The Monte Vista journal., 1898-09-17
DISCUSSING MONEY.
THE TALK BEGINS AT OMAHA
}. stsrsi.s Ssrte. Csiis the ce.ssss.ss -
Osdsr-rhs First nay Saw WARM Ds
bate

Omaha, Sept. 13.-One Of the most
distinguished gatherings OF financial
students and authorities that ever as
sembled opened three days session
mt the Nebraska building on the expo
sition grounds this morning.
Scarcely a well-known name on
either side Of the great currency prob
lem which has been so long before the
American people but is represented on
the program for a set paper, or u
pnrt In the running debate.
Hon J. Sterling Morton presided to-
dny. Horace White OF New York.
Edward Atkinson. Congressman Fow-
Ter Of New Jersey. Editor +. II. Rob
inson Of the Hallway Age, Louis Il.
Enrich Of Colorado Springs. former
Senator Carey OF Wyoming and Gov
ernOr Shaw OF Iowa are to take part
In the program.
Messrs. Warner. Towne. Bartine,
Weaver. Reynolds aud other leaders
OF the silver and paper money sides
are to take part In the joint debate.
Shortly after 10 o'clock Mr.. Morton
called the convention to order and
without amy unusual formality be-
yond few words OF explanation and
welcome. said:
As president Of the National Sound
Money League call this assemble se
to order.
Gentlemen. you have been con-
voked for patriotic purpose. That
purpose Is to candidly discuss the
money question. with the intention Of
nscertaining the best currency for
conserving the prosperity. strength
and honor OF the American Republic
Three questions demanding your
solution arc:
Il. IL 1t the fixed legal ratio en-
acted between the coins which gov
crns the relative value of the metals
In bullion? Or.
~. Is II the relative value OF the
metals In bullion which governs the
relative value OF the coins?
'3. 1f no single and separate state
can maintain n fixed legal ratio be-
tween the metals when coined In un-
limited quantities. can an interna-
fional agreement among the principal
mercantile countries OF the world do
so?
You enter upon this Investigation
with jealous intention of finding the
truth. Your love OF country prompts
you TO make this inquiry and to over
throw error and establish truth.
Mr.. Edward Atkinson. the distin-
gulshed economist and publicist Of
Boston, wns prevented from attending
because Of III health. Therefore he
sent to me for presentation on this Oc-
cnsion his paper entitled Force Bills
or Legal Tender And without fur
ther prelude I proceed TO read it,
There was no debate on Atkinson's =
u ~.
New York Evening Post opened the
''Thc History of the Gold Standard
Mr.. White said that the history OF the
gold standard was u narrative OF at
tcmp's on the part Of governments and
peoples 10 make two metals. variable
In their nature. stable In reference to
each other. These attempts were hon
est hut futile. There are no
bimctallic countries now. As to inter-
national bimetalllsm. Mr.. White
thought that Senator wolcott had
preached Its funeral sermon after he
came back from his fruitlcss mission
some six months ago.
II. Il. Rariinc OF the National Rimet-
allist Of Washington. ID. c.. replied TO
Mr.. White
EN-Congressmnn Bartinc began with
n support Of the legal tender theory OF
money In general. lie denied that
either Mr.. Atkinson or Mr.. White had
made any affirmative showing In be-
half OF the gold standard. fu fact. he
denied that amy Affirmative showing
could be made for II. The same law
that made 25.s grains of gold dollar
could make u silver dollar of half that
amount. The gold standard. wherever
II existed. was n creature OF law and
nothing else.
The difference between the support.
ers OF Bryan and those Of Mckinley In
the last campaign was only n difference
OF method. One element believe In the
free coinage OF silver independently,
and the other In waiting for nm Inter.
national concurrence. He made the
statement, that In the last election prac.
tlcnlly l3,5O,OO0 voters had gone on
record for the free coinage OF silver
at some time. only l3i.O0O voting un-
eIuivocally for the pcrpctua,Ion OF the
gold standard.
Speaking for nm hour. he went into all
the arguments In support Of silver as a
money metal. co-ordInatcly with gold.
nt III TO I.
The afternoon session Of the nation
al currency convention developed into
an almost mouth to mouth contest be-
tween the gold and silver side~. with
the Middl'-"f.il'- Road editors Of the
Reform Press Association strongly In
evidence for their fnvoriic theory Of mn
irrciecmnblc paper currency. The nat.
lists are tire most impatient 10 lc heard.
nnd can hardly wait until Thursday.
which IL their day for the advocacy OF
iaper money. und their Interruptions
were fn~t and numerous.
Governor Leslie NJ. Shnw Of lown
made II brief address. which wen,
deeply Into the subject from the proJu.
GERS point Of view.
u am u gold monomciniilst. he
said, "bscaurc the whole world hns
agreed upon the gold standard. and the
law of commercial convenience, which
no not of Parliament or Congress cun
repeal. governs the Who'll. matter. IN.
only logical argument I can ser for v.I.
yer coinage Il that II would reduce
wnrr~ practically onr.liaif. aud thu.
enable IN 10 compete with foreign mn.
lions. hut ! would rather have the
American market than that"
Several questions ms to the ability OF
debtor country to retain It's gold
against foreign draughis nnd havIns 10
,io with the VuAntitntivc theory Of
money ns laid down by wcli.knowu n.
nanciai authorities. and niro ~ 10 In.
dian competition with the American
wheat producer. wcr proi,oundcd by
Congressman George Fred williams Of
Boston.
General 4. ]. Warner Of Ohio. nrcsi.