The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-31
SUGGESTION TO BUSINESS MEN.
The Importance of Organizing for
Currency Reform


To the Business Men of Savannah: I
considered it great pleasure to attend the
Indianapolis monetary convention, held
Jan. u, 1897, and would have considered
1t greater pleasure and an honor to have
been present at the one held this month
in Indianapolis, when 1 could have risen
to the call for rising vote to be taken
on the Endorsement of the commissions
report, when not a delegate was to be
found to vote in the negative. But cir
cumstances were such that 1 was pre-
vented this year from attending, and be-
ing enlisted as one of their honored mem
bers.
Last year 1 had the pleasure of submit
ting TO the convention a plan of banking
currency which was so much like the plan
| that has been submitted by the commits
sion and adopted by the convention held
| this month, that l can heartily indorse
the monetary commissions report for a
reform In our currency as well as our
banking system. The report has been
submitted and unanimously accepted. and
now the time has come when the business
men of our country and our state as well
| must take a hand in these matters and
work with all their power to have these
reforms carried through by Congress. 1t
| Is the duty of all of our trade organiza-
| oughly discussed and appoint strong COM
| mittees, whose duty it must be to urge
upon our representatives., as well as our
| senator's, the final settlement of this ques-
| ton.
The time is now to act and not delay
| for the coming fall we are to elect new
| members to Congress, and it should be the
| Guty of every business man of this city
| who is in favor of a gold standard and
| currency reform to refuse to support any
man, who ever he may be, for Congress
who is not to be depended on as one in
| favor of currency reform. The business
| men of this state and this city should
| work together and stand firm against CIV
ing their support to any candidate for the
| Senate or House of Representatives who
| is uncertain on this great question, or who
| has any tendency toward debased cur
| rency.
1t should be the determination of every
man who is in favor of currency reform
| that it must be obtained, even at the cost
| of disregard to party line and sacrifice of
| party obligations A stable currency Is
| indispensable to the success of every
| mans business. While the success of
| political party that advocates a debased
| currency will bring disaster to all. Look
at the vote recently taken in the Senate
| on the Teller resolution making our gov
| eminent bonds payable in a deprecated
currency and you will find the two Sena-
| tors of Georgia, MessTs. Bacon and Clay,
| voting in the affirmative. Should our bus
mess men support such men and ask for
| their return. BY ell means no! We
| should do what we can to send others.
| Not that fear any serious results from
| the passage of the Teller resolution in the
| Senate, for l am confident the House of
| Representatives will kill the bill never to
| be brought up again at this session. But
do fear the evil results will follow in an
other way. The House of Representatives
is inclined to pass a bill for currency re-
form, but with the knowledge of how the
Senate will act toward such reform, it may
be the means of retarding any decided ac-
ton in the House l trust that all the trade
organizations of this city viii take these
matters up for consideration, and every
member and every business man who may
not be a member pledge himself not to
| support any candidate for Congress, who
| will not place himself on record as a gold
standard bearer and currency reformer
/ am firmly convinced that If the bust
ness men will make known their wishes
clearly and strongly TO their representa-
tives. and win take hold with the inten-
tion to succeed, that success will come
their way.
About two weeks ago l had several cop
ies\ of the monetary commissions report
placed in the rooms of the Board of Trade
and ACotton Exchange for general distri-
butioh, and several copies were mailed to
bank (ofiicers and business men. / am ex-
pectinA daily to hear from the chairman of
the Indianapolis Monetary conventiona to
request\the commercial bodies of this city
to issue Va call for a meeting to indorse the
report OF this commission and convention
which Was composed of the business men
from all Nparts of the country. And Il is
for this r4ason that have addressed this
letter to the business men of the city, that
they may lgive this matter their attention
and though t. Irwin b. Tiedemau.
Savannah, Ca, Jan. 81. 1898.