Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 August 1896 — ALLISON ON SILVER. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ALLISON ON SILVER.

lowa Senator Favors Bimetallism by Agreement. Senator William B. Allison, in reply to a request for his views torching bimetallism by international a'grbeinent, has written a letter, w hieh has been printed by the Upper Des Moinei of Algona. la. Mr. Allison was chairman of tbe United States delegation to the Brussels monetary conference iu 1892, and studied the questiop exhaustively. He says in part: “As respects the prospect for an international agreement to lix a ratio between gpld and silver, with a view .to open mints •with unlimited coinage by the agreeing nations, I am still of the belief that- such an agreement within a reasonable time is probable. The silver countries cannot abandon silver because of their situation, nor can they procure gold to take the place of silver, even if they were inclined to do so. Hence the necessity of a common ratio between the mhtals, embracing the lending commercial nations. France. Belgium, Holland,' Germany and Spain iiave large amounts of silver in circulation full legal tender, coined At.the old ratio es 1514 of silver to lof gold.. To melt

these coins, or sell them at their bullion value, would involve great loss, which t'hev cannot JPfford to bear. Ather- countries in Europe have, in the aggregate, a large amount of silver in circulation and are in like situation. “In England there is a growing sentiment for international bimetallism, embracing her political economists, her professors of universities, as also her mami-

faeturors, agriculturists, ship owners engaged in foreign trade, 'and many of her leading bankers, and those especially trading with her dependencies, chiefly with India, embracing all classes. These are united into a formidable organization to promote bimetallism. On the continent .the States of the Latin union, except Switzerland, are practically united. There is a strong sentiment in Germany in the same direction. The international bimetallists are thoroughly organized in France, Germany, Belgium and Holland.

"The Brussels conference met at en inopportune time and without sufficient preparation and consultation with governments invited to participate. Such a conference, when held, should be preceded by a carefully digested plan for discussion prepared in advance by the leading governments. Thus it was ut*Brussels that Germany and Austria and some of the smaller States were not permitted to act and vote in the conierenee, aud therefore it was a failure as respects im-

mediate results, but it accomplished one thing of great value, namely, a general recognition of a serious evil that required a practical remedy.

SENATOR ALLISON.

THE NEW JERSEY RAILROAD HORROR. (Wreck of the second car from which not a passeng rescaped unhurt.)