The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1891-05-01
Ex-PREslDENT CLEVELAND.


an Alleged Interview with Mr.. Cleveland
which He Charaeterizeo - Unfair and
EmbOlllshed.
NEW York, April 2S.-State Treasurer
Lon Y. 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 eS-
planned that the Missouri democrats
were now opposed to Mr. ClevelRnd's
nomination on account of his silver let
ter and asked him why he wrote that
letter.
II 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 Toe
taken up at once. 1t must be thorough
" discussed so that the people can be
educated up to 1t. In this way 1t can
/ be settled before 1892, and we viii not
| be endangered by divided party. Be
/ sides I was daily in receipt of hundreds
/ of letters from democrats in all parts OF
the country asking that I give an eN-
! preston regarding free coinage. l 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 a
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 I
! had kept them a secret. If have caused
a 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 1892
and democratic congress should pass
a free coinage bill, would you veto it,
| no matter if you knew the great major
| ity of your party favored the mcasure?''
IF I should be elected president in
1892, - answered the president. ''such
| a bill would not reach me until 1894, as
| congress would not meet until Dccem-
Der, 1898. So that is a bridge we had
better not attempt to cross until VIC
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 s., OOO, 600 (
month l feared the result, for / though
it would prove an injury to the bust
ness interests of the country fol
the time at least. However, tho
law providing for 81, 500, 600 pei
month when passed though
might have the effect of driving gOiC
, out of the country, but in this / wa
, mistaken and both those opposed a.
we'll as those in favor of free coinage
, believe that the present law is a wis
, one in so far that the country has beef
, benefited by it. With the rapid stride
, the country Is making il Is impossible
, TO say what financial measure we ma.
be ready for in 1892. In forming m.
views upon the subject I did not aiOn
. consider the interests of any one cit
: zen of this country. I have been uu
able to see how free coinage could fai
of being an injury to every section O
the country, believing as I do tina
it would drive gold out of circulation
g | AS we are in great measure depend
= / ent upon European markets for on
= ! products we are obliged to take theI
| into consideration.
''Whcn have suggested a monetar
- ! conference OF the REPRESENTATIVES, G
: ! other governments with our own whic
would agree upon a new standard @
: value, my suggestions have been scOffe
= at by Europeans. am delighted tina
the people are now engaged in such
u thoughtful consideration of this que'
= ton, and that by 1892 they have decide
whether or not we are ready to handl
all the silver of the world"
b WHAT MIR CLEVELAND SAYS.
e NEW YORK, April 3.-EN-Presiden
l.; Cleveland was asked yesterday by
q United Press reporter If Mr.. Stephens
Q version of his conversation with mir
= and his statement of the latter's view
o on the silver question were correctl
= reported. Mr.. Cleveland said:
e ~ have just read the report
e seems to me from my reading of 1t tina
3 it has been generally embellished. an
r expressions are put into my mouth tina
- We're never uttered by me, but are tn
? expressions used by another ger
s tleman who was present Will