Birmingham state herald., 1895-11-08
GOVERNOR OATES OPINION.

Governor Oates made a political speech at Abbeville, Henry county, on Monday last The time and place appear to have been chosen with a view to accentuate his personal attitude at respects the state campaign of-next year. It was delivered on the day preceding the elections Of Tuesday. with view no doubt of having his position unchallenged and unaffected by the results of the morrow's vote. It was delivered in his home county-that county which had made his fortunes. In the presence of his home people he declared that he would not be candl- date for governor, but that he is .and would be candidate for United States senator, and he asked Henry county to send to the general assembly delegates who would vote for him for senator.
 A letter to the editor of the State Herald of date November 5, from an in- telligent and prominent citizen of Henry county, who heard the governors speech, says:
 Gov William c. Oates made a speech here today, and made an assertion that an American silver dollar in England is only worth it's bullion" value. l am always inclined to take what he says to be true, knowing his honesty, but in this case some of us took issue with him in a private conversation, after having him to reiterate publicly again what is above quoted in regard to the dollar, and he contended he was right. If he is right please inform me. I re- member reading in the State to the con- trary, if my memory serves me correctly. He further stated in his speech that we need greater circulation of money, but now is not the time in his judgment to agitate the question. He also called the attention of the audience to the rumor that he would be candidate for re- election to the office of governor. To this report he said most emphatically he would not be a candidate for governor. as he told the people in the canvass last year the ambition of his life is to repre- sent the state in the United States sen- ate. which fact he announced, and asked the people present to try to elect two representatives who will cast their vote for him during the sitting of the next state legislature. Please answer me in regard to the silver dollars worth in England." |
 In answer to the question of our cor respondent we would say that the silver dollar of the United States is worth just as much in England. Canada, Mexico, or any other foreign country as it is in this country, less, of course, the cost of trans portation. Otherwise Governor Oates owing say $10.000 at the First National bank of Montgomery would have only to cable to London broker to invest $5000 in American dollars at 50 cents on the dollar or whatever the bullion value might be, and ship the $10,00o silver dol lars to him at Montgomery He would then take his 10000 silver dollars to the bank and pay his debt, and all upon an investment of half the money. The gov ernor might continue this process indef- nitely until his original $5000 had grown into millions. In this way he might pay the state debt in short time If he is correct in his statement it is his duty as governor to buy up all of our silver dollars abroad and apply the 100 per cent profit on each transaction to the extinc- tion of our state debt. It would be an ex- cellent idea for Governor Oates to let MT Carlisle into his deal and thus extinguish the national debt in a few days
 The more entertaining feature of the governors speech is his reiteration of his fixed determination not to offer for a sec- ond term as governor He does not pro- pose to be side-tracked He is after the senatorial chair and nothing else.