Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-19
GEN. JOE WHEELER.
A TALK WITH AlABAMA'S FA-
NOUS "LIGHTNING JOE"
He Thinks His State is Certain to Go for
Observation-Disclosures In Free Coin
age and State Issues of Money
Memphis { Commercial

MI PMS l OUtucIS4dL
When asked about Alabama politics, Gen.
Wheeler said:
My information about politics is largely
confined to North Alabama. What is true
of that part is. / think, true of the rest of
the state There is no question but that
the state will remain thoroughly Demo-
cratic. "
in spite of the Alliance and third party
clements
Yes" said Gen. Wheeler. BY far the
greater part, and ! may say substantially
all, the farmers of North Alabama belong
to the Alliance clubs. They meet at stated
periods and discuss matters which concern
their interests The Democrats very largely
predominant in these clubs, ana it is great
mistake to believe that they advocate any
thing that is not reasonable and Demo-
cratic. As / said in 4 speech in congress on
this subject, the life led by farmers makes
them, as class. very superior in honesty
and integrity You will remember il was
the boys from the farms that made the best
soldiers during the war. They We're SUI
perbly brave and always devoted to duty.
When it comes to voting, the Democrats of
the Alliance clubs will vote the Democratic
ticket, and | presume the Republicans will
vota the Republican ticket. AS far as |
haRe observed, the effort to create a third
psfty in North Alabama has been confined
aGtirely TO Republicans and Independents.
q The outgrUwth of the Farmers Alliance
rs the natural result of the Ubiquitous course
tof the Republican party during the last
twenty-five years. The farmers have been
The greatest sufferers from such legislation
ana they are determined TO secure its re-
peal.
The farmers of our country are lntelli-
gent. and with the rarcst exceptions they
fully realize that relief can come through
the Democratic party alone.
They are determined TO secure revision
Of the tariff laws and change in our inan-
cial system
(Which do You regard as of most press
ing Importance
Il regard both questions as of eminent
and pressing Importance. The tariff must
be revised to open the markets OF the world
10 our rapidly increasing products. The
financial laws should be changed so as to
cause more equal distribution of the
money of the country. Under the present
laws New York and other great money
centerS are gOrged with nearly all the
money in the United States. This system
0f monetary circulation Will continue so
lon" As the present Capitalization policy OF
the government remains under existing
lawS From 1850 to 1850 the average amount
of money in the United States was about
$3.50. OO0000. and all through the smaller
towns there was no complaint of the scar
city of money. Now, with more than a.
900. 900 900, there is a money famine every
where. except III the cities, and this evil
extends even to our smaller cities. Mean
while. il is in the great centcrS like New
York that the bulk OF the money is located.
We nave two sOvereigntieS and each
sovereignty should have It's own system of
finance. Tennessee is u sovereign state
and, rs such, ought to be allowed To enact
laws enabling the people to conduct fnan-
cial system that is best suited TO its bust
ness interests. Tennessee had good bank
Sng laws before the war and prOspered M
Eder them During the last congress intro
duced a bill TO repeal the laws enacted by
Republicans, which prevent the people Of
Tennessee from establishing banks of issue
under charters granted by the state legisla-
tUre..rff this We're done the business men
ofAour land would take an interest in the
financial legislation OF the states, our best
financierS would go to the legislatures and
laws - pcrf"c; as possible would be ell
acted re"ulati. = the creation ana conduct
of banks of issue. | believe this would re-
suit IN laws under which banks would
spring up ali over this state. as well as AL
the other states of the Union.
'.Or course il would be very imperative
TO have these laws 50 framed that the
money would DE absolutely sound.
suppose such 4 system We're in opera
ton now, and 500, 100000, all perfectly Sc
cure. was issued by the banks of Tennessee.
IL would soon find USE and would be called
for To build cotton mills, railways and iron
furnaces. Our Southern people would no
longer have TO go TO New York to borrow
money to start enterprises
In what manner would you propose Sc
curing this iSsue2'
This should be left entirely 20 each leg
islature. OF course 1t would be necessary
to require any company of bankers to so
secure It's issue that it would never lose It's
full purchasing value. For a country to be
prosperous all the money must be main
tanned of equal value with specie. ] be-
lieve that before the war some OF our states
maintained good system while requiring
hut 81 of specie in the vaults of the banks
for every 50 of their issue. In addition to
tins some arrangement could be made by
which state bonds and other securities
could be pledged for the redemption of bank
issues.
'.Al we want is for the Federal govern
mcut to take its hands from The Threats of
the states and allow the people of the SOW
ereign states to control their own financial
affairs.
1t is true fad people who urge that
our legislature would not enact sufficiently
perfect laws. but my reply TO them is that
To admit such an idea IS TO admit that our
people are unfit for self-covernment-an
idea which cannot for moment he tol2
Grated.
What do You think will be the future
attitude of the Democratic party on the
free coinage of silver
Il am and always have been Il free coin
ace man. The house will pass d free coin
age bill very early in the next session.
This bill Will pass the senate. If the pres
ident does not sign ii / am confident the
house will pass it over MS veto. II is very
possible the senate will do so also
DO YOU think that the amount of silver
il: the dollar should be increased al the same
time"
no. We now put more silver in the dol
lar than any nation on earth except two
Mexico and Japan
In speaking of the free coinage OF silver,
90 you mean American. i. G.. United States
silver, or the silver of the word?'
''Oh. the latter, answ ered Gen. Wheeler
decisively. We now have laws which au-
thorize the coinage Of as much or more than
the product of the mines DINO country
sIy/%ord.
Just one word w you il you are suffering,
Creole Or ole Female T%,ii '"'e you. Get bot