The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-07-17
A DAY OF EXCITEMENT
The Trans-Mississippi Congress
Declares for Silver.
HAD A LARGE MAJORITY
Wild Enthusiasm When Bryan Speaks
in Favor Of the Resolution-F Ford
and Smalley Lead the opposi-
ton Mats Stirs Them Up.

day of excitement. oratory and. at
times, confusion In the session of the
Trans Mississippi congress. The sub
ject was free silver and the principal
factors in the discussion were Califor-
mia and Colorado. The latter state.
with host of silver advocates. won
the day, and after a gallant struggle
by the California delegates. under the
leadership OF T. l.. Ford in opposition
to the measure, the congress, by a
vote of nearly five to one. adopted the
majority resolution declaring for the
free and unlimited coinage Of gold and
silver at the ratio of is to | without
co-operation of any foreign govern
ment. This action was preceded by
about 20 speeches. the principal ones
being delivered by c. S. Thomas of
Colorado and T. l.. Ford of California.
Hon. W. ]. Bryan spoke In favor of
the majority report and threw the
whole convention into a wild state of
enthusiasm.
When the congress met every seat
In the main body of the hall and In
the galleries were occupied. After the
discussion closed nearly two hours was
consumed by motions, roll calls and
parlia iamentary tactics. The opposition
to the majority report was led mainly
by Missouri delegates. with some AS
sistance from California.
The delegates were late In assemb-
ling. After the Introduction OF some
minor resolutions. the committee ON
permanent organization reported. rec
ommending Hugh Craig for president,
Charles II. Connell of Minnesota, l..
Bradford Prince of New Mexico. and
Breedlove Smith of Louisiana. first,
second and third vice presidents. re-
spectiyely. II further recommended
that each state delegation choose an
additional vice president, and that the
election of a secretary and assistant
secretary be deferred until the place of
the next meeting be fixed. The report
was unanimously adopted.
The next business before the con-
vention was the discussion of the ma
jority and minority reports of the
committee on resolutions. Ii was ar
ranged that Dorsey of Nebraska and
Ford OF California were 10 control the
time in favor OF the majority and mi
norlty reports respectively, on the sill
Yer question.
Ford said the supporters If the ri
norlty report would probably want
but little time and he desired an op-
portunity to be given to any delegate
to speak ON that side who might so
desire. He then read the minority re-
port. the chief point of which was that
the silver question was political is
y slIa and thArafnra ShnnlI ha dis
cussed in this nonpartlsan body.
The resolution indorsing the free
coinage Of silver. as expressed by
the majority of the committee, was
then read and c. S. Thomas of Colo
rado proceeded to address the house In
the affirmative.
He said that II had been claimed that
all political questions. In their last
analysis were economic. Whether this
he true of all political issues, ii GER
tainly IL of the silver question. lie
urged reasons why this body should
express itself on this great issue, and
denied that the republican party was
a single gold standard party and de-
clared that the great governments Of
Europe could see the handwriting on
the wall and that this giant republic
was about to restore silver, and that
. Nntl UluSi NTtDdIt W IAN III lUt.
! y. w. Smailey. delegate from Min
nesota, spoke in favor of the minority
! report. He thought II was discourte-
Gus for the strong silver majority Ia
3 force the question on the congress. de-
claring himself a single gold standard
] man and repated number Of the IA
miliar arguments in support OF that
position. He opposed the discussion OF
/ the silver question by the congress, and
said that II such discussion should be
determined upon, republicans were out
Of place in this body. and had no more
right In II than they would have In a
democratic ward caucus. He protested
/ against crowding this democratic par.
tisan resolution down republican
! threats. He entered into long discus
sion or the merits Of the financial ques-
tion and said II this was a silver con-
ven;i0n he did not belong here.
y. y. Matts of Montana favored .hC
majority report and created much tx.
citement by declaring that the actor
T Dr those who We're trying to prevent
the passago uf the frer silver resolu,
tion, was due To desire To- insult Pres.
idenl Bryan of this congress. Excep.
tion was taken To this remark from al
parts of the hall ard Mats hnallI
withdrew his statement.
Narian cf Titan addressed tho con.
veniioa in support Of the majority re-
port. He denied that the political char,
gcter os the question was good rca,
son why Il should not be discussed
and cited the action OF congress yes
terday roraruiag the Hawaiian ant
Cuban questions, which were purel,
political Perkins Of Nebraska fol
lowed in support or the minority re
port. He held Il to be improper for thi.
commercial congress to discuss a durs
tion so thoroughly political as is IN
silver issue. To divide this congress
or to commit IL to free silver. woult
weaken its Influence with the nationa
congress on other important question:
upon which II has taken action. quinn
OF Montana next spoke In favor ol tn
majority report He made a forcibl,
argument in favor OF the feasibility o
free coinage. Ford. who was in charg
of the time of the majority report
yieled Ave minutes to crist of Mis-
souri. who. In a humorous way, sup
ported the majority report.
Craig Of California then spoke In op
position TO the majority report an'
asked the silver men not to embarras
the congress with IL. Patterson o
Colorado spoke for free coinage an
said IL was a child OF the Trans-Missis
slppi congress. that TIE matter ha'
been considered az every session sine
it's organization, and that II IL was
ht subject 10 years ago il was a tit sub
ject to-day. I. L. Ford Of California