, 1891-04-22
CLEVELAND AND SILVER
A Free Coinage Man Inter
views the Elk President.
What Would Be Bad for the
Country Today
Might Be a Necessity in the
Near Future.
He Admits That Past Fears
Have Not Been Realized.

New York, April 2l.-The Telegram
this afternoon printed the statement that
State Treasurer Stephens of Missouri
called on ex-President Cleveland with let
tiers from Governor Francis and other
leading Missouri Democrats in order to
secure from Cleveland a more thorough
exposition of his views on the silver ques-
ton than given in the letter recently
widely circulated. Replying to questions,
Cleveland said, according to Stephens.
that the question should be thoroughly
discussed before 1892, that there may be
no danger of a divided party. Stephens
reminded him that the Western Demo-
Gratis wanted to know il he (Cleveland)
was elected in 1892 and a free coinage bill
was passed would he veto it, no matter if
he knew the majority OF the party IA
vored it,
Cleveland replied: IF l should be
elected president in 1892 the bill would
not reach me until 1894, as congress would
not meet until December, 1898. So that
is a bridge we had better not cross till we
come TO 1t. What would be bad for the
country to day might be u necessity in
~ ~ Nv NOlhunC VI Du5lutb6 III
creases it is necessary to increase the cur
rency. When the law passed providing
for the coinage of 81, 900, 900 monthly l
feared the result, for | thought it would
prove IN injIry to the business interests
of the country for a time at least.
However, the law proved a benefit
for, contrary to my opinion, the country
was ready for the change. When the
present law providing for 81, 500, 600 per
month passed | thought the measure too
radical and that it might lave the effect
of driving gold out OF the country, but in
this l was mistaken, and both those OPP
posed TO as well as those in favor of Tree
coinage, believe the present law a wise
one, in so far that the country has been
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 1894. In forming my views
upon the subject | did not alone consider
the interests of any one section of the
country. L have been unable to sec how
free coinage could tail of being an injury
to every section of the country, believing
it would drive gold out OF c%trcula-
ton. As we are IN a great meas
ure dependent upon European mar
kets for our products, we are Obliged to
ldhC NhFAu iuAU tolHlutTAlluD w men L
have suggested a monetary conference of
representatives of other governments with
our own which could agree upon a new
standard of values, my sue gestious have
been scoffod at by Europeans. | am de-
lighted that the people are now engag ed
in such a thoughtful consideration of the
subject and that they will have decided
whether or not we are ready to handle all
the silver of the world
Stevens gave the above account of his
visit to a reporter this afternoon. A rep
resentative OF the Associated Press called
at Cleveland's office to ascertain il the iu-
teIview was accurate. Cleveland sail he
had not talked with anyone on the silver
question for publication. He had not
read the article and could not, therefore,
say whether the statements credited %
him were an accurate expression of his
views or not