The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-25
TO DISCUSS
THE CURRENCY
This to Be a Feature Of the Omaha
Exposition.
THE PLAN OF HON, J. S. MORTON,
He Proposes 10 Make the Affair An
Open Forum for the Presentation
of All Shades Of Opinion Re
garding the Money Question

CHICAGO. May 2s.-The management
of the Omaha Exposition proposes to add
currency convention to the many meet
ings Of national interest to be held In
the Auditorium building on the exposi-
ton grounds during the period OF the
fair. and has invited Hon. J. Sterling
Morton, president Of the National Sound
Money League to take charge Of the
work OF organizing the convention ana
inviting the speakers. Governor Nor
toms plan is to make the affair an open
forum for the presentation Of all sides
Of all questions relating to the money OF
the country. and to invite men OF proml-
nence who entertain all sorts Of opinions
concerning what is the best currency
10 take part in H. The two monetary
conventions held in indianapolis last
January and the year before were COM
posed exclusively Of gold-standard men.
While silver men and greenbsckers were
eligible as delegates. if elected by any
Of the commercial bodies invited to be
represented they felt that they would
them put IN an appearance.
A UNANIMOUS SENTIMENT.
The sentiment Of those conventions was
unanimous. In fact they were promoted
and managed for the purpose Of showing
to Congress that the business men OF the
country are Of one opinion on the need
of immediate currency reform and Of the
firm maintenance Of the gold standard
II is believed that more good can now
he done IN the way Of educating public
opinion by a joint debate on all the IS
sues involved carried on by men who are
known as leaders Of thought and Of po-
litical discussion. Hitherto except in
Congress, where every man talks for
effect on his own State or district. there
has been no joining of battle I'm debate
between the advocates Of the gold stand
ard on one side, and the double standard
men and silver mOnOmetallists on the
other: nor have the greenbackers met
in any important debate the advocates
Of hank money. Unless some question
arising out of the Spanish war obscuTes
all other issues next fall, it seems certain
that the political campaigns In all the
close congressional districts will be
fought on the money question, and de-
bate on the historic and economic aspects
Of the question ought 10 have some in
PROPOSITIONS LAID DOWN.
In order 10 define the issues clearly,
the National sound-Money League which
will have charge OF the Omaha cOnven-
ton. LAYS down the following seven pro-
positions. which II maintains are essential
10 a sound system Of national currency
and Il invites support for them and oppO-
ssition 10 them. assuring a fair hearing
to all who desire TO take part IN the dis
cussion:
o. That the unit Of value in the United
States is now and ought 70 be the gold
dollar Of 25.S grains of gold.
% That gold is the best kind Of metal
lie money, because the least fluctuating
in purchasing power. and consequently
capable Of the greatest universally I'm
measuring values all the world over as
is shown by its adoption by all Of the
most civilized nations Of the globe.
o. That silver cannot be utilized I'm
modern commerce because Of fits bulk in
proportion TO its value. and OF the con-
tinued decline Of silver I'm the bullion
market since 1876. when the state Of Ne
vada alone produced more silver than did
all the remainder of the world during the
previous twenty years. and that this UNI
certainty Of value has made silver only
useful as a subsidiary currency and to-
a. That the interests Of capital and la
Dor alike require that all kinds Of money
in circulation should be kept at a parity
with and convertible into gold. and that
all kinds Of paper money, printed prom
ises 10 pay dollars. in order to be Of sta
BILE purchasing power must be readily
redeemable in gold on presentation by the
holder.
o. That the best kind OF paper money,
as shown by the experience of the world,
Is the notes Of solvent banks, issued un-
der government control and supervision
and that II is unwise for governments 10
issue any kind Of paper money and force
it upon the people by legal tender enact
ments.
6) That a double standard Of value IS
unthinkable undesirable. and impracu-
cable. and has never been maintained In
any country.
a. That no government can by law fix
a permanent ratio between the value Of
gold and silver. and that attempts to do
this have always resulted in the expulsion
from circulation Of the underestimate
metal. The relative value OF gold and
silver does not depend upon an enacted
ratio but rests wholly upon the relative
market value Of the bullion which the
coins contain.
IL is proposed That the convention snail
occupy three days. and that the first
day shall be called Gold-Day. the second
SilverDay and the third Paper-AIoney-
Day On Gold-Day the discussion will be
opened by Horace White with an address
on the history Of the gold standard. on
SilverDay William J. Bryan will be in
vited to open the debate. On Paper
Money-Day the old greenbackers and
Populist iatists will be given a hearing.
After the formal addresses are delivered
on each topic. the remainder OF the ses-
sion will be given 10 a free debate I'm
fve-minute speeches and the time will
be fairly divided between the advocates
OF opposing views.
Inquiries in relation 10 the convention.
and applications for time for the presen-
tation Of addresses should be sent either
to the president Of the National Sound
Money League. Hon j. Sterling Morton.
Nebraska City. Neb., or 10 the General
Secretary. +. V Smalley No 740 MOnad-
mock Block. Chicago. The dates will soon
be announced through the Associated
Press.-New York Post.