Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-04-30
Ex-pReslpENr CLEVELAND.

Ex-PRESiDENT CLEVELAND. |
An Alleged Interview With ME-. CLEVELAND
Which He Characterixes rs Unfair and
Embellished.
New YORK. April aa-State Treasurer
Lon Y. Stephens, of Missouri. so the |
Telegram last evening stated, called on
ex-President Grover Cleveland with let |
tiers of introduction from Gov. Francis |
and other leading Missouri democrats.
The object of the visit was to secure |
from the ex-president more thorough
expression of his views on the silver
question than the latter had so far made
public; also his reason for writing his
silver letter to the reform club.
The ex-president received Mr.. Steph-
ems very cordially. The treasurer ex-
planned that the Missouri democrats
were now opposed to Mr.. Cleveland's
nomination on account Of his silver let
ter and asked him why he wrote that
letter.
81 was well aware" said the ex-presi-
dent, that the republican party is very
DESTROYS of making the silver question
| one of the leading issues of the cam
paign of 1892. and the question must be
taken up at once. 1t must be thorough
y
educated up to it In this waD it can
be settled before 1892, and we will not
be endangered by divided party. Be-
| sides l was daily in receipt of hundreds
| of letters from democrats in all parts of
the country asking that 1 give an ex-
preston regarding free coinage. I felt
that these friends were entitled to
! know how / stood on the question, and
so took the first favorable opportunity
| to give my views Since /
| did SO have received
large mail from all over the country
thanking me for having done so. My
correspondents say that the party had a
right to know my views, and that I
would not have acted in good faith if
had kept them secret. Ill have caused
| a thorough discussion of the subject
among democrats they must admit that
I acted wisely"
but now that the letter has been
written, the Missouri democrats. said
Mr.. Stephens, would like to know if in
case you are elected president in 1892
and democratic congress should pass
free coinage bill, would you veto it,
no matter if you knew the great major
ity of your party favored the measured"
''If 1 should be elected president in
1892 answered the ex-president, ''such
bill would not reach me until 1894, as
congress would not meet until Decem-
Der, 1898. So that is a bridge we had
better not attempt to cross until we
come to it. What would be bad for the
country at the present time might be a
necessity in 1894. As the volume of
business increases it is necessary to in
crease the currency. The amount of
the present per capita should be in
creased. but changes should be made
gradually. When the law was passed
providing for the coinage of 81. 600, 600 a
month feared the result, for thought
it would prove an injury to the bust
ness interests of the country for
the time at least. However, the
law providing for S4.500,OO0 per
month when passed 1 thought
the measure too radical and that it
might have the effect of driving gold
out of the country, but in this / was
mistaken and both those opposed as
well as those in favor of free coinage
believe that the present law is wise
one in so far that the country has beer
benefited by it. With the rapid strides
the country is making it is impossible
to say what financial measure we may
be ready for in 1892. In forming my
views upon the subject did not alone
consider the interests of any one citi-
zen of this country. / have been un-
able to see how free coinage could fail
of being an injury to every section of
the country. believing as 1 do that
it would drive gold out of circulation.
As we are in a great measure depend
ent upon European markets for our
products we are obliged to take them
into consideration.
''When have suggested a monetary
conference of the representatives OF
other governments with our own which
would agree upon a new standard o.
value, my suggestions have been scoffed
at by Europeans / am delighted thai
the people are now engaged in such Z
thoughtful consideration of this ques
ton. and that by 1892 they have decided
whether or not we are ready to handle
all the silver of the world"
, WHAT MR. CLEVELAND SAYS.
NEW YORK. April 23--EX-Presiden'
: Cleveland was asked yesterday by z
United Press reporter if Mr.. Stephens
version OF his conversation with him
and his statement of the latter's views
: on the silver question We're correctly
, reported Mr.. Cleveland said:
II have just read the report L
seems to me from my reading of it thai
| II mas Deen generally EN- Dell1SneO- ant
expressions are put into my mouth tina
were never uttered by me, but are tn,
expressions used by another gen
= tleman who was present While
t some of the opinions may be re
| garded as partly my views upol
: the subjects of silver coinage, there ar,
a so many other expressions credited t.
t me that it would require considera bl'
. ! wedding out before the supposed con
: versations would be strictly termed al
4 accurate report 1 see a good mani
$ people, and Mr.. Stephens came to me
: as a visitor from a distant state
f desired to treat him courteous
, ~, but it is scarcely fair treat
i ment to me that he should run of
: to a newspaper Office, report my sup
S posed utterances and place me in TIL
= position of being interviewed by severa
t | newspaper men upon the strength of
? garbled and embellished report
2 The above was read over to MI
e Cleveland by the reporter and the ex
q president said: That's about right