St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-11

Special to the Globe
WASHINGTON. Dec. 10. Senator
Washburn thinks the times are rrpe for
the re-introduction of the anti option
bill. Said the GLOBE correspondent to
him:
Senator, when is it your purpose to
introduce the measured
II do not exactly know" was his
response. But it Will be introduced
in both the house and senate when the
signs are prOpitious. just now the
country is all torn up over the tariff
question, the Hawaiian complications
and the disturbed financial situation.
Those matters will gradually SETTLE
themselves, and then we will broach
the subject OF option dealing once
more"
"How do you look upon the present
congress? Is it favorable or unfavor-
able TO the measure?'
ble,-decidedly favorable. l
think it will be much easier to pass an
antl-option bill through both the senate
aud house in this congress than it was
to handle the last congress. When the
time arrives, Mr.. Hatch in the house
and myself in the senate will introduce
the measure practically as it was form
ulated two years ago. and it will
be pushed steadily to an issue
think the hard times will initiate in
its interest. The great public is gradu-
ally believing that the systems of
wholesale gambling pursued in the
name of business are largely at fault
in bringing around financial disturb
ances. Iwould not assert that option
dealing was chiefly to blame for the
business depression Of the last few
months; but l do proclaim that gamb-
ling, in whatever form it takes, is con-
duciVe to business disaster and financial
failure. The wide prevalence of option
gambling has scared the consciences of
the men engaged in it, and has thus
been an influence to provoke CONNER
cial disaster. Business interests might
not be seriously affected by 1t, for in
active business all men are prone to be
reasonably honest. But the gradual
destruction of the good name of our
markets; the depressing results that it
has upon the produce of our farms and
| the general and nniveral decentralization
| of legitimate traffic--these are the
fruits of gambling in options.
The system must be overturned,
and 1 am frank to say that
| L am ready TO take the Responsibility of
| being the uncompromising enemy of
the whole system. While l am repre-
senting the people shall continue to
wage unceasing warfare upon option
gambling"
"If you succeed in passing the bill
will President Cleveland sign it?''
~ do not know. | have never con-
suited with the president on the sub
| ject. l think | have the right to pre-
sumo that President Cleveland is an
honest man. do not believe he would
refuse to sign measure as palpably in
the interest OF the producers of this
| country as the anti-Option bill. Mr..
| Cleveland is man of sturdy convic-
tionS, but l believe that he is in hearty
sympathy with the men who work the
farms and bear the burdens OF the ma
tion. But whether President Cleveland
may be for or against us in this matter
is of secondary Importance to me. My
duty is to follow the thing to the end,
and do everything in my power to con-
summate its passage. If it shall then
be killed by veto shall have the con-
sciousness that l have done my duty,
| anyhow"