The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-13
THE TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN.
Address Made by Ex-Governor STAN
ard, of Missouri.

Ex-Governor Stanard was applauded as
he stepped from a rear seat on the stage.
He Is a tall man. with the appearance of
a Scotchman. His voice was easily heard.
In aking the gavel as temporary chairman
he spoke as follows:
II desire TO thank you for the honor you
have conferred upon me by this call to pre-
side over the temporary deliberations OF
this convention. Early in December. at the
instance of the Board of Trade and the
business men of Indianapolis, "A preliminary
monetary conference was called to meet
here. consisting of representatives or COM
mercial organizations of some OF the GEN.
trail Western States. and that conference
was composed of some fifty business men.
After a thorough and rather ccmprehen-
sive discussion of matters under considera-
ton il was resolved 10 invite the CONNER
cial organizations of the United States to
send delegates 10 a convention 10 be held In
this city to-day to consider matters of i'm
portance pertaining e~speciall.r To the imam
cial policy of our government Pursuant TO
this action YOU have here assembled. and L
congratulate you and the country upon the
assemblage of this convention OF business
men to consider matters OF so great i'm
portance TO the country.
lit Is not my purpose on this occasion TO
suggest any given line of policy To be pur-
sued I'm remedying t-e evils of which COM
plant has been made or that may be sug-
gested here or hereafter. But 1 may men
ton. TO my mind. some of the most glaring
defects I'm our. financial system. In this
connection IL il safe for me 90 say that the
stability. prosperity and safety of our COM
merc1al. manuI2CtQFlnE banking ana a&rl-
cultural operations depend upon 4 safe,
comprehensive and stable financial policy
for our governments policy that may be
relied on TO last from one year TO another
and from one political administration to an
other. and TO be taken. as far as possible,
out of the realm of politics.
Confidence is the foundation on which
business and all affairs OF material interest
are built There should be enough money
TO do the business of the country. and there
should be no doubt about its character and
No shaking OF confidence to take IL out and
keep IL out of circulation. The people of
the United States not only should have con-
fdence in our financial methods, but all the
nations OF the earth with whom we have
commercial relations should have assurance
OF the stability of our financial affairs, so
that they may know on what basis they are
working. This is OF great Importance TO US
as well as to the foreign nations when We
take into account that during the last year
we exported 10 foreign countries more than
a thousand million OF dollars worth OF the
surplus OF our soil and the industries OF our
people. and imported "A little more than
seven hundred millions OF their products,
and while our operations with foreign coun-
tries may not be quite as large every year
as this. they are always of enormous pro-
portions
MENACE TO TREASURY RESERVE.
THE present financial methods of the
government are largely those adopted dur
ing the war. when there were great emer-
gencies. i believe that there is a very strong
and constantly increasing conviction among
our people that some method should be
adopted for the retirement OF the United
States and treasury notes. and that they
should not much longer be tolerated as a
circulating medium. They have been a
hindrance TO the prosperity of our govern
ment for many years. They are a constant
menace 10 our treasury reserve and to- the
credit of the government. and when en-
croaShments are made upon these reserves
commerce stands In fear and trembling.
There seems TO be a geil-dehned conviction