Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-04-23
GROVER ON SILVER
he SAYS The REPORT MAS GiRBLED
The iaferstew Win Him Contains the
ssat~a<nts Of otAsrs spa W - other
wise Arsistieaay kmbeiiishsd
By the kaISEsisNeF.

SEw YORK. April % Perhaps the
most important utterances upon the
silver question ex-President Grover
Cleveland has made. even more impor-
tant than his recent notable letter Ia
the Reform club, appeared II aa
evening paper here tuesday. 1t
was conversation told by State
Treasurer Lon V. Stephens, of
Missouri. that the latter had with
Mr.. Cleveland within the last few days
The object OF Air. stephens visit 70 the
expresident was TO secure from the
latter thorough expression OF his
views upon the momentous subject
ing the Reform club letter. Mr.. steph-
ems bore with him letters of intro
dnction from Gov. Francis aud other
stanch Missouri democrats. The ex-
president received Mr.. Stephens cor
daily. The treasurer explained that
the Missouri democrats were now OPP
posed 10 Mr., Cleveland's nomination on
account of his silver letter.
Before you wrote that letter." be-
gan Mr.. stephens. the democrats il
every township in the state were your
enthusiastic supporters Now the
Farmers Alliance and q majority of
the demo rs.s of the state are opposed
to you" NJ. Cleveland replied:
II was well aware that the republican party
Is very DESTROYS Of making the silver question
one OF the leading issues OF the csmpaign OF
is92 and the question should be taken up at
oncc. II should os thoroughly discussed
so that the people can be educated up
to il. In this way 10 may DC settled
before is32 and We will not be en-
dangered by . divided party. Besides, was
In daily receipt OF hundreds OF letters from
democrats In all parts OF the country asking
that ! give an expression regarding free coin
age. l felt that those friends were entitled to
know how stood on the question. and SO !
took the FIRST favorable opportunity to give my
views. II have caused . thorough discussion
on the subject among the democrats they must
admit that acted wisely"
The ex-president here began TO ques-
ton his visitor. From his questions
the Missouri man says that to his mind
the ex-president certainly expects again
to be the candidate of his party.
Mr.. stephens finally got Mr.. Clcve-
land back TO the silver question by say
ing:
Now that the letter has been written the
Missouri democrats would like 10 know II in
case you are elected president In 1872 and
democratic congress should pass free-coinage
bill would you veto it, no matter IL you knew
tha; the great majority CT your party favored
the measuref'
Mr.. Cleveland said:
That is bridge we had better not attempt
- q, t,ns 10
bad for the country at the present time might
be q necessity in 1894 AS the volume Of bust
ness increases IL Is necessary to increase the
currency. The amount OF the present per
capita should be- increased J, but changes should
10 made gradually. When the law was passed
providing for the coinage Of s2,0o0.00 per
month / feared the result, for i thought 1t
would prove an injury TO the business interests
o; the country for the time AT least However.
the IL proved benefit. FOR, contrary 10 my
opinion. the cou.try was ready for the
change. When the present law pro-
viding for NJo0,00o per month was passed
thought the measure too radical and that 1t
might have the effect OF driving gold out OF tho
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 u
wise one in so far that the country has oene
fted By IT, With the rapid strides the country
is max .ng IL is impossible 10 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 this country. My only desire Is TO
sec financial legislation enacted that VIII ben
cft the people IN the west as well as in the
east and those in the north as well rs those in
the south. i have been unable TO see how
free coinage could fail OF being an injury to
every section OF this country, believing as do
that IL would drive gold out OF circulation. As
we are in q great measure dependent upon Eu
ropean markets for our products we are ooliged
to take them into consideration"
New YORK. April 22.-Ex-President
Cleveland was asked il Mr.. Stephens
version of his conversation with him
and his statement of the ex- president's
views on the silver question were cor
rectly reported. Mr.. Cleveland said:
II have just read the report II seems to
me- from my reading Of IL. that II has been
generally embellished and expressions are put
into my mouth that were never uttered by me,
but are the expressions used by another gentle
man present While some OF the opinions
may be regarded as partly my views upon the
subject OF silver coinage, yet there are so many
other expressions credited to me that II would
require . considerable wedding out before
the supposed conversation could be
strictly termed an accurate report I see
q good many people, and Mr.. stephens
came to me = visitor from a
distant state. desired to treat him courteous.
iy but II IL scarcely fair treatment 20 me that
he should run OF 10 q newspaper ONCE, report
nv supposed utteranccs and place me In tho
position Of being interviewed by several news
paper mca upon the strength OF 0 garblei aud
emoelished report"