Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-01-22
MR.. WOLCOTT SPEAKS.
Colorado Senator Reports on His For-
eign Trip In Behalf Of Bimetallism.


He says International Agreement IL Not .
Myth-Faiiure Due Largely to tho
Attitude OF the London
Press.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1S.-The feature
Of yesterdays proceedings in the senate
was n speech by Mr.. Wolcott about his
labors in connection with the bimetal'
lie commission and embodying his re.
tiremept from that body. lie intro
duced his subject by saying that he
was glad to make n statement respect.
ing certain phases Of the work OF the
recent bimetallic commission, but in
doing SO he spoke unofiicially mot
committing his associates in the
slightest degree, either to his opinions
or deductions" lie detailed Mt some
length the joint negotiations on the
part of the American commissioners
and the French ambassador In En-.
gland. At first, he said, there seemed
but few difficulties in the way, and he
quoted the resolutions Of the house OF
commons and the utterances OF Mr..
Balfour and Sir Michael Hicks-Beach
of March II, 1896. Said the senator:
We were not, therefore. intrudcrs We could
present ourselves with the certainty OF that re-
ception which must follow direct and open In
vitation And the welcome We had the right
TO expect we received From the day we
reached England until we left II finally In Dc
81 nat aNn
that could be desired The English ministry.
In terms. asked the French ambassador and
ourselves TO suggest wherein, in our opinion,
England could materially contribute TO solu-
ton OF the question and ut the same time re-
tain for her own people the gold standard; and
what nre termed proposals were not volun-
teercd, but were made by way Of suggestion ut
the explicit request OF the English ministry.
When they were received they were treated
with full consideration. rs were the representa-
tives Of the two governments conducting the
negotiations
The newspapers OF London. like the newspa-
pers Of many OF the capitals OF the world. IRE
dominated by and allied with the banking ele-
ment and reflect their views, and often their
expressions The business OF money loaning Is
IN engrossing pursuit, not always tending TO
the cultivation Of the amenities OF life. una II
is not to he wondered at that the London news
papers, voicing that industry. should. In their
hostility to policy Of which they disapproved,
forget for the moment that courtesy which Is
due to the stranger within the gates. especially
when he comes upon invitation, and that they
should be led to characterize proposals rs ''im-
pertinent" which were made only upon the re-
quest OF their own government
II was perfectly realized from the beginning
that bimetalism for England was out OF tho
question. India was the vital point OF all the
negotiations with England and all other pro-
posals were insignificant in comparison with
that respecting the reopening OF the minis OF
India TO the unlimited coinage OF silver ana the
repeal OF the order permitting gold to be paid
for government dues and TO be exchanged for
government rupees
Many English monomctallists OF wide iniiu-
ence believe the policy to be mistaken one
and would be glad to see the India minis re-
opened, II It could be done without stimulating
the cause OF blmetallism and Us o separate and
distinct action.
Mr.. Wolcott next enumerated the
obstacles with which the commission
had to contend, in which he included
the remarkable drop in the price of sill.
yer, the coincident tariff Legislation in
the United States and the statement
of New York bankers in England, who,
he said, sought access to the English
officials and treasured them that any
sentiment which had formerly existed
in the United States in favor OF biz
metallism, was dead. Other statements
made by the bankers, according to Mr..
Wolcott. were the following: That
the mission was sent solely us sop 10
few far western republicans; that
the country generally favored the go l
standard and that the president of the
United States shared this view.
Questions of possible future negotia-
TONS" continued Mr.. Wolcott, 'be-
tween France and the United States
and other countries, and the question
Of change Of ratio are for the moment
held in allegiance"
Mr.. Wolcott then announced his in
tention to retire from the commission
and continued:
| II Is my sincere conviction that an interna-
tionsl bimetallic agreement Is still feasible. by
| the terms Of which certain countries Will Join
us and open their mints TO the unlimited COIN
age Of silver, and others will contribute 10 the
plan and enlarged use Of that metal rs money;
and say this the more freely because shall
give way upon the commission to somebody
more fitted for such negotiations and better
| able 10 give them his constant time. This re-
suit cannot be brought about without the ex-
penditure OF both time and patience. and the
persons intrusted with the duty OF negotiation
must have back Of them the hearty support OF
the president and congress-
The senator then wound up us fol-
lows:
Whatever differences Of opinion may exist rs
| TO the ability OF this country alone to maintain
| the parity between silver and gold there Is no
| question that the concurrence OF other nations
| would help and rot hinder the cause OF biinct-
allIsm In the United States, and efforts TO Sc
cure IL ought 10 rccclv1 the cordial support OF
every citizen who Is opposed to gold monomet-
ailism International bimetallism IL not
myth. chimcra The people Of Europe are,
even Us we nrc, struggling TO keep their heads
above water and seeking blindly for that which
may make for prosperity and for progress
| Much Of the recent legislation In Europe
looking to the increase OF gold holdings and the
depreciation OF silver finds Its origin In the ex-
| igencles OF O situation where readiness for war
| Is the paramount necessity There Is hardly q
statesman in Europe who believes this last
word has yet besn said upon the question OF
| the reconciliation OF silver. and hardly one
who would not welcome an effort to settle the
question internationally. Only q few days ago.
Just before Christmas. In debate In the French
chamber, NJ. kellne again declared from the
| tribune that the French government was alone
with the United States on the question OF BIZ
/ metallism
| In the face OF such declaration II IL as
| cowardly TO abandon hope rs II Is false 10 talk
/ about failure International bimetalllsm Is q
/ the gold monometallists q stumbling block md
70 the silver monometallists foolishness, but II
| II nevertheless splendid possibility: Its nc
compllshment would be the greatest blessing
| that could befall our people. and TO achieve it
| we might well AFFORD 70 sink. for the time, the
hostilitics Of party and the chickering's OF fac
tions.
PENSIONERS DEFENDED.