for gold by Japan
in establishing gold standard would
cause drain of gold from Europe
which would be resisted by gold coun-
tries. In the United States Senator
Wolcott anticipates lutte opposition to
bimetallism. What opposition Mr..
Wolcott says there is comes from the
German bankers of New York who
are already fighting bimetallism and
whose opposition the commission viii :
meet when it goes to Europe.
BLOOMINGTON, Ills. April l4.-Ex-Vice
President Stevenson said, when ques-
toned about his appointment on the
commission for the promotion of an in
ternational agreement al appreciate
the compliment paid to me by the presi-
dent and will cheerfully render what
assistance can to accomplish the OBJ
ject of the commission.
II am a bimetallist. | regard the
restoration of silver to its proper money
function as the supreme question in our
own country and throughout the world.
The importance of the question cannot
be overStated. In this country the in.
crease in the volume of business is
beyond computation. In the light of
these facts the rehabilitation of silver is
a prime necessity. Should its demon
etization become the settled policy the
evil days upon which we have fallen
but dimly foreShadow consequences yet
to come.
Whatever our views may be as to
the ability of our government to main
tain the free and unlimited coinage of
silver without the cooperation of the
leading countries of Europe it may
be safely assumed that every friend of
silver in our country will welcome in
ternational bimetallism.
"As to the possibility of success of
this commission, it is known that the
trend of public sentiment in European
countries, as well as our own, is un-
doubtedly favorable to bimetallism.
MANY of the publicists of England
and Germany are in earnest accord
with our government upon this ques-
tion. Should public sentiment in those
countries Justify an international con-
ference would undoubtedly be called
and action taken that would be deemed