The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-17

SALT LANE July ls.-Today was A say
OF excitement. oratory and confusion II,
we session OF the Trans Mississippi con-
steSs- lAe subject was free silver and
The principal factors we-e California and
COLORADO. The latter state with a host
OF SILVER advocates. won the day, and alter
ss'iant struggle by delegates under tho
leadership OF T. l.. Ford in opposition to
TIE measure. the congress by a vote OF
nearly 10 | adopted the majority reso-
tuiion declaring for the free and unlimited
coinage of gold and silver at the ratio of
:" to J. This action was preceded by abent
twenty speeches. the principal ones by e
>. Thomas. Of Colorado and r L. Ford
OF California. Hon. w. j. Brsran s2oks
Tor the majority report and threw tina
whole convention into Wild state of en-
thasiasm. The opposition to the majority
report was led by Missouri delegates. with
some assistance from California
The first business before the congress
was the discussion OF the majority and
minority reports. Ii was a.ranged that
Dorsey Of Nebraska aud Ford af Cali
fornia would control the time in favor
oil the majority and minority respectively
Ford said the supporters of the minority
report would want bat little time and
he desired opportunity to be given to
any delegate 10 speak on that side who
might SO desire. He then read the
minority report the chief point OF which
was that the silver question was po!iti-
cal issue. and therefore should not be dis
cussed i'll this non partisan body.
The resolution indorsng the free coin
age of silver, reported by the majority
of the committee. was read. and c. S.
Thomas. of Colorado. proceeded to ad-
dress the house In the affirmative. tie
said that IL had been claimed that all
political questions. in their last analysis.
We're economic. Whether this be true
OF all political issues, IL certainly is OF
the silver question. He urged reasons
why this body should discuss and express
Itself on this great issue: denied that the
Republican party was single gold stand
ard party. that this giant republic was
about 10 restore silver. and that they
must prepare 10 fall in line.
r.. V. Smalley spoke in favor of the mi
nor!ty report. He thought II was diseour-
teous for the strong silver majority 10
force the question on the congress: he de-
clared himself single gold standard man.
and repeated a number Of the familiar ar
guments In support of that position lie
opposed discussion of the silver question
by the congress. and said that TX such had
been determined upon. Repuhlicansawere
out of place In this body, and had no more
right in Ii than they would have IN DEM
ocratic ward caucus. He protested against
"crowding this Democratic partisan reso-
luton down our Republican throats." He
entered into a long discussion af the nler-
It's of the fnaENial question. and said X
that was silver convention he did not
belong here. He felt that he would have
no more business in free silver coiiven-
tion than he would have in Democratic
ward caucus.
DE Mattos. of Washington, favored the
majority report. aud created excitement by
At1saf In III inu rhaf fi,xs ~ ttnzn seR
were trying 10 prevent the passage OF the
free silver resolution was due 10 desire TO
insult President Bryan. of this congress.
Exception was taken TO tais remark from
ali parts Of the hall. and De Mattos finally
withdrew his statement.
Narian. of Utah. addressed the conven-
ton in support of the ma jority report. He
denied that the political character OF the
resolution WAS a good reason why It
should not be discussed. and cited the ac-
tion Of the congress yesterday regarding
the Hawaiian and Cuban questions. which
were purely political
Perkins. of Nebraska followed in sup
port of the minority report. He held ii 10
be- improper 70 the congress 20 discuss a
question so thoroughly political as this
Quinn, of Montana. spoke In favor OF
the majority report. He made forcibie
argument in favor Of the feasibility OF
free coinage.
FprN, VINO was III charge 81 the N!nS
of the minority report, Yielded five min
utes 10 crist Of Missouri, who In a
humorous way supported the majority re-
port
Craig. of California then spoke in OPP
position to the majority report. and asked
the silver men not 10 embarrass the con-
gress with IL.
Thompson and Brown Of Nebraska. and
Fieehardy OF Kansas. made short
speeches for the majority report,
r. NJ Patterson. of Colorado. spoke for
free coinage and said II was child of
the Trans Mississippi congress, that had
been considered ar every session s.ecs
its organization. and that II IL wals. fit
subject ten years ago il was fit Subject
now.
Ford. of California. closed in opposition
and was warmly srrlauded throughout.
Bryan then called Mr.. Craig. OF Cali
fornia. Ia the chair temporarily. and
made an eloquent speech In favor % the
report As he stepped upon the platform
he was greeted with tremendous applause.
Mr. Bryan said in part:
Ladies' and Gentlemen While this
question Will apparently turn upon the
form Of a resolution, need not ignore
the thing that has been 50 plainly mani
Tested this morning. Now sshsn Ne come
TO decide what the congress shonld do, We
have got 10 understand what Will be tns
effect of what IL does do TIE action OF
THIS convention will not be discussed by
our friends who are delegates only, but
il VIII pe discussed by the enemies of free
coinage all over this country. | call al
tentfon 10 the fact that the gentleman
from Minnesota pointed 20 the action
taken n Denver evidence thar the sill
vsr sentiment was dying cut. what can
we do IL we refuse 10 consider silverr
They viii say that we discussed Hawaii,
and tha people VIII say that the annexa-
;ion Of Hawaii is not SO important AZ lhe
emancipation Of this country from Jpm-
bard street. Shall we tell they II Is not
a political question: Tney VIII refer 70
fne passage Of resolution on fh. sub
ject Of Cuban independence The fnan-
e.saE Independence of the United States IL
OF more Importance 70 the lgp5,tSi Oh peo-
pie than the political Independence Of
Cuba tell you that the goic standard
everv year kills more people in the United
States than Spain kills Ia Cuba
My friends have suggested that ~s
ought not Tn make II hard for the people
0f California TO come to this cpng anton.
II | can Judge ~ the sentiment there,
when declare for the free coinage of
silver VIII receive the approval OF
more than half the people who 1--we IN Cali
fornia- tApptausa.t
'~rnev ask us IL We VIII offend The CON-
rnercsai interests sf San Francisco. Los
Angeles o. Portland. No. aat 1e say &C.
the cousrraerctxa interests shai Wtlen they
destroy the prosperity OF the fjais ara val
ieyw, Trey mist sfol@- thtssssfses ana
wYE~s snesr from me greed = sd asarIEs OF
Inc fina sai asrors
II ays glad 20 snd5rge .he effort that ths
administration - putting form IN favor OF
tnt@rna ttczsal ID gsseGalsssfn. 4Appaaus@.t I
believe hs-rus,aiiis1s - go<s.- and IL if IN
good. II is good 20 matter sgo briggs IT,
ssWatle tg~ gentleman fruTs Minnesota
x.x.cs TIA. It's state cast S.0S votes for the