Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-04-30
CLEVELAND ON SILVER.
Not the Enemy of the White Metal-HlS
Modified Ideas.

Not the Enemy of the White Metal-His
Modified Ideas.
New YORK, April 22.-State Treasurer
Lon V. Stephens, of Missouri, so the
Telegram last evening stated, called on
ex-President Grover Cleveland with let
ters 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.. Clevelands
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
ly discussed so that the people can be
educated up to it. In this way 1t can
be settled before 1892, and we will not
be endangered by divided party. Be-
sides 1 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. l felt
that these friends were entitled to
know how I 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
right to know my views, and that
would not have acted in good faith II
had kept them secret If 1 have caused
thorough discussion of the subject
among democrats they must admit that
1 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 1899
and a democratic congress should pass
a free coinage bill, would you veto 1t,
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
a 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 q
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. SWhen the law was passed
providing for the coinage of 81, 900, 900 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 S4,5O0,0OO per
month when passed l thought
the measure too radical and that it
might have the effect of driving gold
out of the country, but in this 1 was
mistaken and both those opposed as
we'll as those in favor of free coinage
believe that the present law Is wise
one in so fur that the country has been
benefited by it. With the rapid strides
the country is making it is impossible
to saw 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 citt-
zen of this country. have been I'M
able to see how free coinage could fail
of being an injury to every section OF
the country, believing as / do that
it would drive gold out of circulation
As we are in a great measure depend
emit upon European markets for our
products we are obliged 10 take them
into consideration.
when have suggested monetary
conference of the representatives Of
other governments with our own which
would agree upon a new standard Of
value, my suggestions have been scoffed
at by Europeans l am delighted that
the people are now engaged in such
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"
Mr.. Stephens gave the account OF nus
visit TO the ex-president shortly after
leaving Mr.. Cleveland He took no
notes. but he thinks he thoroughly
memorized what Mr.. Cleveland said
A representative Of the Associated
nre.s called at Mr.. Cleveland's Office
70 ascertain whether the interview as
given above was accurate. Mr.. Cleve-
land said he had not talked with any
one on the silver question for pubiicar
ton. He had not read the Telegram's
article, and could not therefore, seq
whether the statements credited to him
were an accurate expression Of his
views or not
Rumors of general strike May Of
coal miners in Iowa seem to be
sustained by statements made By
NJ. Il, Scott, president OF the miners