The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-25
Though Not a Radical the Pro-
fessor InclineS Toward
BimetaIliSm.
PRESENT SYSTEM HARMFUL.
National Parties Must Fight the
Coming Battle on the Lines
of Finance.

who recently accepted q chair in the
economics department OF this university,
arrived last evening from the East and
was interviewed by z representative Of The
CALL on some OF the popular topics Of the
day. Professor Powers is in the prime OF
life. and has all the appearance OF a deep
student; one need but talk with him
minute to know that mis- appearance does
not belle him. He Is afable in manner
and q most pleasing conversationaist.
Concerning his line OF work in the
university, Professor Powers said that he
would take up classes in elementary
economics, but instead OF a class IN poll
tics. he hoped 70 arrange q course in ad-
vaneed economics. Later he will give q
course in politics. The special line of re-
search which this latest acquisition to
Stanford 5 faculty has made is in that OF
sociology.
10 me" said Professor Powers, 1.-The
study OF sociology IS more interesting than
economics. and I believe it will. in time.
divide honors with that study. Sociology
as a modern science Is in its infancy
twenty years viii cover modern inyestiga-
ton and work along this line. It goes
deeper than economics, and to ii I look for
the grant OF new lease OF life 10 eco
nomics."
In his praise Of DR.. Warner, who lately
incurred the wrath Of Warden Hale at the
Prison Congress, Professor Powers was
very warm.
i haven't the slightest doubt" he re-
marked, that DR.. Warner, if provoked,
can tell much more than he has already
told. and will do 30. His position is GER
tainlv correct, however wise or unwise it
may have been 10 advance 1t at that spe-
cial time. TIere is rot 4 single man occu-
pying . university chair to-day in this
country who : better informed on this
subject than Warner. He is the most
promising Young man in the field in his
line OF work
Returning 20 the subject of Dr. Warmers
address Professor Powers stated that sta
tistics had already established the fact
that so per cent Of ii-st-offense criminals,
by proper treatment. could be returned to
society as safe ifnot useful citizens. Under
the political spoils system the percentage
was insignifcantly small. Most OF those
sent back to society returned merely to re-
peat their crimes.
1t may be interesting to note that Pro-
lessor Powers has begun a book on the
monetary questions OF the day, and if his
intentions hold good he will complete his
work during the year. Some of his views
on the question of silver are very interest
ing.
The question OF silver or OF gold is
going to be the great issue OF the next
political campaign" said the professor,
"hOweyer much the parties would wish TO
dodge an expression in the matter. All
indications point to a Republican success
in 1896; but can't believe that any posi-
bic course can be devised which viii add
to- the party's strength. Interests are too
much divided; both divisions are exacting.
Many courses are open. A free silver basis
could be declared for, or q gold standard
might be favored; or bimetallism might
be championed as one OF the many COM
promise measures that lie within posi-
bllity's range. No matter what course IS
pursued, howeyer-and the people will ex-
pect whichever party does 90 into power
to pursue some change-lt Is going 10
divide the party into factions and lose it
much influential support. People now
have reached that stage where they
are waVering between economic principles
anu bdILN tIdu lLlOHS. 1lD question OI
North against South on party lines is
changing to one of East against West, and
this change is likely TO be FASTENED by the
financial policy adopted by the winning
party IN the next campaign. | believe
that when the question of the silver stand
ard versus the gold standard is settled it
will be found that the trouble lies not
there but Is still deeper and viii have to be
looked to later The real question is
~ cIo1f ,o+r 90 At,ao
currency be? There is no doubt that the
present monetary system is radically
wrong; that being so, there must be a
change. Still, the rival advantages of the
gold and silver standards are unduly ex-
aggerated."
Pressed for his own inclinations for gold
or silver, Professor Powers said:
81 am far from being radical on the sub
iect, but incline to blmetallism, not that
l believe that it is a cure-all, but that it
would, under proper management, tend
toward more stable standard of values
l do not believe that the United States
alone could adopt the bimetallic system.
1t would be necessary to form what might
be called a syndicate of nations. Three
leading nations OF the world could handle
the silver of the worlC, and | believe that
France, Germany and the United States
could accomplish the bimetallic system,
handling all the silver, even without Eng
lands aid"
The question was asked whether, from
his study and investigation abroad, there
was more of an inclination at present
favoring bimetallism than at the time OF
the Brussels conference. The answer was
that France had always been bimetallic at
heart, though forced by conditions to her
present standard.
"In regard to Germany" said Professor
Powers. Il feel certain that the resolution
passed By the Reichstag favofing another
monetary, conference was sincere echo OF
popular sentiment. The feeling is not so
strong in England, but there too, believe
it is increasing.
"Tariff will not be the question in the
next campaign. The money question is
ahead, and nothing can divert popular
attention from it. People are learning
that free trade or high tariff have not the
same ruinous effects on business they
formerly supposed. Give the business
man time and he can adjust and adopt
himself TO either. It is uncertainty that
ruins him, and nothing could be more
unwise for party than to reopen the old
sore-the tariff-as the leading issue for
1896. With the money question uncer-
tainty does not make the same difference.
A pernicious policy is bound TO work out
its results. It must therefore be question
of study and experiment for the proper
system. as l said at first, however, l
think fhn-a ia dannor morn diff II