| Show WESTERN STATES commercial CONGRESS A of a rather peculiar character is now being held bold at kansas city lt it la Is officially denominated the western states commercial congress sixteen western states and territories and eight southern states are represented the congress was called to by senator kelly of kansas who was subsequently elected chairman la in his speech of acceptance of the latter honor he attributed the depressed condition of agriculture to a look lack of the circulating medium his plan of relief is the free coinage of silver and the raising of silver money to a gold standard governor francis of missouri made a speech pregnant with for toe the political observer he said mid the holding of this congress markk marked a new era in the internal industry of the country that heretofore all federal legislation was in the int interest emet of the eastern states that the west was wae discriminated against and a protective tariff imposed on it for the benefit of new england he also said that the west wanted free trade with the world and the mississippi river connected with lake michigan A letter of regret for being unable to attend was read from president harrisom in it he alludes to the necessity of an enlarged market for farm produce and suggests the idea of building up a home market he also alludes to the currency and says that any dollar lari paper or coin issued by the united states must be made and kept in its commercial use as good as any other dollar this sentence forms the key to his whole financial policy and to the policy of his administration J M rusk busk the secretary of agriculture also for forwarded w crded a letter of regret which was waa read he suggested making farming interests the basis of discussion for the simple reason that all national prosperity depended on OB agriculture charles francis adams in his letter stated there was already too much tampering in the way of legislation with internal affairs the currency he be thinks is too much tinkered with combinations and trusts if left alone by government would do no harm barm to government interference he attributes all the political and commercial evils evil of the past twenty f five ve years H H thurber ofner of new york in a similar letter says that trusts wr wera beneficial to producer and consumer alike the chairman mr kelly as also governor francis of missouri re marked that federal legislation was heretofore entirely in the interest of new england and pennsylvania doubtless the belief prevails in the west and south that such to is the cue case governor francis says that in the early history of the country the present dissatisfaction would result in revolution in our day he be thinks that deliberation and discussion will accomplish what would have required arms to effect in the past but he seems to think that the step just taken is not preliminary to re revolution to the utterances te rances made there it is the new england states are not represented in that congress they are regarded in the same light that the washington revolutionists viewed great Brit britain nin the west it Is said is enslaved and taxed for the benefit of the east this is a serious charge president harrison and grover cleveland stand almost on a common platform in relation to financial issues so no letter has been read at the congress from cleveland but his views are well known harrison ought to be classed as a western man but his views view sare are not in harmony with the prevailing sentiment of the congress ohio and indiana are represented but to what extent these states will endorse free silver and free trade to is not clear in the pst past they opposed both the present commercial congress in kansas city suggests the question whether old party lines are not likely to be effaced Is the next campaign to be a sectional one with free stiver and free trade only ostensible issues Is this the entering wedge which is likely to divide the united states into several sovereign emi empires emo ires pires if not the present commercial dongress Con greas lu iu kansas city to Is guilty of a foul libel on the congress of washington when it says the latter is merely the protector and paternalist of new england |
