The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-01
TOM REEDS PLAN
Meets With Disapproval in
Both Parties.
Even Silver Men Will Have None of It.
Republican Leaders Silent.

WASHINGTON, June 1.-Mr. Reeds in
terview in The Fortnightly Review of
London, advocating freer use of silver,
has attracted much attention in Congress
sionai circles. The plan suggested by him
Tor an agreement among nations TO use
silver and to fix discriminating tariff
rates against countries not using silver
has been specially open to comment.
"What, Reed for free silver said Repre-
sentative Bland, the silver leader, when
told of Mr.. Reeds Fortnightly article.
Then Mr.. Bland laughed heartily and read
the article.
"Mr. Reed comedies our arguments" !"
said Mr.. Bland, "but he offers US a remedy
which we will not have. The great agri-
cultural classes who are behind silver Will
never consent to tariff war which will
close the markets of Europe to our
agricultural products. That would
be the effect of Mr.. Reeds proposition.
There is no need OF uniting the tariff and
silver questions. They are wholly inde-
pendent. III the United States will coin
silver 1t will force England and other for
eign countries to recognize silver without
threatening them with discriminating
tariff duties. They must sell us their
goods, and II we insist on Offering them
silver, 1t will soon become their interest
to make silver valuable. We must accom-
plish the end at home and not adopt Mr..
Reeds plan of going abroad and securing
free silver by the use of high tariff Ii is
probable that his main desire is not SO
much to aid silver, but to establish higher
protective duties against European coun-
tries"
Mr.. Bland was asked IL the silver ele-
ment of the West aud Northwest would
accept Mr.. Reeds views as gain to the
silver cause. They win not" said Mr..
Reed to admit our arguments but
to admit our solution. Instead of
that he admits ell we have claimed as to
the imperative need of large use ofsilver
and yet he manufactures a silver tariff
solution we will never accept."
Representative Burrows said: "Mr.
Reeds article is very timely. There
has been much Misrepresentation as
to the attitude of the Republi-
can party on silver. They are not
for gold alone, nor for silver alone, but
for both gold aud silver. The only
question is how to secure that free
use OF both metals. II il can be
accomplished by mutual cooperation
among nations with defensive tariff al
lance against non-silver using nations
that may be the best solution" Mr.. Bur-
rows was asked IL such tariff reciprocity
among silver using countries would be a
surrender of the protective doctrine.
BY no means" said he. "a fair meas
ure OF protection to American industries
would be maintained even with those
countries using silver and there would be
added protection againstnon-silver using
countries. No one would suggest reci-
procity equivalent to free trade"
Representative Tracy (New York;. the
Democratic anti-silver lcrder, voiced the
views OF that element. "Nfr. Reeds plan
is wholly impracticablc" said he. "There
Is no economic connection between
tariff and silver. II England
does not want silver she cannot
be made TO want IL by threatening her
with discriminating tariff rates. Mr..
Reed might a. well have proposed TO force
England to use silver by sending rioters
among her people. His plan amounts
to threat OF giving England trouble il
she does not accept silver. The PROPOSE
tion is novelty but nothing more"
Representative G. w. Stone (Penn.),
n leading Republican OF the coinage COM
mtfee, voiced the caution prevailing
among many Republicans as 10 accepting
the new departure suggested by Mr. Reed
MI. .Stonesaid there would be little division
on his side as To Mr.. Reeds first PROPOSE
tion OF uniting the nations for frcer use
OF silver, but he was not ready 10 admit
that such n union was worth having II IL
cost q surrender TO reciprocity or other
step- destructive to tine protection OF
American industry"