The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-14


mission from time TO time OF the amount
SO available In order that II may regu- |
late its expenditures accordingly, ana
no liability shall attach to said commit
tee or To this convention beyond the
amount so notified.
Article V-When the labors OF this |
committee have been completed as far |
as practicable the executive committee, |
if IL deems IL advisable. shall Issue |
call TO bring this convention together |
again at time and place designated IN !
such call, ami at the meeting so con-
vened the commission shall make re-
port of its doings and suggestions In such
manner and form as IL shall deem best
adapted TO present the same 10 this con-
vention and its members for action, anu
II legislation is deemed Impossible shall
accompany such report with draft or
such bill or bills providing for such iegis-
lation.
Resolved That all messages and com
munications as 10 methods as 10 cur
rcncy reform which have been presented
TO this convention be read TO this com
mission when formed.
After the reading of the resolutions j.
II. Walker OF Massachusetts,, chairman
of the committee on banking and cur
rency, was recognized, and hurled
bombshell into the convention. He said:
1.-THE congress OF the United States.
through the last congress, deferred ac-
tion upon any reSorm of the financial
and banking system OF this country 10
the present congress, the presidential
election being so near that the whole
question was put over 10 the present
congress. At the first session OF this
congress, for the same reason, II was de-
layed until the present session OF con-
gress. The committee on banking and
Grao af A
senate have taken no special action,
but up TO the present moment IL had
been determined that before this con-
gress closes there should be some def
mite scheme formulated to be presented
10 the proposed extra session OF the
Fifty-fifth congress.
And but for this convention some
scheme would have been provided. This
convention was called. What have you
done? The extra session meets-you can
not inaugurate your commission before
the close OF the present congress, you
cannot determine whether you will ap-
point this commission by this body un-
I'll that scheme is tried and then IL goes
over To the regular session of congress,
and when the next congress is elected, II
| legislation has not before been had, you
will not get it, You will not. in my judg-
ment, get IL for 10 years. l don't be-
| lieve there Is a member of congress here
| or in Washington who believes by the
machinery you have devised here any
| thing can be accomplished until the
| Tffty-sixth congress. l ask the people
| If you wish TO face the people again
| if the financial condition has been re-
| vealed TO them"
| In closing, Mr.. Walker said: Nov
| did propose that you say something
| about the methods OF securing legisla-
| tion IL there had been the slightest hope
| or encouragement from this convention.
| but | want To say 10 you that you have
| damned the whole reform, damned IL
here today in the weakness OF human
| nature and there is no salvation"
f. l.. Roots of Connersviile. Ind.
| Jumped up at once TO reply 10 Mr.,
Walker. He said:
II take IL that he has misunderstood
the motive OF the men who have been
active in the calling OF this convention.
| Rather let IL be the beginning of a grand
future In politics that we are so inter-
ested that we will spend our money--we
from the east, west, north and south
| act as citizens because the republic Is
In our hands and not in the hands O;
congresses or senates. We came here
for q purpose. We came here TO express
our sentiments, and dangerous is the
position OF that man in congress who
charges us with being lobbyists for i'm
moral or any other purpose"
Mr. Roots also introduced resolutions
upon which no action was taken. By
this time the delegates were aroused and
interested and began to prepare for the
suuall that was TO come. Congressman
Fowler offered an amendment TO thS
committees report, which provided that
the permanent executive committee
OF this body shall consist of one mem
Der from each state represented, ant
that said committee shall confer and CO.
operate with the banking and currency
committee of the house and the finance
committee of the senate to secure th'
inevita Bile passage of bill carrying Gu
the principles adopted.
Mr.. Fowler spoke 10 his amendment
after paying his respects to Mr.. Roots
In sarcastic tone.
Mr. Bullitt of Pennsylvania spok'
against Mr.. Fowler's amendment, urg
ing that it would not be feasible TO ap
point commission composed OF on'
man from every state in the Union. Ii'
said: ION that committee you want mel
OF the same caliber of the men wh'
brought this convention toSethef-fTfei
vino are not TO be deferred from doin!
their duty, even by being told by tn
chairman Of the committee on currenc.
that our movement is damned No maj
should rest from going forward in
movement he believes 60 be right be
cause some man in moment OF disap
pontment tells you that you ar
damned.
you have a right to call upon con
gress. You have a right TO say TO then
, that they must do what viii conduce {
the true interests of the country an
what will preserve TO you and TO othe
citizens the rights that they enjoy
They have that right. and SO far fror
disbelieving that this movement is to IN
in the future, or II is TO be cut down, tha
members of congress, gentlemen, wi
! notice Il. Let Us move forward conf
dent that we are right, determined {
assert our rights and determined TO hol