The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-01-18
woLcorrs GREAT SPEECH.
Review of Efforts to Establish In
ternational BimetaIlisuf.

Review Of Efforts to Establish In
ternational Bimetallismf.
Washington, jar. 17.-At the concJu-
sion Of the morning business in the
senate. Mr. Wolcott, at 1880, was rec
ogDized 10 begin his address. He was
in fine voice, and commanded the earn
est attention of the auditors.
Mr.. Woicott introduced his subject by
saying he was glad TO make a state
ment respecting certain phases of the
work OF The recent bimetallic commits
sion, but in SO doing he spoke unOfhc-
tally, not committing his associates in
the slightest degree, either TO his opin-
ions or deductions. Later in the ses-
sion" ne said. we are certain to have
ample discussion on the subject of sill
Yer. and it VIII probably be acrid and
bitter enough
In his remarks today, he continued,
he must avoid. so far as possible, any
tfing which might give rise TO contro-
versy.
Taking up the subject OF his remarks,
he said that when congress met a year
ago, there was a universal expression
by the Republican membership in the
senate that the pledge of the party in
its St Louis platform to promote in
4ernaIional bimetallism by every means
in its power was an undertaking TO be
faithfully carried out, without evasion
or delay. he then gave al account of
the appointment. saying that all three
OF its members were bimetaiiists-
Our views were, he said, known to
the president before our appointment.
There was no one of US who did rot.
and does not now believe the financial
question overshadows all others, and
that continued adhesion to the single
gold standard means only disaster to
our agricultural and commercial inter-
ests."
GIVEN CARTE BLANCHE.
The commission had. he said, in its
six months stay abroad, visited only
London and Paris. and, he added, that
whatever measure of success or fail
ure had been meted out To the commits
sion; .-.t had been hamDered By no
lack Of authority or sanction or admin
istrarive support"
The language of the law had been the
commissioners guide, and there We're
never, IT any time, he said, instruc-
lions given as thai sought in the slight
est degree to change or hamper or lin I
it The fun powers conferred upon US by
law.
eve have baen." he continued, of
one mind and in entire agreement dur /
ing all of our negotiations. and our ef-
forts have i0yally been furthered by /
our repr5seltativ abroad, who were
ItLllLNA UN SLAE4A0lc A4AcL4 utlA0lc- Ii !
England, especially, the able and in I
telligent and cordial cooperation of our |
ambassador was of great advantage in 4
our deliberations"
Summing up the favorable conditions /
under which the commission operated, I
Mr. Wolcott said:
We have had then law broad and .
full in its powers; we have been free (
to act under its provisions; our views I
have been identical and earnestly fav- 4
o-ing an international agreement, and
we have had the hearty support of our
ambassador at the court OF St. James. /
Further than this, from the day of first I
entering upon the fulhllment OF our du-
ties until now. the president of the /
United States has extended to the COM
mission his answering support in all its
efforts to bring about an International
agreement. There has been no moment
that we have not known that. back of
our efforts, was the earnest desire of
the chief executive TO carry out in its
integrity the provisions Of the platform
of the Republican party, pledging it to
every effort to bring about an inter-
national binetallic agreement"
FIRST TO FRANCE.
The failure of former International
conferences. he said, made it evident
that unless some prior understanding
was arrived at with some of the COM
mercial nations. another failure would
be the result OF an International con
ference at this time, and as France.
Germany and Great Britain had within
the year made declarations favorable
n silver. it was decided to bring the
subject to the attention of those var
ious countries. and naturally the first
turn was made 10 France for many
but above all because of Pre-
nier Meline's belief in bimetaIlfsm.
In France, he said, the question Of
bimetallism was regarded as strictly an
question, and il was
agreed that France and the United
States should ante in presenting the
question to Great Britain. He con-