The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-07-27
SENATOR COKE.
HIS VIEWS ON THE TARIFF AND FL
NANCIAL SITUATION.
he Thinks That Congress Should Consider
Both-Doss Not Favor Repeal Of the
Sherman Law Without Good Sub
stitute Is Adopted.

came down on private business this
trip, though that TACT did not keep
him from enjoying the pleasures Of
calls from old friends and acquaint-
ances yesterday. senator Coke ex.
plains the cause of the present depres.
sion as resulting from the fact that
the people on two occasions at general
elections, when the subject was the
central point of the can vas, demanded
a radical reform of the tariff, which
leaves manufacturers and consumers
in condition of expectancy of this re-
form at the earliest possible date
Under such conditions all the
industries of the country are car
ried on in a handtomouth
way, simply meeting immediate
requirements producing to large ex-
tent the stagnation of trade now ex-
listing. The senator believes the tariff
question should be among the earliest
subjects for discussion at the hands OF
congress. and the demands Of the peo-
pie for reform be complied with.
The senator thinks the highest duty
OF congress on converting will be to
commence at once and perfect their
work. He sees no reason why the
tariff bill and all the financial legisla-
tionneed not proceed together He
argues that the Democratic party
would be affected by a failure to take
up the tariff question, and further, it
would have an exceedingly bad int1u-
ence upon the country. For cong ress to
meet and not touch upon this SUBJ
ject that has been repeatedly
spoken of by the people with no I'M
certain sound, would leave bad i'm
preston as to the good faith OF the
Democratic party on platform prom
ises. The senator does not believe
that q repeal of the Sherman bill will
give relief. He believes that, were it
possible to get free and unlimited
coinage of silver, the financial question
would be finally settled, but from
his standpoint it will never be until
that result is reached. While he
thinks this is probably not practicable
still an unconditional repeal of the
Sherman bill would be tant mount tt
the total decentralization of silver
He thinks this sure to follow, and
beiug opposed to the result, sees
no reason in dealing with the
matter unless some measures are sub
stituted that will fully recognize the
determination of the country to have
bi-metalIic currency. He argues that
the Sherman act repealed the Bland
act under which from two to four mil.
lion standard silver dollars were coin.
ed monthly and to repeal Sherman's
act without restoring Bland's or Civ
ing something at least as good would
leave no other conclusion but chat the
country had deliberately abandoned
the Democratic platform promises and
determined to place itself on the
single gold standard. He says he can
not support repeal of the Sherman
act unless it also contains substitute
that will have immediate effect
The senator believes that congress
should redeem the promises of the
Democratic platform with respect to
the establishment of bi-metalic cur
rency, and thinks the free coinage OF
silver on the same plane with gold
would be the proper mode of doing
this. Thinks an act could be 30
guarded as to produce and maintain
parity between gold and silver. Ar
CUES that at the same time vigorous
work should be engaged in on the
tariff issue. Thinks that neither OF
these can be postponed and gives
neither precedence. He does not APP.
prove of the suggestion that congress
meet for action on the financial ques-
ton and leave the tariff for future
time.
The presence of Senator Coke in the
city recalls ali old joke gotten off at
his expense in congress and told by
Dan Quinn. 1t was some years ago
that the darts and arrows from what
Bob Ingersoll would term the ex-
haustless culver of the sun, SO MUIR
dured agricultural hope in Texas; 30
burned and Drowned and shriveled
vegetation that in an utter failure of
crop and sequential failure of seeds
for another, bill was forced upon
congress called the Texas seed bill,
making an appropriation for Texan
relief, and Coke among the rest, heed
ing the popular clamor, and properly,
too, was fain to give it his vote. He
did right and he thought so then and
thinks so now, but he had laughed at
Vest about a similar matter at one
time and 80 felt rather sensitive and
restless whenever the matter was re-
terred to.
Shortly atterward white haired
old gentleman, who had just been
beaten in race for the house in In
diana, was paying senator a visit.
The whitehaired Hoosier, VOORHEES,
and Vest were chatting in the cloak
room.
II am sorry" said Senator Vest to
the white-haired victim of defeat in an
effort at polite consolation, "that go
pure Democrat and so good man AS
you were beaten"
eyes" said the white-haired one
with sigh, as he thought of what a
good time he would have had in the
fouse if he'd only made the trip, "but
it's all right. The blood of the
martyrs is the seed of the church.
It's all for the political best, no
doubt"
Just then Senator Coke passed the
little group and his quick ear caught
the word "seed." His eyes flashed
| h; Of