People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 October 1893 — FOR BETTER TRADE. [ARTICLE]

FOR BETTER TRADE.

Opening of the Bimetallic Convention in Missouri'* Metropolis. St. Louis, Oct 4.—The pan-American bimetallic convention assembled at Armory hall at 11 o’clock Tuesday. Ex-Congressman Nathan Frank delivered the address of welcome on behalf of the city. Gov. W. J. Bton«s of Missouri, performed a like service on behalf of the state. S. S. King, of Kansas, responded for the convention, expressing thanks for the welcome. Turning to the question of sectionalism and silver he declared, first that this country was able to get along without the economic aid of any foreign nation; second, as regards silver, there was no sectionalism other than that conceived by those endeavoring to debase it citing, as he presented thia, the solid votes of the northeastern Atlantic states. As to commerce, he quoted statistics showing that the internal commerce from the Mississippi valley was greater than the combined foreign commerce of all the world. He touched upon depreciation of the money value of agricultural products by the use of the single gold standard, and in closing upon the Mississippi valley, that great empire of the west, to wake up and take its place in the economics of the country. Gov. G. P. Tillman, of South Carolina, was chosen temporary chairman. In his address the governor took occasion to charge that the reduction in the anticipated number of delegates was due to the power of the press to smother the efforts of the masses to rise to their proper place. But with all that he dared to say that the time was coming when the west and south would join hands and win their rights, if not by agitation then by their ballots. When the afternoon session convened the credentials committee reported an authorized convention list of 166 representing the states of Colorado, lowa. Texas, Indiana, Montana, Kansas, South Carolina, New Mexico, Old Mexico, Arkansas and Missouri It was decided that each state delegation at large should cast twenty votes, while all other delegates from other sources should cast their individual votes. H. C. Walters, of Washington, delegate from a state whdse governor refused to appoint, was given power to cast the state’s eriWre vote of twenty, as was also J. K. Weatherford, of Oregon, for his state. The following names were announced as the selection of the committee on permanent organization for officers of the convention: President, Gov. L. D. Levelling, of Kansas: vice president, M. E, Benton, of Missouri; secretary, Olney Newell, Colorado: assistant secretaries, Samuel B. Cook, ot Missouri, and W. H. Culp, of Arkansas. Gov. Waite, yf Colorado, Gov. Stone, of Missouri, and 8. H. Snyder, of Kansas, escorted to the chair President Lewelling, who briefly thanked the convention, urging that the deliberations of the assemblage be carried on with care and caution, that the results desired might be accomplished without alienating those who would be friends, He then presented Mrs. Mary E. Lease, of Kansas, for whom he asked of the convention a hearing. Mrs. Lease said that a crisis was now on more dangerous than that which confronted the American people in 1776. With that introduction she proceeded to argue for the union of the west and south against the bondholders of the east. At this point calls for President A. C. Fisk, of the Pan-American Bimetallic association, brought that gentleman to the floor with an address entirely statistical, in behalf of bimetalism, the Nicaragua canal and the use of the Mississippi and other rivers leading to the gulf, thereby severing relations with the east to the benefit of the west to the extent of at least 188,000.000 on freights to Europe on flour, wheat and corn, and much more in other products. Gen, J. B. Weaver briefly addressed the convention in favor of bimetallism in its fullest sense, and then the convention adjourned for the day.