Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-29

Sound Money" was mailed regularly to all
the weekly newspapers in the south and the
west, and the editors OF those papers found
in its columns fresh topics for their own
writing and statements and arguments
which they often copied entire. The paper
has proved to be a very effective means fol
disseminating sound money ideas.
In October last a National Currency con
vention was held at Omaha Neb., on the
grounds Of the Transmssissippi Exposition,
under call issued by this league and under
the management Of the officers Of the league
The cal! invited the advocates of ali phases
Of opinion concerning the currency of the
country to attend the conventio and take
part in an open debate Many cf the most
conspicuous advocates of the gold standard,
Of double standard and of fat paper money
with no standard value, came to the meet
ing, delivered addresses and took part in
the general discussion.
Eject Of Discussion.
The meetings occupied three DAYS and on
each day three sessions were held. each OF
which was attended by a large audience.
| The debates were printed in the newspapers
and stimulated thought and discussion on
money problems all over the west and the
general effect Vas no doubt to make decisive
the sound money victories won about a
month later in the western state elections.
The general secretary recommends to the
central council that the work of the league
be continued during the coming year on the
same lines heretofore followed: that the Chi
cago office be kept OPEN that the monthly
paper be continued, and that such docu-
mehts be issued from time to time as may
appear to be called for by the condition of
politics and public discussion on the money
question. II, after the opening of the cam
paign OF 1900. II shall appear that the plat
form Of no important political party con-
tains demand for the abandonment of the
gold standard or for the issue of any form
OF money worth less than its face value in
gold, then the league can conclude that its
work has been accomplished and can safely
dtsband. Such happy contamination does
not now look as probable as we might wish,
but 1t Is not impossible. IL. the other
hand. one of the great parties adopts again
the Chicago platform and enters upon a new
effort to secure the abandonment of gold
standard money and the free and unlimited
coinage of legal tender silver dollars then
the league will have a large work at hand,
for which ii has been making careful prep
| arations ever since 1t was organized, three
years ago
Congressman Fowler made a vigorous
speech in which he told the league that it
need never effect a perfect banking system
until the currency question had been settled,
He said when the currency became a fixture
and rates of interest were uniform through
out the country in France and Canada,
then could they effect a permanent standard.
Letter from Secretary Gage.
General Secretary Smalley received the
following letter from Hon. Lyman ]. Gage,
secretary Of the treasury:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT. OFFICE OF
THE SECRETARY, March 16.--My Dear Sir:
have to acknowledge yours of March 10, in
which you kindly invite me to participate in
the annual meeting of the National Sound
Money league to be held in New York March
IS My engagements are such that 1t will
be impossible for me to be present on that
occasion. i participate to some extent in
the belief you express that the free silver
propaganda has lost it's force. At the same
time / think it will be wise for the sound
money forces to hold themselves in line to
orrosc any fresh attack of the kind which
was successfully resisted in the fall of
! 1896. Very truly yours, l.. J. GAGE.
Several other letters and reports were
read They were from vice presidents of the
| league and other leading upholders of the
| sound money cause in both the republican
and democratic parties throughout the
union.
The vice president for Oregon wrote that
! the sound money cause was daily becoming
| stronger in that state, while the same off,
| cial in New Hampshire said there was no
money issue in that state. The reports from
| the west invariably showed that discomfort
| had been lost in industry and that the peo-
! pie felt that the changed conditions were
| due in a great measure TO the victory OF
sound money.
Finances of the League.
The report by A. B. Hepburn Of New
| York was next read. Mr.. Hepburn stated
that the receipts of the league during last
| year had been $4,000 and the expenses
| $4,000. The expenditures had been for the
| dissemination Of literature. This distrbu-
| tion would be continued. he said. when it
was warranted by the political situation.
| NJ E. ingalls, of Cincinnati said ne be-
lieved that the league ought to make its atti
tude understood throughout the United
States. With a view to this he offered a
resolution pledging the league to favor the
immediate adoption of legislation fixing
90 $40 grains of gold as the standard dol
lar: the establishment of a separate bureau
OF issue and redemption in the Treasury de-
| partment. in which should be held, not sub
| ject to use for current expenses of the gov
| ernment, sufficient amount Of gold to cover
| the redemption demand of all obliga-
| tions OF the government the making of all
| government paper in denominations of $40
and mutiples OF ten, and that all smaller
notes should be silver certificates, and that
banks should be required TO redeem their
notes in gold at their counters.
| This resolution aroused considerable dis
cussion. Congressman Fowler of New Jer-
sey. proxy for John Kean of the same state,
advocated the appointment by the chair Of a
committee with power to put 1t in such
form as Should seem best to them to repre-,
sent fully and adequately the views of the
| league This was carried and a committee of
| three, composed OF Edward Atkinson OF Bos-
tcn, f. H. Wells of North Dakota and A. b.
| HeDburn of New York. apDOinted to
| port an hour later.
DEATH RECORD.