The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-11-05
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FOR FREE SILVER.
A Leading Business Republican Ex-
presses His Views.

qurer.
Mr.. Henry A. Lanman one of the most
prominent republican business men in the
state capital who, while one of the state
contractors in q limited way, runs one of
the largest manufacturing establishments
outside of the city, employing many hun
dreds of hands, has some very decided
views on the silver question. L met him to-
day and had a very interesting talk with
him.
Il understand" said l. that you are not
in accord with your party on the SILVER
question"
Il am not"
AS a business man Will you give your
reasons for differing with your party lead
ers"'
"Cheerfully, and yet it is not my custom
to talk politics, but | will state the reasons
which impel me to depart from my usual
party affiliations in the coming election 1t
is certainly not because of any personal ob-
lection to the candidate heading the ticket
of my party. ON the contrary, know him
to possess the qualities of mind and heart
which characterize a true gentleman, with
abilities which qualify him to fiji acceptably
the office he seeks, but the awful cGlamities
which now atict not only our country, but
the whole civilized single standard nations,
so belittle all other issues to sink person
al considerations into insigniticance."
Speaking as an employer of labor how
does the SITUATION Slrlhe you!
.'As an employer of labor never have l
been more touched by the misfortunes of
my fellow men than last winter, when
saw one cold, rainy morning, company
of men returning from one of our parks,
having failed to obtain work at 90 cents per
day. 1t was not an uncommon occurrence,
but / shall never forget that despairing
look of men willing, but unable, to sell their
labor for what would, at best supply only
the barest necessities of even small fam
lily.
These are certainly not natural cordi-
tions in this fertile valley of the SciotO-this
land of plenty. Favored by nature with so
many resources, opportunities should not be
wanting for men to obtain at least decent
living"
''Wn YOU give me an outline of the rea-
sons which led up to your present conclu-
sions?"
- shall not attempt a discussion Of the
mercy question. but mention few facts
leading up to my conclusions. and causes
which produce these unnatural cffc nts. Ihe
tariff and other assigned reasons may con
tribute 20 IT. but with the best light ! have
been able to obtain, the chief one compared
with which all others are but trifles) is
the constant and unnecessary appreciation
of the money of ultimate redemptiOn-gold.
] have for years Siven some thought and
study to the decentralization Of silver, and
have supposed that the time would come
when The business of the world would ad-
just itself to the new conditions following
out that law held by all political econo-
msts, that the value OF all commodities Of
the world is measured by all the money in
circulation We had in round numbers,
>S.c0p 0l0,000 of gold ana silver in use as
money in 1872. $i,000000,000 of which was
stripped of it's money function and relegat-
ed 10 a commodity. The effect is the same
as though il had all been gold, and one
hair swept out Of existence. Following out
the law above quoted, all prices rcchoncd
by the gold standard would decline one
half their former values, or what is the
same, money would appreciate"
"Then. the tendency in that drection%'
This has been nearly accomplished; the
cries have been verified by events; and were
this all. business would gradually resume
its wontei channels on the basis OF the
changed level OF prices; but there remains
what TO me seems an insurmountable OBJ
stacle 10 its accomplishment, and that is
the payment of longtime contracts Frew-
en- estimates I. the worlds debts amount
to the incomprehensible sum of $4,000, 00o
0oo. Granted THAI the principal viii never
be paid. the interest on this sum, estimate ted
AT the low rate of 3 per cent per aunum,
amounts 10 $45VG,G00,0O0 which the deutor is
TO discharge annually. While this sum is
enormous. eCuallinG each year nearly twice
the national debt OF the United States 1t
the highest point no one should obj CT TO its
payment if honestly contracted, but when
the debtor must perform two days service
to cancel an obligation which, but for leg
islative action. he could have done with one.
l not only believe the transaction unfair,
but, as above stated, impossible to accom-
plish. 1t is not a question of disposition
but of ability. The struggling debtor may
make a brave fight but with steadily in
creasing burdens and constantly decreas-
,ng opportunities, as consequence of
persistence in the present policy, nation
ana individual must finally succumb TO the
in cNit1blc and lay down the burden either
tm Cugh peaceful legislation or financial
revolution, OF which socialism, strikes and
Reputation are as the distant thunderings
which foretell the coming storm"
And the reasons for thiS?'
"The situation now upon us is only the
legitimate result of the violation Of well es-
tablished economic laws, departure from
which is as sure 10 bring disaster as that
strychnne taken into the human stomach
viii affect the action of the heart
Earnest Scyd, one Of the best students
and brightest thinkers on economic ques-
tions of this generation in 1871, two years
before the demonstration of silver in this
country predicted what has already trans
pircd. and that commerce and manufac-
turers viii go backward until the real cause
becomes recognized and the natural remedy
dlliiilet
Senator Jones said in the United States
senate last summer: IF the people of this
country do not destroy the gold standard it
will destroy them Growing out of this
burden-imposng and ill-advised legislation
it can be shown that we pay England, in
unearned increment, $l25,O0O01O per year
that our home production is cut down from
81. 400, 700 by at least onc-third. entailng
idlcness and it's attendants. crime and pau
perism.
but what must interest all manufacture
crS and business men is the fact that unless
silver is remonetiZed gold VIII continue to
appreciate in value, and just so long as it
does do this we cannot hope for any perma-
nent revival of business"
"Will you support the entire democratic
state ticket"'
THAT is my intention. 1 shall vote for
Turner the democratic candidate for Secre-
tary Of state. so that my vote shall be re-
corded IN favor of my convictions. and 1
have no doubt that many republicans in
Ohio will do the same thing for the same
reason"