The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-07-06

preserve the organization formed at Indi-
napolis and vote their principles regard
less OF the results.
WHAT THE PRESIDENT SHOULD DO.
From the time Mr.. Mckinley was
elected President he has shown that In
his opinion. two great questions were in
volved in the contest that seated him in
the White House to-wit: the tariff and
the currency. lie very unwisely gave the
tariff precedence. but he has none the
less shown that he considered the election
a mandate to him TO do whatever lay IN
his power TO reform the currency a
dispatch has now been sent out TO the
country from Washington, which bears
all the indicia Of ono inspired by the adj
ministration. which states that the Pres
ident is hesitating about whether tho
matter should be pressed at TINS session
OF Congress or postponed TO the next.
II IS urged that the Presidents most in
nuential advisers take the ground that
II will be impossible to hold Congress
together after the tariff bill IS passed ana
that the President is therefore balancing
between the two suggestions Of leaving
tho matter to the committee appointed
by the indianapolis Currency Convention
whose standing committee will formulate
plan of currency reform to be SUBJ
mtted TO the next Congress, or Of having
A.. Z IN
plan which shall be adopted by the
President as the administrations mea-
sure
We warn the President against both
Of these courses. lie is perfectly right
to regard the currency as one of the mat
ters that the election enjoined upon him
for especial attention. He ought to re-
gard it as the matter enjoned upon him
by the election for consideration first,
last. and all the time. until a solution of
it Is reached that will remove the reason
able complaints of the people. But we
warn him against either of the plans for
procuring reform that he is now consid-
ering.
The indianapolis Monetary Convention
was a bankers and commercial conven-
ton. The grievances that these men
have to complain Of is theoretical only.
They nearly all live in the cities and
commercial centres and the present cur
rency system suits them very well. They
desire some theoretical changes in 1t,
Ill
essential principles and such changes as
they would consent TO would be only in
the way of amending details.
But we have a great class. the farmers
10 whom the present system is totally I'M
unsuited They need no amendment of
the existing system. They need total
revolution i'm It, Now this element in
our population was almost if not wholly
unrepresented in the indianapolis cur
rency convention and Mr.. Gage has
shown very plainly that he is welded TO
the same ideas that predominated AT In
dianapolis and that any plan brought
forward by him would be upon the lines
of thought that prevailed there. Either
of the plans that the President has under
consideration therefore, would leave the
interests Of the farmers without represen-
taton when the proposed currency re-
forms were being considered and that
would mean that the reforms proposed
would be no reforms at all
We earnestly commend 10 the President
10 reject all suggestions that do not con-
template including a farmers representa-
ton in whatever agency is determined
upon 10 prepare reform measures. The
discomfort OF the country resides amongst
the farmers and it is they who must be
satisfied before we can ever have peace
and quiet.
If. therefore. il shall be determined that
no message recommending currency
commission is TO be sent TO Congress at
this session. we urge upon the President
that he request a number of citizens who
understand this subject to act as COM
mission between this time and the regu-
lar session of Congress and that they he
requested to prepare and submit to him
a report upon the subject which ne can
communicate to Congress and thereby
ring it IN N official form before the
country. There are an abundance of
competent citizens who will cheerfully re-
spond to such an invitation and who,
having no political aspirations to forward
will give the President and the country
the benefit of their wisdom and their eX-
perience. If the President should think
well of this suggestion and would be
careful In selecting men. TO give a strong
representation in the body to those who
understand the situation and the needs of
the farmers, we believe an impetus would
be given to true currency reform that
might bring the end of our troubles into
view.
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OUR SOUTHERN TRADE.
The recent visit of the representatives
of the republics TO the South OF us has
had the effect of arousing the business