Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-30
Mr.. WOLCOTTS MISSION
An Inquiry About It to Be Made in Con-
gress.
Gold and Silver Members Are Both
Eager to Learn the Full 4,articu-
lars of Commuters Negotiations.

Resolutions will be introduced In both
houses Of Congress at the first opportunity
calling upon President Mckinley to trans
NIT the instructions to Senator Wolcott and
the bimetallic commission and the full text
of all documents bearing on their work
These resolutions will come from both gold
and silver members. The former are par
ticularly anxious to know by what authori-
ty Senator Wolcott declared to the French
ambassador at the conference held in Lon
don, that he and his associates accepted
the proposition for free coinage at the ratio
of fifteen and half to one. The silver
men are anxious to read the full text of
the replies of the French and British gov
ernments to the American proposition and
to learn If any comfort can be extracted
from them as to the future Of bimetallism
The gold men declare that the declara .on
of Senator Wolcott was a most extraordi-
nary one, in view of the six hundred thou
sand majority by which the people of the
United States declared a year ago or the
maintenance of the gold standard and that
If it was authorized by President Mckinley
1t was contrary to the mandate of the peo-
pie who made his election possible. There
appears to be no. doubt that Senator VOL
colt acted in his official capacity in decIar-
ing that he would accept this change in the
ratio, since neither the English government
nor the French ambassador would have
met him for discussion of his purely per-
sonal views.
No Silver Legislation Likely.
There is not likely to be any silver legis-
latfon at the coming session of Congress,
unless it is of an incidental character as
part of a general plan of currency re-
form, but the opportunity will undoubtedly
be found in the Senate to discuss the work
Of the bimetallic commission and to learn
under what instructions Senator Wolcott
acted The British side ,of.the case has al
ready been published in Great Britain, but
the full text of the documents is not ac-
cessible at the State Depa rtment. They
will probably be transmitted with the in
structions given to Senator Wolcott and his
associates and the full text OF their report,
and the record will thus be completed ON
the American side.
Speaker Reed may prevent any extended
discussion in the HouSe. bat there will
probably be no serious effort to stife de-
bate in the Senate or to prevent call upon
the President for the docupents. =
The Presidents Action.
President Mckinley acted in Obedience to
what he considered. the instrnetions of the
st. Louis platform in sending Senator VOL
cctt abroad A consult alton of leading sill
yer republicans took place before the bin
was passed authorizing the mission, and 1t
was agreed that the matter should be
oA oAou6hS ~ hCdu. ~ Wd~ 1eII tudt IL III
ternational bimetallism was absolutely i'm
possible. the sooner the faetFwaa known the
better 1T would he for a candid considera-
ton of the future financial policy of the
United States. Senators from silver states
agreed that the issue should not be lodged
and that if an international agreement
could not possibly be obtained they must
face the question whether they would join
hands with the Bryan forces or manfully
declare for the gold standard.
Several recent utteranceS by republican,
senators are the significant results of these
consultations. Some of them will cast their
lot with the republican party and the gold
standard, even if they are convinced that
it will involve hard fight to retain their
political prestige at home. They are will
ing to continue to do something for sill
ver'' in the manner recently suggested by
Senator Carter OF Montana. by restricting
the issues of small notes and forcing the
limited circulation of silver. They recog-
nize that beyond this point will be found
the parting of the ways and that they must
either be republicans or silver democrats.
1t will not be surprising If some sensational
speeches are heard from these men when
they are called upon to define their posi-
ton at the coming session. and Senator
Wolcott may lead an element which will
cut loose from free silver and declare for
adherence to the republican party upon its
national platform.