The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1897-12-20
A Long Step Forward.

l.
convention. which has been in session
In Atlanta, is chiefly significant in the
encouragement it gives to those who nave
demanded currency reform on the me
of principles enunciated in the demo-
cratic PLATFORM not that the bankers
convention has Endorsed the demands or
that platform as regards the currency,
but because this representative meeting
of southern bankers has Joined in en-
phatic action in the contention that
the present federal currency system is
rotten to the core, and in the demand
that it must be changed.
As to the demand for state bank is
sAas. The Constitutions position on
this question is so well known that 1t IS
needless to emphasize our approval OF
the declarations Of the convention on
this point. The democrats of the south
have heartily advocated state banks,
while indorsing the time-honored demo-
cratic principle of bimetallism, as de-
clared for in the national platform OF
the party, and in the well established rec
ord of the party as maze through its rep
resentatives in congress, and the demand
for which is more urgent today than 1t
has ever been.
The action of the bankers convention
indicates that change of sentiment
has taken place among prominent bank
ers and business men, and it is simply
a question of time when the infquities Of
the present currency system will force
the business sentiment of the country
TO the acceptance of the democratic plan
as the only hope of relief from the pres
sure of existing conditions.
The work of the bankers convention
was long step forward, and when the
fact is taken into consideration that
this convention is but a little more than
a year removed from the last presiden-
tial campaign, when agitation" was de-
clared to be a menace TO prosperity, the
significance OF the resolutions adopted
is apparent.
Those who will carefully read these
resolutions and compare them with the
attitude Of the banks two years, or even
one year, ago will find that in some of
the declarations material advance is
made. And it is a step in the right
direction, and therefore gratifying. It
is especially gratifying to The Consti-
tntion which has for wears argued for
some If the reforms embodied in the
resolutions Endorsed NV the convention
1t is hardly necessary 10 say that We
do not believe in the retirement Of the
praenbacks Pp+ We do moi pr0Dose to
discuss This ma+tor here and now We
desire efnIolv IA congratnIara the soutb-
ern bankers on the unani,nirv with
which +hev decided to take their long
sten forward in the direction Of real
banLino reform Mr. Dodewortb of The
Ho,, Vol, ,rourna1 of Commerce h,Id1v
oundod 70 -bo ,oova,oa,t Of tho sa,,tbar,,
,o,Iore OIL. ,.+his cr.a+. money, ooi+atio, 81.
IIo and all tho boDlors ba,,a d;sro,o,,od
that o roe,o,,tfo,, of confidence nc 4ha
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hodv now seems 10 have confidence
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