The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-24

tinctly than any other of the kind that
has ever occurred in this country, the pres
ent movement for currency reform is one of
spontaneous popular origin, seeking by vol
untary organization and action, irrespective
of parties and partisan methods. to accom-
plish a great work for the benefit of all the
people. The movement had it's origin in
Indianapolis. On the 18th of November,
1885, ten days after the election of McKin-
ley, the Journal, in an editorial under the
head of Currency Reform" said:
The defeat of the free-slver heresy and
the triumphant establishment of sound
money principles leaves the victorious party
in excellent shape to consider the next
phase of currency reform. The victorious
party In this case means the Republican
otto Democrats who contributed to the re-
cent victory. Upon them, further aided by
such new recruits as the Importance of the
movement will attract to its support, will
devolve the new duty of currency reform.
After pointing out the necessity of such
movement and the Importance of proceed
ing in the matter intelligently and deliber-
ately, the article concluded:
The first step should be the appointment
of a monetary or currency commission to
investigate and report a plan of reform.
Meanwhile there can De no improperly in
pressing their opinions on the question in
a general way, but it would be wise to leave
the formulation of plans to commission of
the 2Elest fnanciers the country can fur
nish.
This suggestion voiced a sentiment that
was ripe for action. Five days later, on the
18th of November, the Indianapolis Board
of Trade held a special meeting, at which
Mr.. H. H. Hanna delivered a strong address
in favor of starting a movement for cur
rency reform and urged the appointment of
a committee to invite the boards of trade
of Western cities to send delegates to In
dianapolis to discuss the propriety of call
ing general or national convention of
business men to further consider the sub
ject. A resolution to this effect was adopt
ed and the invitations were sent. This pre-
liminary conference was attended by dele
gates from the boards of trade of Cincn-
natl, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Grand
Rapids, Louisville Milwaukee, Minneapo-
lis, ST. Louis. St. Paul and Toledo. After
due elaboration it was decided to call
nonpartisan convention of representative
business men, to be chosen by boards of
trade, chambers of commerce and other
thousand or more inhabitants, to meet in
Indianapolis on the 18th of January, 1897,
to consider the subject of currency reform.
This convention was attended by about
three hundred delegates from 100 cities in
twent y-seven States. 1t adopted strong
resolutions in favor of currency reform and
appointed an executive committee of fifteen
to endeavor to secure favorable legislation
at the special session of Congress, falling in
which it was to appoint monetary COM
mission of eleven members ito make
thorough investigation of the monetary af-
fairs and needs of this country in all re-
lations and respects, and to make appropri-
ate suggestions as to any evils found to ex-
list and the remedies therefor" When the
labors of the commission were completed
the executive committee was to call the
convention together again to hear and
consider its report. This commission, Sc
lected with great care and excellent judg-
ment by H. II. Hanna, chairman of the ex-
ecutive committee, and composed of repre-
sentative business men from various parts
of the country, sat in Washington during
the summer and fall and completed its re-
port early in December The report and ac-
complaining plan of reform were published
Jan. 3, and from that time to the present
have been a subject of general discussion.
The present is an appropriate time to re-
call these facts They. show that the move
ment for currency reform is unique in it's
origin, its organization, it's spirit its aims,
its management and it's results. They show
that the movement began with business men
and organizations, and has been engineered.
managed and conducted by them from the
beginning; that it is strictly nonpartisan
and without any political bias or coloring
whatever; that it is national in it's charac-
ter and aims, representing every section of
the country and seeking to accomplish
through the force of intelligent public opin-
ion a reform of national Importance: that it
is as free from class control as it is from
party or sectional control, and that it rep
resents the interests of every class inter-
ested in sound and stable currency sys-
tenn; and, finally, that it springs from the
most patriotic motives that can actuate the
citizens of republic. No words of indorse-
ment can be too strong in praise of the
public spirit which has actuated the pro-
motors of the movement, including the dele
gates to the convention, the members of
the executive committee and of the commits
sion, who to the neglect of their personal
and private affairs, devoted months to the
preparation of the report and plan now be-
fore the country. They have the satisfac-
ton of knowing that they have furnished
an object lesson in patriotic citizenship
which will not be soon forgotten, and con-
tributed very materially to the enlighten-
ment and anification of public sentiment on
the money question and the necessity of
currency reform. Even those who do not
indorse their plan in detail must indorse the
animating spirit of the movement behind it.
AS long as the business men of the country
continue to be actuated by such a spirit
and such motives as those which underlie
this movement the national credit and honor
will have able defenders
THE WAR CLOUD IN THE EAST.
For the first time in many years there
seems to be material out of which a Euro