The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-08
SECRETARY SMALLEY HOME
FICTION OF THE NATIONAL
ORGANIZATION.
In the Formation of the League,
Which Starts With the Bright
est Prospects.

publisher of the Northwest Magazine,
returned home from the East yester-
day morning. He goes to Chicago Tues
day to open the headquarters of the
league and arrange for beginning &C
tive work The league was fully orga-
nized at a conference held at the cham
Der of commerce in New York Feb "A,
at which a constitution was adopted
and officers elected Twenty -one states
were represented at this meeting by
delegates chosen by preliminary Orga-
nizations, which Mr.. Smalley has been
engaged in forming ever since the No
Vember election.
The Northwest shows up strongly at
this conference. St. Paul. Minneapolis
and Duluth were represented, and also
jamestown, N. D., and Tacoma, Wash.
Delegates were also in attendance from
Milwaukee, Chicago, st. Louis, Cleve-
land, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Balti-
more, Boston, New York, Brooklyn
Charleston, New Orleans and other
Eastern and Southern cities. The pres
ldent of the league is Hon George e
Leighton, of ST. Louis, who has for
many years been very active in sound
money movements in the Southwest
The treasurer is Hon. A. B. Hepburn.
president of the Third National Bank
OF New York, who was comptroller of
the currency in the Harrison admins
tratlon. An associate treasurer in Chi
caSo will be selected this week by the
executive committee.
Gustave H. SchWab, of New York. is
chairman Of the executive committee
which consists Of nine members and
nine alternate members MIR. SmaIley
IS the general secretary and will have
charge of the Chicago Headquarters
and of the general work Of organizing
the movement throughout the country
and of circulating sound money litera-
ture. W. H. Dunwoody, Of MINNEAPOLIS.
is member of the executive commit
tee, the next meeting of which will be
held in Chicago during the second week
in April
The membership of the league thus far
IS made up in about equal proportions
OF Republicans and National Demo-
Gratis, and the nOn-partisan character
OF the organization will be carefully
preserved in all its work. The general
purpose is to maintain the gold stand
ard and to advocate plans Of currency
reform that look to the establishment
of a safe, simple and uniform system of
currency based upon gold, elastic in its
character so as to meet the daily needs
OF business, and placed beyond the
reach Of party politics.
A reporter of the G 10 b O called rnor
Mr.. SmaIley at his home on Holly ave
nue. yesterday and asked some uues-
tions as to the plans and practical work
OF the league. Mr.. Smalley said:
This movement originated simulta-
neously in Chicago and New York short
ly after the presidential election. Its
basis was a widespread feeling that q
national organization of bushes. men
was needed to combat the continued
efforts of the free silver agitators and
to favor such safe and conservative
measures of legislation as will place the
money of the people on a permanent
basis and beyond the reach of con-
stantly recurring waves of political agi-
tation. Before giving to the move
ment a definite organizatio it was
thought fit to obtain for it a firm foot
ing in the principal commercial cities
Of the country through assurances of
support from the most influential men
OF both the old political parties; men
who have acted together in the recent
campaign in fighting and defeating the
efforts for a debasement Of the cur
rency. When this support was obtain
ed a conference was called to meet in
New York and an organization was
effected.
In general way" said Mr.. Smalley, /
h nf
the extension of the league to all the
states of the Union and to all the prin-
cipal centers Of population, and con-
tinuous efforts to influence public Opin- /
ion on the money question, especially
in the states where a heavy vote was
cast for Bryan. The league will dis
tribute documents that will be simple
and brief, calm in temper, thoroughly +
non-partisan and accurate in all his
torical and statistical statements. 1t I
will also work through the newspapers /
of the country, securing their cO-opera-
ton as far as possible in the presenta- /
ton Of facts and arguments The pur- /
pose is to carry on this work systemat- /
ically and steadily until the next presi- /
Dental election.
THE financial support of the league /
comes from voluntary contributions
from all parts of the country
Mr.. Smalley added that it seemed al 1
most certain that there will be a con-
tinuance of cheap money agitation in
some form or other, with the purpose
of securing the house of representa-
tives at tho election a year from next I
fall and of capturing the presidency /
two years later. This agitation may
not take the form Of a revival Of the
free silver craze, said Mr.. Smalley; it /
may be directed to a demand for the /
retirement Of all bank circulation and 4
the issue of irredeemable greenbacks in (
large quantities. In some shape or /
other, however, the assault on the
sound money system of the country is
likely to be renewed. The free silver /
men were able, with a moderate amount
of money, used with great ingenuity |
and system in the distribution of lit |
erature during the three years pre- |
ceding the last presidential. campaign, |
to accomplish extraordinary results in |
deluding the public as to the real in
terests of the country. They do not in /
tend to give up the fight, but they will /
not catch the sound money men nap |