The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-10
J. Sterling Morton Writes to
the Sound Money League
That All the Idiots, Fanatics
and BigOts in Nebraska
HAVE JOINED BRYAN.
The League Conducts a Funeral
Service
Over the Corpse of Interna-
tiOnaI Bimetallism.

New York, Nov. 1O.-The semi-annual
meeting Of the executive committee of
the national sound money league has
met and adjourned. There were pres
ent President George E. Leighton, St.
Louis; General Secretary E. V Small
7ey, Henry Willard, Gustave H. H.Schwab.
J. Kennedy Tod, H. p. Robinson, Edwin
Burritsmith, J. K. COwen, NJ. e. In
gals, ]. w Norwood, W. c. Cornwall
and Treasurer A. b. Hepburn.
General Secretary Smalley, in his re-
port of the work of the league said that
there was lodged to it's credit in a bank
of Chicago a balance of $1,000 over and
above all expenditures.
Treasurer Hepburn reported that the
total amount in bank up to the present
to the credit of the league was $40, 1858
A donation of $500 to the Indianapolis
monetary league was granted without
dissent.
General Secretary Smalley read a
communication received from NJ. G.
George, vice president for Oregon, who
wrote that he was with the league IN
all the great questions relating to the
currency and realized the necessity for
aggressive work As to the state, in
many places the league would find it
hOneycombed with financial ignorance
and error.
On motion of Mr. ingalls, of Cincin-
natl it was voted to appropriate $1,000
to aid Mr.. George in Oregon.
J. K. Cowen of Baltimore, reported
that things were satisfactory in his ter
ritOry.
J. Sterling Morton vice president of
the league for Nebraska, wrote: Mr..
Bryan and his disciples are actively en-
gagged in propagating money faIlacles-
They have united in one conglOmeratlon
all the fanctics, bigOts and idiots in this
state for the purpose of upholding the
free coinage OF silver at a ratio of 16 to
1. It is very painful to observe that
this aggregation may quite possibly
make a majority of 900 at the coming
election for candidates who represent
all that is inimical and disastrous to
agriculture, and in fact to sound gov
eminent everywhere"
Judge w. NJ. Reise, vice president of
the league for Arkansas, wrote: There
IS no change in this state. There is an
overwhelming majority for free silver
and Bryanism in every congressional
district"
Charles F. Libby. president of the
league for Maine wrote in part: so
far as Maine is concerned, 1 do not
think that the silver question will be an
issue in the congressional campaign
next year"
James Blair, of St. Louis, wrote: "On
the whole 1 cannot say that feel en-
couraged over the situation in Missouri:
fully recognize that the strength OF
the silver Democracy in this state is
wholly due to lack of education on that
subject and 1 see no means at hand
whereby they can be sufficiently in
formed before the next election so as to
materially reduce their numbers
William c. COrnweu, of Buffalo, re-
ported that as far as he could aScer-
tain, both in the eastern and western
parts of the state, the free silver senti-
znent was actually dying out.
Louis r. Enrich, of Colorado Springs,
reported that nothing but better times
could bring about change in the free
silver sentiment in Colorado.
''The only thing to affect the west
he said, lis better times, and would
now suggest that the league come out
boldly and ask the president of the
a7-sfrr #N7ea 4
standard as the money basis of the
country"
President Leighton thought it highly
5nexpedient for the league to commit
itself on this point at the present time.
NJ f. Ingalls, of Cincinnati said:
The result of the recent campaign
again drift back to the Democracy and
free silver"
Continuing he said:
The great danger now is in a ten
dency to drift into new banking bus
fneSS law, which to the country will be
fraught with danger"
On motion of II. p. Robinson, of Chi
Cago, it was resolved that a committee
be appointed to receive and consider
the report of the monetary commission
when it is made and to call a meeting
Of the executive committee if it is con
sidered necessary that action be taken
thereon.
A committee comprising Louis Erich.
Mr.. Leighton, Secretary Smalley, Gus
tave n. Schwab and William c. Corn
wall, was appointed to prepare dec
1aratiOn of International bimetallism to
the effect that bimetallism is dead and
that gold should be the standard of the
country.
A recess was then taken.
Before reassembling the members of
the committee stated that President
Mckinley had stated his intention of
recommending in his next message to
congress the advisability of separating
the issue department of the treasury
from the regular government expense
accounts.
In other words. it will be proposed to
hold the gold reserve as redemption
fund for greenbacks to make the gold
and greenbackS Interchangeable It
was said that President Mckinley had
spoken freely on Monday with a prom
inent official of the National Sound
Money league on the question.
Louis Erich of Colorado Springs as
chairman of one of the sub committees
read the following address:
The executive committee of the
National Sound Money league. in be-
half of its members throughout the
United States, issues the following ad-
dress:
Let US recognize this The inter
national bimetalGc commission aD-
pointed under the st. Louis pledge of
the Republican party, have made
strenuous efforts on behalf of this pol
icy. Those efforts have proved fu-
tile. The commercial necessities of
the world have demonstrated that a
dual standard is commercially unac-
ceptable, and, in the present stage of
civilization, impossible.
THE hour has come it seems to US,
when a national recognition of this fact
is necessary.
The situation demands a definite.
clear. unequivOcal declaration that in
ternatiOnal bimetalIism is a dream of
the past. The United States must pro
claim their acceptance of the world
fact and plant themselves finally on
the single gold standard.