La Junta tribune., 1898-01-22
wOICOTT EXPLAINS
WHAT HIS coMM,ss'oN DID.
seau Believes 4. Bis.ssaiiisa Bss Thiaka
Change of 8asss Nsess>asy-Csssssssss
so1e Asobsss of Bis Party.


cott's much advertised speech was
made In the Senate yesterday. In part,
as follows:
Mr.. Wokott introduced his subject
by saving he wus glad to make q state
meut respecting certnIn phases OF the
work OF the recent bimetnllic commits
sion, but In NO doing he spoke unom-
cialIy. mot committing his associates
In the slightest degree. either TO his
opinions or deductions
Later In the session" he said I'VE
are certain to have ample discussion ON
the subject OF silver, and IL will prob
ably be ncrid nnd bitter enough In
his remarks yesterday. he continued
he must avoid, as far ms possible. any
thing which might give rise TO contro-
versy.
Taking up the subject OF his remarks.
he said that when Congress met = yesr
ago. soon after the national election.
there wns an universal expression by
the Republican membership in the Zen
ate that the pledge OF the party In its
st. Louis platform Ia promote tDternn-
tlonal bimetailIsm by every means IN
Its power was M undertaking TO be
faithfully carried out, without evasion
or delay.
He then gave an account OF the ap-
poIntment of the committee. saying
that all three OF its members were bi-
metallisfs.
.Our views wcre,'' Ire said. known
to :he President before our appoint
mcnt. There was no one OF us who did
not. and does not now. believe the
financial question overshasIows oil 9TH
st,as NIL sfnft RI. ~
single gold standard means only disas-
ter to our agricultural and commercial
interests
The commission had. he said. In Its
six months stay abroad. visited only
London and Paris. and ne added that
whatever measure Of success or fall
IRE had been meted ont ~ the commits
sion. lit had been bampercd 10y no lnck
of authority or sa:iction or Idministra-
tive support"
The language OF the law had been the
commissions guide. and there were
never at any time" he said. "instruc-
tons given us that sought In the slight
est degree Ia change or hamper or limit
the full powers conferred upon us by
law. We have been" lie continued. ''of
one mind and In entire agreement dur
Ing all OF our negotiations, and our ef-
forts have been Loyalty fnrthered by
our representatives abroad. who were
fortified by strenuous Instructions. In
England. especially. The able and intel
ligcnt and cordial cooperation of our
ambassador was OF great advantage in
our deliberations"
Summing up the favorable conditions
under which the commission operated,
Mr.. Wolcott said:
I'VE have had, then. n law broad and
full IN Its powers; we have been free
to act under It's provisions: our views
have been Identical and earnestly fnv-
Oring nm International agreement. and
we have had the hearty support of our
ambassador nt the Court OF st. James.
Further than this. from the day OF first
entering upon the fulfillmcnt OF our du-
ties until now. the President OF the
United States has extended to the com
mission his unswerying support In all
its efforts TO bring about nm intcrna-
tionnl agreement. There Inns been no
moment that we have not known thnt
back Of our efforts was the earnest de-
sire OF the chief executive to carry Out
In Its integrity the provisions OF the
platform OF the Republican party
pledgIng II to every effort to bring
about nm International bimetallic agree
ment."
.'The failure OF former international
conferences he said. made II evident
that unless some prior understanding
was arrived at with some OF the com
mercial nations. another failure would
he the result OF an International con
ference Mt this time. and as France
Germany and Great Britain had with
In the year made declarations favor
able to silver. II was decided TO bring
the subject to the attention Of these
various countries, nnd. naturally. the
first turn was made to France. fol
many reasons. but. above NIL, because
OF Premier Meline's belief In bimetaI
lism.
''1n France" he said. ''the question
OF bimetallism WAS regarded as strict
ly an international question. and II was
agreed that France and the United
States should unite In presenting the
question TO Great Britain. He contend
ed for the importance OF the prelim
mary understanding with France. he
cause Of the large per capita circula
tion Of that country.
HAD England even adhered 10 her
assurances OF the 18th OF March. 1896
countries representing more than hall
Of the total money OF Europe and the
United States would have agreed prior
TO a conference that. upon terms to be
settled at such conference. they would
reopen their mints to the unlimited
coinage of both gold and silver
Mr.. wolcott detailed at some length
the joint negotiations on the part Of
the American commissioners and the
French ambassadors In England. Al
first, he said. there seemed but few
difficulties In the way. and he quoted
the resolutions OF the House Of Com
mons and the utternnces OF Mr.. Hal
four and Sir Michael Hicks Beach OF
March II. 1890. I'VE were not, there
fore" he continued, ''intruders. We
could present ourselves with the Ger
talnty OF that reception which must
follow direct and open Invitation. And
the welcome we had the right to ex.
pect we received. From the day we
reached England until the day We
left ffua11y. in October. Our ofFlclal