The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-06-01
BLAND LAUGHS
At Tom Reeds Supposed Con-
version to Free Silver.
DOesn'tBelieVe in Reed'SRemedy
for Hard Times.
OTHERS ARE WARY.
OTHERS ARE WARY.
Republican Statesmen Take Up
Very Gingerly
The Question Raised in Reeds
=, Interview.


WAsHn1GTo June Representative
Thomas b. Reeds interview in the Fort
nightly Review of London, advocating
a freer use of silver has attracted much
attention in congressional circles.
The plan suggested by him for 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 -silver?" said Repre-
sentative Bland, of Missouri, the silver
leader. when told of Mr.. Reeds Fort
nightly article. Then Mr.. Bland laughed
heartily and read the article.
'sMr. Reed comedies our arguments"
said Mr.. Bland, shut he offers a rem
edy which we will not have. The great
agricultural classes who are behind
silver will never consent to a 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 unit
ing the tariff aud silver questions. They
are wholly independent If the United
States will coin silver it will force Eng
land and other foreign countries to rec
ognize silver without threatening with
discriminating tariff duties.
''They must sell us their goods. and if
we insist in offering them silver, it will
soon become their interest to make silver
valuable. We must accomplish the end
at home and not adopt Mr.. Reeds plan
of going abroad and securing free silver
by threats of higher tariff. 1t is proba-
BILE that his main desire is not so much
to aid silver, but to establish higher pro-
tectNe duties against European coun-
tries"
Mr.. Bland was asked if the silver ele-
ment of the west and northwest would
accept Mr.. Reeds views as gain to the
silver cause.
"They will not" said sMr. Bland; "we
are not asking Mr.. Reed to admit our ar-
guments, but to admit our solution. In
stead of that, he admits all we have
claimed as 10 the imperative need of a
larger use of silver, and yet he manufac-
lures a silver tariff solution we will never
accept"
Representative Burrows said: s'Mr.
Reeds article is very timely. There has
been much misrepresentation of the Re-
publican party on silver. They are not
for gold alone, not for silver alone, but
for both gold and silver. The only question
is how 10 secure the free use of both met
ais Ii it can be accomplished by mutual
cooperation among nations, with de-
fensive tariff alliance against non-silver
nations that may be the best solution"
1lr. Burrows was asked if such tariff
reciprocity among silver using countries
would be a surrender of the protective
doctrines.
"By no MEANS" said he. ga fair meas
ure of protection to American Industries
could be maintained even with those
countries using silver, and there would
be added protection against non-silver
using countries. No one would recon-
mend reciprocity equal to free trade
Representative Tracey of New York,
the Democratic anti-silver leader, voiced
the views OF that element
MIR. Reeds plan is wholly impractic-
able," said he. There is no economic
connection between tariff and silver. If
England does not want silver she cannot
be made to want it by threatening her
with discriminating tariff rates. MIR.
Reed might as we'll have proposed to
force England to use silver by sending
rioters among her people. His plan 1
amounts to threat of giving England
trouble If she does not accept silver. The
proposition is a novelty but nothing
more"
Representative c. w. Stone of Penn
sylvania, a leading Republican of the
coinage committee, voiced the caution
prevailing among many Republicans as
TO accepting the new departure suggest
ed by Mr.. Reed.
Mr. Stone said there would be little
division on his side as to Mr. Reeds first
proposition of uniting the nations for
freer use of silver. But he was not ready
TO admit that such union is not worth
having If II cost surrender to reciproc-
lty, or other steps destructive to the pro-
lection Of American Industry.