The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-02-08
Senator Allen { xwoses the Thieves.


day, says the Washington correspon-
dent of the Nocconfcrmist. 1t mat
tered not whc ther he was at the treas
ury building, n the senate or the
house, there was no peace for him
anywhere. Even the cast-iron soul of
CarIislcs chief adviser, John Sher-
man. for the first time in the memory
OF man showed signs of uneasiness.
Early in the morning agents OF the
treasury department were sent out to
inquire If Senator Allen had consent
ed to argue an injunction case against
Carlisle. One Of tlIem came to me
and told me frankly from whom he
came and what he wanted to know.
Next word came from New York to
the treasury that the Ickelhcimers
have collected $50, 900, 900 Of silver
certificates, silver dollars and treasury
notes of 1890, and on the day set for
the issue of bonds would present them
to the sub-treasury in New York, draw
out::gold for them, then turn identl-
cally the same gold back and take the
$50, 900 OF bonds. At the end OF
that transaction the United States
would have increased its debt $780,
900, 900 and not have one dollar more
of gold than before. the transaction
took place.
But the sensation OF the day occur
red il, the senate between | and 2
o'clock. Senator Allen in half hour
speech caused John Sherman more
trouble than he has experienced in
the last ten years.
Senator Allen arose and in The voice
and manner Of a Judge delivering an
opinion from the bench, began to tell
thcm what the law in relation to re-
serves and bonds really was. John
Sherman leaned his head upon his
hand and never took his eyes off from
Allen for twenty-five minutes. Then
he got up, went over and held a con-
sultation with Allison, and then hur-
ricd back and fixed his flinty eyes on
Allen again. 1t was evident to every
one that John Sherman, for once in
his life, was badly worried.
After Allen sat down several of the
senators remarked that no legal argu-
ment of equal ability had been made
in the senate for twenty years.
1t is pretty certain that not one of the
bond pirates will attempt to make Il
reply.
Senator Allen demonstrated that
there was not scintilla of authority
in the statutes for q 500, 1000, 600 re-
serve fund or any other amount; that
it was Il complete fiction. In treat
ing this part Of his subject he made
John Sherman finch. His words
were more bitter than gall and sharp
or than two-edged sword. In con
Guiding he SAID:
There is not. by provision of law,
reserve fund. There never was such
a thing until some lord of the treas
ury department who was devoted to
the interest OF the money power. at
his own caprice and without authority
of law created it, Every dollar of
the sO-called reserve fund can today
be paid out without violating any law
or contract. and if the secretary of the
treasury does not 90 SO it is simply
because he does not see fit to dis
charge his duty and expects party dis
c:pline and indul yence to sustain him
The so-callcd reserve fund is one Of
the Instruments used in a gigantic
system OF buncoing the people 1t is
used US TIE occasion and pretext for
the unnecessary issuance and sale
from time to time Of government
bonds, with which to stop the clamor-
ing of Lombard and Wall street
sharks, as the dismal bark of Cerbe
rus, the triplc-mouthed dog that stood
guard a, the gate of Hades. wa. stop
ped by being fed with victims destin.
ed for the weird and waste land of
Pluto.
The whole Popullst party was given
new standin. and influence 10y this
speech. Even the great gold-bue
dailies were forced to give it attcn
ton and quote largely from it. 1t i:
the first time this class Of papers hav,
ever made respectful mention of any
thinr :, D.n,,i;c% has sc;,l ~.