The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-30
FAVORS WHITE METAL.
The Solution of the Question
Depending on the Action
of Foreign Powers.
ADVANTAGES OF CALIFORNIA
He Thinks That the Trade of Mex
leo Should Be Controlled
by This State.

LOS ANGELES, CAL, March 29.-Hon.
Stenben 4. Elkins. Senator from West
VIRGINIA. arrived in Los Angeles from
Mexico in his private car to-day. He is
accomnanied by his wife and children.
This is his first visit to California, and he
&c DELIGHTED with what he has seen of the
State. Mr.. Elkins is largely interested in
the Santa Fe road and the terminal road
to Santa Monica. In the course of an in
terview he made some very interesting
comments on the silver question and the
opportunities of California trade with
Mexico.
81 am in favor of silver" said he. 81
own some silver mines. am not quite
ready to accept free coinage, however.
After all, when 1 say am IN favor OF sill
yer 1 do not suppose that means very
much. think, however, that the money
question will be the predominant issue in
the coming Congress. The solution OF 1t
does not depend so much on ourselves as
on the action Of some of the foreign powers.
Things across the water look very favor
able. 1t is not improbable that Germany,
which was the first nation to demonetize
silver, may restore that metal to money
standing. If she does France and Russia
and Holland will probably follow the lead.
If they do then 1 think we can get along
without England.
But, then, the question of money does
not worry me so much as it does some. l
think the wealth of a nation depends on
its natural resources, on its climate, its
wheat, its wool, its minerals, etc. Now,
America has got plenty of these things and
the other countries of the world want
them. They must buy from US, and we
get things we need in exchange. The
wealth of a country does not consist of its
money. and nations do not trade with
each other to get money alone. Surprising
country had nothing but gold and pro-
duced nothing but that, how long do you
suppose the supply of money would lastP
Why, the other nations with things to sell
would drain it in a short time.
"When in Mexico 1 was much struck
with the resources of that country, and OF
the opportunity California has for COM
merce with it. If you could open up some
ports along the Mexican coast, like Mazat-
Ian, you could place right at her door the
things she is sending to England and Ger
many for. There is a very large quantity
III agricultural implements being sent from
Mere now, particularly plows, but as soon
as they get an American pillow they knock
one of the handles off. They still stick to
a one-handled pillow. At San Luis Potosi
there is large smelter being worked by
New York capitalists, and Kansas City
parties are also operating similar concern
there"
Senator Elkins said that he was out
here on pleasure only, but that he would
incidentally look into the matter of a
Southern California harbor before return
ing.
a. shall call upon Senator White" he
said land we probably will visit San
Pedro together. AS to my official action
in the Senate, when the harbor question
comes TO vote, of course my vote will be
in accordance with my best judgment,
after looking over the official reports OF
the engineers. As to the technical points
presented, Senator is not likely to know
more than any one else as to which is the
best harbor, and of course 1 shall depend
largely upon engineers"
The Senator and his family will leave
in few days for San Diego and upon re-
turning they will go to San Francisco and
thence to Portland, Or