The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1889-11-16
The Silver Question and Speakership

1t is a matter Of paramount i'm
portance to the friends of silver to
know who is to be selected as speak
er Of the next house of representa-
tives of the Congress of the United
States. Upon the proper selection
Of the presiding officer of that body,
great deal depends whether the
appeals of the people to Congress
for relief will be justly recognized
or not. 1t behooves our represent
atiyes to be upon their guard to
See that among the aspirants for
the position no one occupies that
chair who is an open and notorious
enemy to silver. The people have
become aroused, and will make a
determined effort during the next
session of Congress to have the
legal tender power Of silver restored
to where it justly belongs. And
they want nothing in the way, in
the start, that may be an obstruc-
ton to their objects and q sitting
of their efforts. Furthermore, the
people want to see the intention of
the silver plank Of the platform of
the present administration carried
out to the letter. Upon the speak
ership question the Financial and
Mining Record of New York of
late date very sensibly observes:
One of the very ablest, most unceas,ng
and aggressive, practical enemies of the
use of silver as legal tender money con-
currently with gold in this country, is
Mr.. Thomas B. Reed, of Maine, who is
strenuous candidate for the speakership
with strong present chance for election
Conspicuous in the session of 1878
for his opposition to the coinage law as
it first passed the house, carrying free
free coinage, he next opposed its passage
with all his might as amended in the
Senate, in February, 1878, as also, the
final passage of the act over the Executive
veto, as it now stands. Since that time
he has never ceased to denounce and rid
icule the dollar of 4121a grains OF silver
as dishonest money without any reason
for being. In other words, in all the
United States, there is no more active,
offensive enemy of silver money and Of
the silver interest, than Thomas B. Reed :;
and there is not a man in all the United
States who, as Speaker of the House of
Representatives for the next two years,
would use the opportunities of that Office
SO effectively to the prejudice Of silver
money aud bi metallism as would that
gentleman. His whole organization of
the Committee on Coinage, and of Ways
and Means, of Appropriations, and of
Banking and Currency, would not only
be such as to thoroughly block the way
BILE to silver, but in such manner as pos
sible to secure legislation of restrictive,
unfriendly character. Of this there can
be no room for doubt.
On the other hand, VIM NJ. Mckinley.
of Ohio, was az conspicuously the friend
as Thomas B. Reed was the enemy of sill.
yer in the Congress of 1877-78 in all
stages of the legislation for the rehabili-
tation of the Benton dollar. He voted
for the bill as it first passed the house. as
it passed as amended by the senate. and
he supported its passage over the veto of
President Hayes, who was citizen of
his own state, and he acted in opposition
to the wishes of the distinguished citizen
of Ohio who at the time was secretary of
the treasury and earnestly opposed to the
Bland Allison law.
Moreover, it was Mr.. Mckinley who
reported the resolution in the republican
party platform at the last presidential
election that declared for bi-metallism.
or the concurrent use of silver with gold
IN the monetary service of the country.
The equal of Mr.. Reed IN congressional
experience, Mr.. Mckinley is also his peer
lntellectually-or the peer of any man Of
his party in Congress and in service to
that party. With natural and ACQUIRED |
abilities for the speakership unqueation