The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-22
TALKS WITH BANKERS.
wRAr sOME OF THEM THINK ABOUT
the PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Strong Opposition to tho War Policy
which They Think viii Damage the
Countrv-The Arguments Advanced.

Below VIII be found several statements
from bank officials relative to President
Clevcland's message in regard TO the
Venezuelan dispute. An effoct was made
70 secure statements from several other
heads OF banking concerns I'm this city.
hut a number OF them declined 10 say
anytl ing fer publications:
MAJOR FRED. II. SCOTT.
Major Fred r. Scott. the vice-president
Of the Merchants National Bank, in the
absence OF its president. said:
"The Presidents message merely calls
attention to an emergency hat every
one understands II coupons will do
nothing, we must stop gold payments be-
fore the end of January. The war talk
agra, ates the situation. Every one says
there will be no war, exactly as every one
talked thirty-hve years ago. The Eng
lish-speaking race are the most war-like
people on earth, and when they fight II
is no child's play. The voice of her Presi-
dent Is now of no consequence. Both
branches Of Congress have voted unani-
mously an appropriation for war pur-
poses. What else does II mean? II there
be those In the country who are not for
war they are silent The people have put
their hand on the sword.
currency and finance If we mean to go 10
war with the most powerful nation in the
world? We know that We can fight with
out money. We tried that once"
MR. JOHN l.. WILLIAMS.
When Mr.. John l.. Williams. of the
firm OF John l.. Williams & Sons, was
asked his opinion Of the Presidents ines
sage In regard TO the Venezuelan matter,
he said:
You may quote me as heartily en-
dorsng the editorial in The Times OF
Thursday. / do not believe in trying to
maintain the Monroe doctrine against
Great Britain unless wepropose 10 main
tain II against various European powers
should their boundaries be in dispute.
have heard many disapprovals of the
course OF the President and OF Congress
and | think the whole matter is absurd
and based upon nothing but popular
idea that will not stand the test of sound
argument. | do not believe there Is
possibility of war between these two
great powers. and Wall street. in New
York. regards the possibilities OF war
out Of the question. To rush into great
conflict with all its disastrous conse-
ouences simply because of a boundary
line one thousand miles distant would be
unreasonable and foolish ] think it will
all blow over soon and be amicably set
tied
MIR. A. l.. BOULWARE.
Mr.. A. L. Boulware. president of the
First National, said:
Il think the action of Mr. Cleveland
was both ill-judged and ill-timed We
were Just struggling TO put the country
on sound financial basis. Mr.. Cleve-
lands action will make that more diff
cult. and VIII. | think. seriously affect
49, l,et,acc fufareefG of the country for
q time But / do not believe that the
sober. rejecting business men of Eng
land and America are going 10 allow
themselves to be long Influenced by so
small matter, so suddenly trumpet up,
and so greatly exaggerated In Import
ance. Nobody believes there ought 10 be
any war
COLONEL WILLIAM II. PALMER.
Colonel Wilism II. Palmer. president oil
the City Bank, expressed the following
views:
| think the Presidents message TO Con-
gress on the Venezuelan boundary con-
troversy must have had I'm view not
only a political but a financial side. he
is the president OF the largest bank in
the worth. and Mr.. carlisle the cashier.
The Board of Directors. the Congress OF
the United States, would do nothing TO
help the Institution out of its difficulties,
States. could not redeem Its Issues. IL
was better 10 have a good excuse for sus~
pending gold payments than TO suspend
and acknowledge incapacity and stupid
fly In the management.
Mr.. Cleveland knew that his message
would intensity the difficulty Of preserv-
ing gold payments. and would be an OBJ
ject-lesson to his board of directors Cthe
Congress of the United States.
His prompt financial message without
recommendation, which appeared this
morning. confirms me in the belief that
this is the true meaning of the -enezuela
message.
AS long as the Treasury continues to
pay gold. II will be the duty of every
EnglIsh banking office to withdraw all
the gold they can for loans. that they
may have. and TO sell all of the bonds
they can and TO stay the distress that
the financial situation imposes on our
people. Ii is the duty of those In charge
10 suspend gold payments at the ear
Hest moment possible. We must return
10 gold payments I'm the future by grad
ual means. The mistakes and errors OF
thirty years of false bond banking can
not be cured in a day or under the ex-
element that now exists.