The San Francisco call., 1897-07-17
The Trans : Mississippi
Congress Votes for
Free Silver.
Hugh Craig of San Francisco
Unanimously Elected
President.
important Resolutions Offered on
Irrigation, Agriculture and
River improvements.


was a larger attendance than usual at the
Trans Mississippi Congress io-uay. The
proceedings were enlivened by the discus
sion OF the free-silver resolution offered
yesterday by Patterson of Colorado. The
majority report on free silver was adopted
by big majority.
Hugh Craig of California spoke IN favor
OF the minority report. Niblcy of Oregon
said that the congress would not die, no
matter what resolutions were adopted,
but that the adoption of free-siiver reso-
luton would be injudicious at this time
Thompson of Nebraska spoke briefly in
support OF the majority report. He said
this body in former years had discussed
free silver, and now that this doctrine had
become principle of q political party, it
is proposed to drop it.
Richardson offered resolution indors-
ing the single gold standard and rledging
the congress to work for the correction of
financial evils. The resolution after con-
siderab bic debate, was defeated on a vote
OF 204I noes to 85A ayes. Patterson of
Colorado made an earnest speech in be-
half of the main resolution.
Hon. w. J. Bryan also spoke in favor of
the majority report. His speech was fer
vid and eloquent and bristled with free
81 yer epigrams. He said that this was no
more of a political question tnan was the
case OF Cuba. While Spain was butcher
ing the Cubans the gold standard was
slaughtering Americans; while Spain
was devastating Cuban territory the gold
standard was devastating American ter
rif of far n a..
while the gentleman from Min nesota (Mr.
Smalley) and his State gave 80, 600 MA ior-
lily for the single standard, the fact was
that the vote of Minnesota, and of the
country generally, was for blme talism,
either internationally Or independently.
There was no question before this con-
gress as important as the one which con-
sidered the eparation of the interests OF
this country from Lom bard and Wall
streets.
A vote was taken on the first part of the
resolution commencing the action of the
President in sending a committee abroad
to secure international bimetallism. With
t is part OF the resolution is appended q
statement that the effort of President Nc
Kinley shows that the gold standard is
try The president decided that this part
could not be separated from the com en-
dation. An appeal was taken and then
withdrawn, and then the decision was
Withdrawn. The vote was then taken by
rolI-call on the original resolution. The
question came up whether the delegates
from any State (when less than ten),
would be entitled 10 vote ten if some of
the me IN bers of that delegation were not
present. The chair decided that ten votes
could be cast.
Before the final vote was taken Presi-
dent w. J. Bryan thanked the congress
for the honor conferred on him by the
congress and for their courteous treat
ment He then introduced the new presi-
dent, Hugh Craig OF San Francisco. Mr..
Craig read the vote ON the silver
resolution. 1t was 244 in favor of the reso-
luton and 46 against it.
A delegate from Colorado offered reso-
luton recommending economy in the ex-
penses of the Government. 1t provides
that whenever the expenditures of the
General Government for any month ex-
ceed the revenues for that month all sala-
res exceeding $500 per month shall be cut
20 per cent and all others 10 per cent.
Waterhouse of Missouri introdu uced q
resolution asking for the experimental
culture of ramie by the Government.
Ford of California offered a resolution
asking Congress 10 protect and improve
the Sacramento and Feather rivers and
TO dredge them.
Bryan of Louisiana offered a resolutio
expressing the sympathy OF the conven-
ton with the convention shortly to sit at
Davenport, Iowa. to consider the improve
ment OF Western waterways.
Maxfield OF Nevada offered a resolution
providing for the creation of land CON-
mission, the survey, classification and sale
OF public lands and the preparation of in
formation showing what waters are avail
able for irrigation, etc.
The committee of permanent organiza-
ton reported recommending Hugh Craig
of San Francisco for president, Charles H.
Connell of Minnesota l.. Bradiord Prince
of New Mexico and Breedlove Smith of
Louisiana first, second ard third vice.
presiden respectively. 1t further recon-
mended that each State delegation choose
an additional vice president, and that the
VICTORIA WIT