The San Francisco call. [volume], August 21, 1895, Image 1

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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VOLUME LXXVIII.-SO. 82.
AT THE GREAT SILVER CONVENTION.
Thomas V. Cator and Morris M, Estee on the
Same Platform.
PEEPARING THE PLANKS.
Timothy Guy Phelps Makes a
Stirring Address to the
Bimetallists.
AIL FOR THE WHITE METAL.
Phoebe Cousins Welcomed With
Flowers and Enthusiasm— Frona
Eunice Waite To-Day.
Shortly before the convention was called
to order" yesterday morning Secretary of
State Howell of Nevada hoisted the silver
banner presented to Eureka County four
years ago by the Nevada Silver State, the
silver organ of Winnemucca, edited by
George W. Nixon. Eureka, in proportion
to her population, polled the largest num
ber of silver votes when the revolt began,
and won the prize.
It was heavily adorned with a Bilver
fringe and surmounted by a solid bullion
eagle.
At 10 o'clock the Continental drum' and
life band of our forefathers riled in and in
troduced the soul-stirring . strains of
"Yankee Doodle."
President Baker called the meeting to
order, and the report of the committee on
credentials was read and adopted. There
wrere 547 delegates present, and on motion
the roll was not called.
:. The following report of the committee
; on; permanent organization and order of
business W as raad by the secretary :
. Your committee on permanent organization
M. A. HUBLEY OP CALAVERAS, A CONVERT TO THE GOSPEL
OF FREE COINAGE OF SILVEE.
[Sketched, by a " Call" artist.]
and order of business beg leftve to report as fel
lows :
First— That tne temporary officers, George
W. Baker chairman, and George P. Keeney
cecretary, selected by this convention.be made
tne permanent officers thereof.
Second— That the following-named gentle
men are recommended and requested to act as
vice-presidents of this convention: Governor
W. J. McConnell, Idaho; Hon. M. S. Bouni
field, Nevada; Alexander Majors. San Fran-
Cisco; Hon. Benjamin F. Leet, Nevada; M. W.
lielshaw, San Francisco; lion J. L. Davie, Ala-
meda; Colonel Lyxnan Bridges, Alameda; Hon.
Joseph H. Budd, San Joaqnin; A.L.Warner,
Sonoma; Colonel R. J. Berry, Los Angeles;
William. S. Edwards, San Bernardino; Majoi
Marion Bi-ggs Jr., San Francisco;. Euj?euo
HoweU, Nevada: Hon. William Westerfield,
Nevatia; Major John B. Moore, Co1ue&; N. W.
SpaulTling, Alameda; Mrs. Charles Merrill,
J-an Joaquin; Hon. R. M. Beatty, Nevada;
Amos .Stevens, Placer; W. E. Rogers, Kera^
Timo.hy Guy Phelps, San Mateo; R. Guy Mc-
C.lellan, Alameda; Thomas C. Welch, Orange:
Akien. Anderson, Solano: W. R. Pond. Yoio;
.:;:i>h. Robert Brown, Sacramento; W. C. Cressler,
• : ■■'Mod'oc.; Dr. W. L. Dickenson, San Francisco;
.J.,X r - Brown, Alameda; J. C. Bradley, Alameda;
H: G. Biaisdell, Alameda; Robert McKillican,
Alam.ed»; A. L. Hart, Sacramento; Hon.
Jiilius.Kahn, San Francisco: Hon. M. M. Estee,
Saji Francisco; Hon. J. V. Webster, San Luis
Obispo; Dr. Wij. Dobbins, Vacaville; Julian
Sokntag, San Francisco; E. H. Gould, Yolo;
Hon.J. F, Knapp, Los Angeles; P. Fitzpatrick,
Stanislaus ; M. V. Hooten, Healdsburg; R. T.
Powell; Colusa County; Colonel James Me
Nassy, Sacramento; M. F. Campbell, Siskiyou;
M-. Jl: Hurley, Calaveras.
Third— That the secretary be authorized to
appoint two assistant secretaries and two
pages. .
Fourth— That we recommend Albert H. Pile
as sergeant-at-arms of this convention.
Fifth— That the sergeant-at-arms be author
ized to • appoint four assistants, two for the
floor and two for the nailery.
Bixth-We recommend that inasmuch as this
1b not a nominating convention the order of
business for each session be that submitted by
the committee in charge of the literary exer
cises of this convention.
Se-venth-We recommend that Roberts 1 roles
of order be adopted as the rules governing the
deliberations of this convention,
jj Eighth-That in view of tlie eminent services
. rendered by the following-named gentlemen to
the bimetallic cause in the State of California
we recommend that they be selected as Na
tional committeemen of the American Bimetal
The San Francisco Call
lie League for the State of California, and in
structed to proceed without delay to organize
bimetallic leagues throughout the State of
California, in accordance with the instruc
tions of the National committee of the Amer
ican Bimetallic League: George IV. Baker, Re
publican; Hon. Thomas J.Clunie, Democrat;
Alexander Majors, Populist.
J. H. Tixgmav, Chairman.
The report was adopted and in a brief
speech George W. Baker thanked the con
vention for the honor of being made its
chairman, saying:
"I have come into the fight to stay and
will remain until its party is one of the
successful parties of American politics."
Timothy Guy Phelps of San Mateo
County was announced by Chairman
Baker and spoke of the issue of bimetal
lism in the following strain:
"We have met to discover how the crime
of 1873 can best be overcome; how our
paralyzed industries can be revived ; how
American labor can best be elevated to the
position it occupied years ago; how the
vast army of tramps can be made indus
trious workingmen with plenty of em
ployment. There can be no doubt that a
majority of our people favor bimetallism.
We will see that there is no chance for
equivocation and that the issue is squarely
met.
"We believe that the demonetization of
j silver was class legislation and that it was
I for the creditor class and oppressed the
debtor class.
"We have suffered all the loss and
England has reaped the harvest. Tbe
American Nation knew nothing about the
demonetization measure that was pending
before Congress, and our ablest men,
Thurman, Morgan and others, did not
know of it. Even the President when he
signed the bill .knew not what he was
doing, so surreptitiously was it engineered
through Congress.
"As soon as the American people knew
what had. been done they tried to right
the wrong, and have been fighting to
subvert the influence of Wall and Lom
bard streets ever since.
"We believe that the country that
adopts 3 gold standard is destined to see
its power, its finance and its people wane.
Mr. Glenfeld, one of the governors of the
Bank of England, in a letter two years
ago made the case clear. He knew his
arguments had weight. He said:
" 'I feel that the attempt to make gold
perform what baa heretofore been per-
formed by both gold and silver is one of
the most unreasonable projects ever pro
posed.
" 'America will rise and demand, with
other countries, a bimetallic basis. It is
more profitable to hoard gold than to in
vest it in American enterprise. There is
no issue before the public of such impor
tance as the bimetallic question, and the
land-holder and the money-lenders are
thriving on an artificial cheapness. I be
lieve that the present depreciation is due
to changes that have taken place in the
currency laws.*
"Had Mr. Glenfcld written to-day he
could not have better depicted the scene of
poverty and depreciated values that he
prophesied two years ago.
"Do we want to maintain a single gold
basis until we reach the impoverished
state that Egypt is now in ?
"The prices of products are steadily fall
ing, and no one can tell when the fall will
end. It is due to the legislation on the
currency enacted in 1873. The best think
ers and the best financiers who are not in
fluenced by personal greed and do not wor
ship the golden calf, agree that the adop
tion of the gold standard is the cause of
the depression. Horace Greeley said the
way to resume was to resume, and I say
the way to get back to bimetallism is to
go back.
"There has never been and there never
will be an excess of production so long as
the world requires all that is produced.
The monometallists say that you will flood
the money market with a double standard,
but there is a use and a demand for every
ounce of silver and gold produced. It is
never too late to right a wrong, and we
should not refrain from disturbing the
SAN FRANCISCO, WEDNESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 21, 1895.
present conditions simply because the
goldbugs wish to remain in the same place
where they now find enjoyment and high
rates. If the Latin Union and Germany
will not remonetize silver let America do
so, and they will be forced into it. Let
the greatest Nation on'earth, America, re
monetize silver and set the pace. Let us
have the metallic money of the world and
we can then dispose of our surplus prod
ucts.
TIMOTHY GUY PHELPS.
[Sketched by a "Call' 1 artist.]
"Think of it: the chief officer of a Nation
of 65,000,000 negotiating with the bankers
of the United States to save the credit and
honor of the United States. That's what
they are doing, and it makes my blood feel
■uncomfortably hot.
"Oh, that we had a Jackson for Presi
dent and a Walker as Secretary of the
Treasury to rise up and say:
" 'By the eternal, tnis shall not be!'
"Three years ago 3 per cent bonds sold
at a premium, and now 5 per cent bonds
are hard to dispose of. Does it not show
that goid«s appreciating? What has be
come of the millions of gold that have been
produced in California? They have been
disposed of in paying interest and irt meet
ing the demands of the arts. Up to 1892
we had produced $428,000,000 in gold in
California, and of that but $192,000,000 was
used in the arts, but this goes on in every
country. Where is the rest?"
Mr. Phelps went into statistical details
on the subject of a double standard and
reverted to the purchasing power of a sil
ver dollar and a gold dbllar. ,
"What!"' exclaimed Mr. Phelps. "Do
the goldbugs want to reduce American
labor to the wage 3of England, Japan,
China, Germany and ail Europe? I say
let God forbid it."
Mr. Phelps closed amid considerable ap
plause and was followed by Robert M.
Beatty of Nevada.
"What we are here for," began Mr.
Beatty, "is to see what can be done in the
matter of bringing about the free coinage
of both silver and gold at the ratio of lfi to
1 irrespective of any other Nation on earth.
In Nevada we passed through two succes
sive campaigns with the question of free
coinage as the watchword. We were com
bined in leagues and would not support
a man who was not with us on the ques
tion of free coinage.' Remember why we
supported James B. Weaver. He was the
only candidate on the Presidential ticket
who was for free coinage, and we
carried the State for him. Remember, if
you will, that consistency is a jewel, but
do not forget, also, that consistency has
pawned her jewels.
"There are a great many forces and in
fluences combined against all of our silver
champions and whenever a man dares to
proclaim for the double standard he is
hounded by the goldbugs of the East. The
Democrats have had a chance to remone
tize silver for the last four years. They
have not done it.
"Up in Nevada, I am surprised to say,
the people are carrying Cleveland badges,
but they are upon the elbows of their coats
and the seat of their pants. [Cheers.]
"There is no issue between the two great
parties now, and all the old fads of Doth
parties are gone. The bloody shirt has
followed in the wake of the carpetbagger,
THE BANNEB ABOVE THE STAQK AT METROPOLITAN HALL.
«nd now they are howling about the tariff.
"Mark you, I can go on naming such
men as Hoke Smith and Ben Harrison and
Cleveland and Sherman and Carlisle and
Reed and a score of others who are com
bined to down free silver.
"The great mass of people are generally
right in National matters, but they are
not able to effect their reforms. They are
never heard in a National convention, and
when they do raise their voice it is imme
diately drowned by the moneyed interests
and they are downed.
"Delegates of this convention, the entire
United States from the East and North
and South has its eyes turned upon you
wailing for your action, and may do as
they did when that God-inspired Declara
tion of Independence was created. 'Will
they do it? Dare they do It?'
"Later on the black man was made free
from his wealthy master by the effective
bullet, and now we 65,000.000 white slaves
will free ourselves from the moneyed ty
rants by the ::o less effective ballot."
"I want to be excused," said Mr. Hurley,
"while I get my breath. lam a new con
vert to the gospel of free coinage.
"I was a goldbug, not because I was dis
honest, but because I did not understand
the silver question. There are a great
! many men who have convictions, and they
do not care to admit that they are stupidly
and bullheadedly ignorant.
"We are like the picked fishermen who
were sent out from tne shores of Galilee to
get converts and haul them into the church.
"1 feel tnat I can do more effective work
in the Republican ranks than I can as a
derelict side issue. I can tell them that if
they don't tret into line and vote for free
coinage they will be eternally damned.
[Applause.]
"I am picking up all the information I
can on this question, and I want to see
why it is that America shall not begin to
establish its own financial policy.
"Let us not wait for the wrongdoers to
right themselves, but let us set the exam
ple. Suppose a Bishop should wait for the
devil to get respectable and then follow
suit? Let all the prayer-meetings over
free .coinage be absolute revivals of right,
and let them fight until the victory is ours.
"Now take a case in point. Suppose I
have $10,000 in gold and another man has
$10,000 in silver. We can, to be sure, pay
our small bills with that money, but sup
pose it is in a vault and tire comes and
melts both silver and gold? What is the
result? The man with the silver has got
metal left on his hands which is worth but
50 cents on the dollar, but I can go to the
United States mint and get my gold coined
back into money for a mere trifle. Why is
this? Simply because that silver is with
out the stamp of the Government and
through having been melted it has lost
that stamp of approval, and is, as the gold
bugs have made it, a mere commodity."
. Mr. Hurley sprinkled interesting stories
through His speech, and closed by leaving
a very satisfied and pleased audience to
applaud him.
Chairman Baker announced that all
delegates who had resolutions to offer
could do so at that juncture.
Resolutions were offered by Easton ot
Stockton and Majors of AJameda. The
morning session then adjourned until 2
o'clock.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
Stirring: Speeches Are Delivered by
Thompson, Holladay and Cator.
When Chairman Baker called to order
FIERCE BATTLES ON THE FRONTIER.
the afternoon session Delegate Cochran
announced the arrival of Delegats L. A.
Wright of San Diego and the latter's name
went to the credentials committee.
Chairman Baker said the platform com
mittee would report Wednesday afternoon
at 2 o'clock and that the intention was to
devote that afternoon session to the dis
cussion of its report. The programme of
the present was then announced to consist
of impromptu addresses by members from
the floor.
This was .done as an invitatien for all
who desire^ to speak. Delegate Thompson
of Sacramento, who represented the col
ored men of his city, was the first to re
spond. He said the colored man had
reached that stage of enlightenment now
when he began to examine the political
principles of this or that party which bid
for his support before the support was ac
corded. As for himself, he should vote the
ticket of that party which stood nearest
the one great desideratum— bimetallism.
Whatever party should adopt the princi
ples of free silver, that party would com
mand his vote and his voice. He would
vote only for the candidates that were
pledged solemnly for financial reform, and
for the privilege of voting for such men he
would willingly go barefoot this winter. A
great many of nis colored brethren felt the
same wav about the matter. As for him
self, Mr. Thompson declared that he would
go out now and labor in the vineyard of
financial ruin, striving his might and main
to convert what sinners he could to the
salvation of free silver.
When the long, silvered locks of S. W.
Holladay of this City were reared above
the seats and their owner made his way to
the platform there was a hearty applause.
"You can tell from my color that I am
for free silver," he said. And he had
favored free silver ever since he discovered
"the .great fraud that had been perpetrated
on the people by the repeal of % silver in
1873." He expressed himself as delighted
with the numerical, strength, the intelli
gence and the enthusiasm of the conven
tion. It gave him great hope for the ulti
mate triumph of right and justice. He
was not a delegate, but a friend who knew
his sympathies for the movement had
pinned a badge on his coat— and he was
proud of that badge.
He said he considered the present con
vention as a great edncational institution,
and its lessons of patriotism and wisdom |
ROBERT M. BEATTY.
[Sketched by a "Call" artist.)
would surply prevail if there were any of
the spirit of '76 and '63 left in the land to
day. He thought there was. The Ameri
can people had forgotten that the price of
liberty was eternal vigilance, said he.
After the war he, too, forgot it for a time.
In a general way he realized that it was a
good maxim, but he had slumbered on in
false security.
Men, too, had forgotten that they owed
an active individual duty to the Govern
ment. It was not enough to cast a ballot
once a year or so, but a man must give his
personal attention to public questions —
must make sacrifices for the sake of the
Government. Such was the price of lib
erty. But right after the war men had a
feeling of security and they ceased their
vigilance.
Then the first great crime against the
liberties of the people was perpetrated.
The wages that had been paid the soldiers
was bnrned— bonfires were made of paper
money. The money for which the soldiers
had given their lives was destroyed and
bonds were issued — interest-bearing bonds.
Not only were the soldiers robbed of their
wages, but they must pay interest to those
that robbed them.
Mr. Holladay said next that the greatest
enemy to the liberties of the people was
the money power. We should fear that
more than all the fleets and armies of the
universe. He reverted then to theSamoan
Salvador Indians Defeated the Regular Troops
of Guatemala.
incident. It was thought that Germany
had insulted our flag, he said, and how
quick was the patriotic spirit kindled.
Men were willing again to put aside the
pursuits of peace and march to the front.
It was a grand sight, he thought, to see
and feel the wonderful patriotism of the
people at such a time. But here was a foe
nearer home, and the American patriots
must needs be educated into realizing its
very existence. Comes the insidious
money-lender with his velvety words and
robs the producer of the result of his
labor, destroys the homes of thousands,
sends thousands on the streets as tramps
and outcasts, and the American patriot
bows to him. He talks about sound
money— and the patriots, where are they?
Mr.'Holladay thought America had for
gotten the financial lessons of the war.
What was sound money/ Was that not
sound money which saved the Nation at
its period of greatest danger? And yet it
was not the gold standard. What made it
sound? The faith of the people in their
National government; the faith of the
world in the stability of the United States
of America.
A great mystery had been thrown about
this question of money and the common
people had been taught by the money
lenders that they could not understand
the great question. "It's all we can do to
understand the financial question," said
the money-lenders to the people. "You
must take our word for it that what we
need is the gold standard, sound money."
But the people were no longer taking the
word of the bankers, they were beginning
to think for themsetves, said Mr. Holla
day.
"One of the powers granted to Congress
by the constitution is to coin money," he
continued. "And under the provisions of
the constitution Congress, and Congress
alone, has the right to make money, and
nothing else but the coins or the paper is
sued directly by Congress ought to rank as
money. It is a, false doctrine that money
must "have intrinsic value. A country
that is not capable of making fiat money
ought to be wiped out of existence. Look
at the dollar r>iece that weighs less than
50 cents' worth of silver. Is it any less a
dollar if it had only 25' cents worth of sil-
verinil? Why you can't buy them in
the market for "lO" per cent less than their
face value. We'd all like to have a good
many of them. The farmer would like to
get one of them for his bushel of wheat.
He used to get one and a quarter of them
for his bushel. Now he must raise two
bushels for the same dollar."
In concluding his speech Mr. Hoiladay
said the silver men must strike at the root
of the evil and insist upon the abolition of
the National banks as issuers of money.
The money must come direct from the
Government to the people. He was round
ly applauded throughout.
Several resolutions were then read to the
house and referred to the committee on
resolutions, after which the chair an
nounced Thomas V. Cator as the next
speaker. Mr. Cator was greeted with ap
plause, and during his speech was fre
quently interrupted by the prolonged
hand-clapping.
"The greatest crime of this age," began
Mr. Cator, after his introductory remarks,
"is that of framing political platforms with
double meanings. If there is a crime that
should be visited with condign punishment
it is surely that of juggling with words and
f)hrases "in framing tne platform of a po
itical party with the view of deceiving the
unwary voter."
Men who do that are the greatest crim
inals of this or any other age, he thought.
He hoped the silver men of the United
States would not be hoodwinked by any
such performance in the coming election.
They must indorse only an open, plain
spoken declaration for free silver, with no
double interpretation. We were always
sure of the people, he thought, if they were
not misled. Nothing short of a declara
tion for the coinage of silver in the ratio of
16 to 1 should be accepted.
Now what was to be the dogma of prop
aganda for the campaign? There must be
one faith among all silver men. They
must stand united on one or two simple
fundamentals if they expected to wm.
Two things should, then, be laid at the
foundation: First, what is wanted. Sec
ond, the ways and means of obtaining it.
It was needless for him to discu3s the first.
Every delegate knew what was wanted,
knew all about the silver question, or he
was not fit to be a delegate.
As to how to obtain it? That was an
other matter. We must understand the
needs of the people, consider their necessi
ties and their temper. What was the mat
ter with the body politic? he asked. The
canker of usury "was eating its heart out.
The simple truth was that toe nation could
Continued on Fifth Page,
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
COJUTEPECUENS RILED,
They Crossed Into the La Paz
Country and Fought
Stubbornly.
SLANT ON EACH SIDE KILLED.
Re-enforcements Hurried to tha
Scene of Conflict and Compli
cations May Arise.
SANTA ANA, Salvador, Aug. 20.—Par
ties just arrived from the Salvador-Guate-
mala frontier say that 400 soldiers, formed
of Cojutepecue Indians, the bravest fight
ers of Central America, reached Apucha
pan on Friday afternoon, taking the sta
tion there and awaiting the arrival of the
first command, which is to be distributed
along the whole frontier along the La Paz
River.
Saturday morning a number of Cojute
pecuens got drunk and crossed into Guate
malan territory, where they committed
many excesses and started to burn huts,
when the Guatemalan picket, composed of
forty-two men, under command of Lieu
tenant Ynocente Rodriguez, attempted to
drive the Cojutepecuens by force, which the
Indians resented. A fight lasting an hour
and a half ensued, resulting in the death
of seven Guatemalans and four Salva
dorans. The wounded were twelve Guate
malans and six Salvadorana. The Indians
numbered twenty-eight.
The Indians in the meantime sent f or
aid. When the Guatemalans saw tho
Cojutepecuen re-enforcements coming they
fled, closely pursued by the In dians for
two miles. At 5 o'clock Saturday evening
the Guatemalans, re-enforced to 150 men,
under command of Wencesalao Uribe, re
turned and attacked the Cojutepecuens,
who were carousing, but who also had 140
men. The Indians attempted to retreat
out of the country, when they were at
tacked and a fierce fight ensued, which
only ended with darkness. Bol.h parties
then rested on their arms, barring their
dead.
Early Sunday morning the fight was re
sumed. The Guatemalans were again
forced to flee, leaving six dead, eleven
wounded and twenty-one prisoners in the
hands of the Cojutepecuens. At noon the
Cojutepecuens recrossed the frontier.
The Indians had no officers with them
and fought independently, and now
threaten to go back and fight. Their
officers are trying to restrain them. The
Guatemalans now number 450 soldiers on
La Faz River and will await fu rther in
structions. The regular Salvadoran
troops are going to relieve the Cojute.
pecuens, who are likely to cause trouble
between the two countries, as they cor
dially hate the Guatemalans. The
Guatemalans near the frontier are assum
ing a Threatening attitude. It will be diffi
cult to avoid serious international com
plications.
The Government officials here denied
the story at first, but now say it was un
important and but a brawl among
drunken Indians. It is reported that
soldiers will leave here to-day for the
scene of the fighting. Telegraphic orders
have been sent that the Indians be with
drawn, and those on the march re
ceived orders to countermarch and pro
ceed to San Sonate for the present. Troops
from the capital, it is announced, will
arrive here this afternoon. A telegram
from a correspondent in San Salvador
City says that the Government strenu
ously denies that any international diffi
culties will ensue.
The Government emphatically denies
that Cojutepecne Indian soldiers violated
Guatemala territory. A well-informed per
son told The Call correspondent that a
few drunken Indians had a row with the
soldiers, but that neither were an organ
ized body.
It is known that an investigation has
has been ordered and more troops sent to
the frontier. The Cojutepecue Indians are
known to be rioting at Nahuatzalco
whither troops have been sent from Santa
Ana. It is feared the riots will extend to
Santa Tecla, where is stationed General
Manuel Rivas, whom the Cojutepecues
consider their chief.
GUATEMALA, Aug. 20.— A correspond
ent inquired this morning at the War De
partment whether any news of a conflict
Sunday at Ahuachapan between Guate
malan troops and Cojutepecue Indiaus,
and was informed that nothing was known
officially, though rumors were current of a
slight conflict in which were drunken In
dians, who were arrested and sent across
the frontier by soldiers.
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