Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-04-22
HARRIS TALKS STRAIGHT.
He is for Silver and Gives His Reasons
for His Position.

lOI his IOslllOu.
Memphis, Tenn, April AIN an In
terview today Senator Harris when
asked: do you think the Democrats
will be able to organize the senate
next December" replied There will
be three political organizations in the
senate when It meets in December, not
one of which will have majority.
The Republicans will have three or
four more than the Democrats and the
Populists will hold balance of power.
In this condition of affairs neither po-
litical party can, of itself. organize
the senate, and while as an individual
senator am resolved 10 do full and
exact Justice to the Popullst senators
In the organization yet / will not con-
sent to compromise single Demo-
cratic principle for the purpose of Sc
curing the power to reorganize the
Senate"
what is your opinion as to the DOM
nance OF the free silver sentiment
in the East and West in relation to the
campaign OF lS96?' asked the reporter.
THE rehabilitation to silver to its po-
sitlon as "a money metal and money
OF ultimate redemption and in conec-
ton with gold as the regulator of vol
ume of amount or that thing called
money, Is overwhelmingly strong in
the South and West, and In my opinion
dence. l assert and maintain 1t is the
duty of the congress of the United
States to establish and maintain a f.
nancial system responsible to the ne
cessities and convenience of people that
we represent without regard to the
outside world.
Now as to the question as to
whether the United States should es-
tablish its financial policy in confor-
nifty with the financitl policies OF
other communities or policy which will
meet the necessity and convenience of
its own millions of people 1 want to
suggest that l got up statistics In the
latter part of the year 1898 showing
the results of our foreign and inter-
state commerce for the twenty preced-
ing years.
The balance OF trade was against US
only four of the twenty years and
aggregated for the four years less than
$7U.O00,oO0, while for the sixteen other
years of the twenty the balance OF
trade was in our favor, averaging over
Sl0O,000,0O0 a year. Il speak in round
numbers, as l have not the figures be-
fore mel But In four of the twenty
years we had a balance against us OF
S70.0OO.000, aud for the other sixteen
years we had balance In our favor OF,
in round numbers, of over 81. coo 00O, 900.
This shows that the settlement of
b'hAAANNo bNAMNEl tut DtpUlt OF IUt
United States and other countries Is
a'matter of small consideration. While
the settlement of balances of $40 900. 900
for the people of the United States,
whose dealings with each other amount
to about $4,000 900, 900 n year, IL rather
too large matter to be ignored by an
honest administration, and that must
confirm our legislation to meet their
necessities rather than consult other
nations as TO what our financial poll
cies should be. While / would be glad
to have an International agreement
utilize all the gold and all the silver
of the world at an agreed ratio, / am
| ready to establish financial system
for the United States which does not
recognize both metals and makes them
legal tender money for all purposes and
admits them to the same rights of COIN
age.
In the beginning of civill-
zation silver and gold were
adopted as money metals and were
coined Into money as n medium of ex-
change and settlement between man
and man. Up to 1873 they held their
respective places as money metals OF
the world, but in 1873 the capitalists
influences of the United States decided
to double the purchasing power of
their capital by demonetlzing one or
| the other Of the metals, no matter
which, so that demonetlzing either the
volume or amount of money would be
reduced one half which would double
the purchasing power Of every remain
! ing dollar.
4 Capital has Influence. capital has
| power, but unfortunately capital has
no conscience. Had silver been demone-
tiled when 400 H. grains of standard
silver made the dollors worth on the
markets OF the world, 8 more than a
| gold dollar. the capitalists would now
| be reducing everything to that gold
standard. This means the bankruptcy
of every man by doubling the wealth
| of the creditor. So far as l am con-
cerned, l will oppose such a policy to
| the last extremity, and / don't believe
It can ever prevail in the American
congress-"
| r,Op>,t,r az pyr