The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-07-09

On the situation, but what u the senti-
ment OF the party down there on the
money question:
'sWel1, the Republicans have pretty well
decided to cross that bridge when they
come to 1t. When they get that far there
may mot be any necessity to go over q
bridge at ALL"
you think the silver question then,
will be dried up by the next electicng'
mot exactly that. senator. but we think
1t will have dwindled into secondary
Importance as far as our party Is con-
cerned. The tariff is going to be the
battle cry
Eyes, the tariff Is a great question, but
don't you young men make any mistake.
The silver question viii be there when
the time comes. tell you that there is
a sentiment in Oregon growing every day
I'M favor Of better recognition Of the
white metal. and we will be ready to de-
clare ourselves when things are ready.
My position on this money question Is
well enough known all over the country.
I am a triend of silver. not, mind you.
"crank" or free silver man. that
silliest Of all silly phrases. / am an ad-
vocate of free coinage"
BY the United States alone, Senator,
irrespective OF what any other nation may
do?"
"Yes, yes, that same old bugaboo has
penetrated here, see. believe firmly
that the United States can act alone and
Independently Of any other nation or ma
tions on earth. What have we to be
frightened Of? Fourteen years ago, when
the Bland-Allison bill was introduced into
the senate, was a comparatively young
man in politics, but / had thought over
this matter and my decision was to sup
port the bill. But l knew that President
Hayes and John Sherman. the then Sec
retary of the treasury, were opposed 20
1t. and on financial questions John Sher-
man was at that time to myself and many
others nothing short of an oracle. So,
before voting, went UP to his office and
asked him why he objected to tine bill.
He said, Mitchell, If that bill passes the
senate every bit of gold will be driven
out of the country inside OF ilve years.
His arguments supporting his statement
won me over and went into the senate
chamber and voted against the bill. 1t
passed, and at the end of the five years
there was more gold in the United States
ten times over than there had been be-
fore. Eleven years after Senator Sher-
man made that statement, commit
tee was appointed by a Republican senate
caucus, with Mr.. sherman as chairman,
to consider substitute measure for the
Bland-Allison bill. ! was the youngest
member OF the committee and spoke first.
My arguments were nearly identical with
those used when the Bland-Allison bill
originally passed the senate. The chair
man, as soon as l had spoken, threw up
his hands and declared that II my ideas
were followed every bit of gold in the
country would be driven out inside OF five
years. then tackled him on his prophecy
of eleven years ago to the same effect,
and of course he was unable to deny
single argument used. The whole COM
mittee was satisfied of the fallacy Of his
objection, but find 1t still lives and in
the face Of common sense, statistics, and
evedything else, continues to flourish
among ignorant people"
'I suppose there are people in Oregon
foolish enough to think that the friends
of silver in the state convention of Re-
publican clubs held in Portland In May
were In the minority ON account Of the
so-called test tickets OF the opposing fac
tions. That is not the case. My advices,
and they are reliable, are that the
friends Of silver in that convention were
largely in the majority, but rather than
split the meeting on the subject were
willing to leave It alone and not tackle
matter that properly belonged to the
national convention"
"But believe 1t is the wisest policy for
the Republicans everywhere. while hav-
ing their individual views on the money
question, to patiently wadt till the proper
time comes before making and at
tempt at action. don't believe
that because Republican leans to
the free coinage of silver ne is any
the less al Republican, nor do I be-
lieve that the man who relies on the gold
standard is any less devited to our great
party than am myself. Time after time
In the senate Republicans have voted on
one phase or another OF this money dis
cussion in whatever way their consciences
dictated and their Republiconism has
suffered nothing. simply because we have
never caucused on the question, and never
raised the ISSUE The newspapers. par
ticularly the Republican newspapers.
want to leave ID alone till the proper
time comes. There win be opportunity
enough for discussion then"