The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-24
THE TELLER RESOLUTION
GIVES CURRENCY-REFORM CONVEN-
TION A FURTHER IMPETUS.
Additional Delegates from the East
Completion of the Local
Arrangements.

| Tomorrow the monetary convention,
| from which sprang the movement for cur
rency reform, will reassemble in this city,
| It is now certain that the attendance this
year will be larger than that of last year.
though invitations were extended to the
same bodies only
| The list of names selected as delegates
to the convention includes some of the most
prominent business men of the country
many of whom are of national reputation
in their particular lines, and known to the
public generally. When the members of the
executive committee decided to reassemble
the convention they had serious doubts as
to whether busy men of affairs would be
willing to drop their own work and make
winter trip to indianapolis for the pur-
pose of discussing and passing upon the
report of the commission. These doubts
were dissolved, however, soon after the
issuance of the call for the convention
A few trade organizations have replied that
on account of the pressure of business they
could not send delegates, but more of such
bodies have responded favorably than did
a year ago. Over four hundred delegates
have now been selected. and while last
year the convention only had three hun
dred delegates present, it will be COM
posed of at least three hundred and fifty
this year.
All unwittingly the free-siver senators
gave a sudden impetus to the movement
when, through their finance committee,
they reported favorably the Teller resolu-
ton. When this action was reported over
the country several of the boards of trade
in New England and other Eastern States,
that had not thought it worth while to
send delegates, changed their decision and
wired that they would be represented at
the convention.
The executive committee was also some
what worried over the question of whether
the. commercial organizations of the coun-
try had had sufficient time in which to
consider the plan devised by the commission.
Though the principal features of the plan
are the principles laid down by the conven-
ton of last year, there has been, of course,
much diversity of opinion as to the methods
of carrying out the main propositions.
While almost all who answered the inter-
rogatories sent out by the commission
agreed upon the main points, there was a
great difference as to details This question
is still unsolved, and there will possibly be
some warm debates upon the subject If
one may judge from the correspondence of
| the executive committee and the resolutions
adopted by a large number of the boards
of trade, chambers of commerce and COM
mercial clubs, however, the plan is likely
to be accepted and strongly Endorsed as
whole. The plan of the commission was dis
cussed by many bodies before selecting
| their delegates, and resolutions passed
adopting it, Many of those who found It
| impossible or impracticable to send dele
gates, have sent resolutions indorsing the
plan, and the hope of the commission that
the business interests of the country may
combine upon this plan seems likely to be
realized. One particular difference between
this convention and that of last year is in
the fact agricultural districts of the West
and South will be more largely represented
| than they were last year, notwithstanding
the fact that the delegates who come from
the South must in so doing sacrifice their
South has been kept back several months
by the Mississippi floods and the quaran-
tine resulting from the yellow fever scare,
and they are now compelled to crowd into
one or two months the business that usually
occupies them five or six months. This fact
has prevented some of the Southern States
from sending delegates, but as a section
the South will be more generally repre-
sented than at last years convention.
THE LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS.
The local arrangements for the conven-
ton, though not elaborate complete.
The convention will be held in the Grand
Opera House, beginning Tuesday afternoon
at o'clock. About four hundred citizens of
Indianapolis have been chosen to act as a
reception committee to receive the dele
gates, and Oh Tuesday evening the CONNER
cial Club and Board of Trade will enter
tain the visitors at a reception and buffet
lunch. C. C. Foster is at the head of the
ohair
evening Judge Taylor will address the Co
lumbia Club on the commissions work H.
H. Hanna, chairman of the executive COM
mittee, will call the convention to order
tomorrow afternoon and Governor Mount
will make a brief address of welcome, in
which he will express his views, as a farm
er, of the value of the movement. Governor
Shaw, of Iowa, who has been chosen to
act as permanent cairman, will also make
an address, Mr.. c. Stuart Patterson, of
Philadelphia, who is a member of the COM
mission, will present the report of the COM
mission to the convention. Tuesday even
ing ChaS. 5. Fairchild, ex-secretary of the
treasury, and another member of the COM
mission will make addresses at the opera
house. On Wednesday morning the report
of the commission will be taken up for de-
bate, and such resolutions as the conven-
ton may see fit to adopt will be discussed.
The work of the convention will probably
be finished by Wednesday evening.
This convention, like the first, will be kept
clear Of politics. The movement for cur
rency reform was originated by the boards
of trade, chambers of commerce and COM
mercial clubs of the cities of the central
West, representing no political party. but
the business interests of the various cities.
Several organizations of political nature
have been suggested as proper ones to send
delegates, but, wishing to confine the move
ment to a nonpartisan channel, the answer
has always been that while their co-opera-
ton in the movement would be appreciated,
start and must be continued a business
and not q political movement.