The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-14
No Criticism of the Three Men He Has
Appointed To Visit Europe In
the Interest of silver.
VIEWS OF HENRY u. JOHNSON
HE THINKS THE EXPERIMENT WILL
BE A MONUMENTAL FAILURE.-
Talks with Wolcott and Stevenson
Seizure of Armor-Plate Plants.

Srecial To the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, April 13.-President Me-
Kinley's appointment of a bimetalic mone-
tary commission TO visit Europe In the in
| terest of international bmetallism was the
| leading topic OF discussion among WASH
ington statesmen to-day. The politicians
and office holders at the capitol know all
| about Senator Wolcott and Vice President
| Stevenson. but they require introduce
| tion TO General Charles jackson Paine, OF
| Massachusetts,. They are told that General
Paine is a bimetallist. with gold leanings.
that he is rich yachtman Of much note
and skill. and that he really believes that
an international agreement is practicable.
The prevailing comment is that President
| Mckinley has executed master stroke I'm
| the appointment OF three bimeta4ists two
| OF whom are for free silver coinage and
| the other amenable to reason from a Is to !
| point of view. 1t is recalled tha: the Presi-
| dent said repeatedly during and after the
| campaign that he was for giving the propo-
| sition for international bimctallism a fair
| trial and to accord the free silverites every
| opportunity TO secure for the plaa the
| favorable consideration of commercial ma
| tions. 1t was recalled also that in his later
utterances he was somewhat noncommittal
| international Endorsement OF free coinage,
| but that he proposed to give the movement
his heartiest cooperation, so that ii could
not be charged against him. it was
| against Cleveland. that he was responsible
| for the defeat of the project. If failure ate
tends the cott-Stevenson-Paine effort,
| the President will be able to say that he
| had done the best he could and that he had
fulfilled every pledge made for bimetallism.
| The simple honesty of the Executive In
| raining a commission unobjectionab(e tc
| the most radical free silverites lifts him
above the criticisms of even the most cap-
| tious In the estimation of all Washington.
| The commission will hardly get ready to
| depart for Europe before July or August.
| There is much TO do in the way Of prelimi-
nary preparation. and then Senator Wol-
Goth wants to participate in the tariff dis
| cushion in store. being vitality interested in
| revision of the schedules.
| HENRY L.. JOHNSON'S VIEWS.
Commenting on the appointment OF a BIZ
metallic commission by President McKia.
| ley. Representative Johnson. OF Indiana, to-
| night expressed the opinion that the ex-
| pertinent would prove TO be the most mon
| umental failure of the age" Continuing,
| he said: international bimetallism is inn
practicable and this effort promote and
| foster it is unfortunate. 1t may embarrass
| the settlement of our monetary difficulties
considerably. 1t may cause the waste OF
valuable time. The commercial values Of
| the world will later rest a
| universal gold standard and nothing can
| prevent it any more than human endeavor
can set aside the law OF gravitation."
| An Associated Press dispatch says. thaa
almost without exception the Presidents
4 cnlQp of afar r,rf.fCc cfx.
were commended to-day. Senators, regard
less of party, were pleased with the selec-
| ton of ex-Vice President Stevenson II app
| pears that this selection was the Presi>
| dents own, none appearing TO urge his ap-
| pointment. The President desired a Demo-
| crat 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 make him a mem
| ber Of the commission. President Mckinley
| desired that the subject 70 international biz
metallism should be lifted above party pol
| itics and that the men selected should be
those who would work in harmony toward
bringing about an agreement. Ii was also
| believed by the President that the name
| of MIR. Stevenson would give the commits
| sion great weight abroad.
Among the earnest advocates OF the se-
| lection OF Mr. Paine were Senators Hoar.
| Allison and Chandler, all OF whom talked
| with the President on the subject and rec
| terially aid the cause Of bimetallism. 1t has
| been generally conceded for some time past
"9te1,t his Toulu r ge one Oh Inns, me
| the election has been I'm the direction OF
| bringing about an international agreement
| Senator Wocott IS very hopeful OF success.
| He looks forward 10 hard work, but says
| from what he learned while abroad last
year he is most sanguine Of results Senator
| Wolcott believes that in the selection OF the
| commission, and especially in naming Mr..
Stevenson. a silver man and one who sup
convinced everybody he is an earnest biz
metallist. Bimetallism at home and abroad.
he says. Will be promoted by this selection.
FREwEN CHANGES FRONT.
Opposition TO the scheme for International
bimetallism has developed from an unexs
pected source. Moreton Frewen. of Eng
land. who has given a great deal of atten-
| ton to the subject and who has visited this
| country several times in the interest OF
silver. is now opposing International
agreement and declares that the money
question is one which each nation must
settle for itself. Mr.. Frewen will oppose
any agreement and use hisinfiuence against
| the new commission when IL goes abroad
Senator Wolcott said to-day that gold
standard countries would oppose any fur
| ther depreciation of silver and efforts were
now being made TO prevent any further fall
OF silver in India Also that the demand for
] gold by Japan in establishing a gold stand-
| ard would cause drain OF gold from Eu-
rope which would be resisted by gold coun-
4 tries In the United States Senator Wolcott
anticipates little opposition 10 blnetalIism
1 What opposition. Mr.. Wolcott says, there
| is comes from the German bankers OF New
| York. who are already lighting bimetallism
and whose opposition the commission will
meet when il goes 10 Europe.
1 Senator Wolcott further said that there
| appears TO be mistaken impression thar
| the commission is appointed with the pur-
| pose in view OF having IL represent the
| United States at "A conference only. While
the commission might be utilized I'm that
| way III a conference should be held its first
work IS 10 be OF purely diplomatic char.
/ acter looking entirely TO securing Euro
| pean cooperation The commission expect
| TO leave this country about the middle OF
/ May and Immediately upon their arrival In
| Europe will set themselves TO that task
| Whether there shall be "A conference at all
will depend upon how the advances OF the
| commissioners are received by the principal
| powers. The appointments inspired little
/ comment among the members of the House
who were at the Capitol today. Chairman
! Jingley, or the ways and means commits
| zee. said that the appointees were all good
/ men This verdict was indorsed by all OF
| the Republicans. but Republican members
were averse TO making any predictions as
| TO the probability OF success with the Ea-
ropean powers or OF reaching an agree