The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-08-05
CAPTAIN RAOUL TALKS
IL He WAS Referred to He Was Gross
" Misreprescntcd.


In his recent speech at Columbus Secre-
tary Hoke Smith, in indicating the record
of John Sherman, referred frequently 10
"a prominent railroad president Interested
in Mexican railroads." and after present.
ing imaginary claims made by the afore-
said Mexican railroad president proceeded
to attack each.
The reference is best explained by the
following clipping from the report of Secre-
tary Smiths speech in Secretary smith 5
own paper in Atlanta:
1.-THE secretary stated that a prominent
railroad president Interested N Mexican
railroads declared to him a few days ago
that his reason for favOring the free and
unlimited coinage Of silver was that in
Mexico his railroad hands received in
Aex.can dollars about the same number
of dollars that he had to pay for similar
work in the United States; that Mexican
dollar was worth only half as much as q
dollar in the United States and that
therefore, by free silver, ne was enabled
to get his labor for half what it would
cost in the United states.
1.-THE same railroad president added. that
by the free and unlimited coinage OF SILVER
at 10 to l in the United states, pay 30 Inc
employees of factories and of railroads,
while il would amount in dollars 10 as
much as Il does now would De really
reduced One-half. because a dollar would
be worth only half as much, and that
this would be a great benefit ana was
necessary in the interest of stockholders
of such enterprises.
when asked why companies did not at
once reduce the wages II II was Thought
they were too high, the railroad president
replied:
The labor unions are too strong 10 let
US reduce pay in dollars, but IT would take
long time for them to force up pay IN "a
new cheap dollar to twice as many dollars
as they now get
An Atlanta friend of Captain RaOul- of
the Mexican National railroad. recalling the
fact that only few days ago Mr.. smith
and Captain Raoul CHANGED TO meet on
the same sleeper on Their way to Wash
.ngtOn, at once concluded that the refer
enc4 was INTENDED for Captain Raoui, ana
there seemed no possible doubt that he IS
the Mexican railroad president whose arsn-
ments Secretary Smith NODDED TO suit
himself and then to deinollsh As ne would
4 stand of ten pins. This Is emphas zed
| by the fact th1c much of the time of the
trp above ment- oned consumed 10y
Sec.e tary Smith in endeavor-ns to convince
| Captain Raoul that he was wrong on the
| silver question.
Captain Eaoul's Atlanta friend .mmedi-
atey inclosed the clipp ng from The Jour
| nal to him IN New YORK ami from him
mas received the following reply.
| The Mexican National Railroad Co,
| 20 Wall Street,
| New York. July q, 1885.
| Dear SIR. am I'm receipt Of your note nj
! the 2Ith instant, inclos.ns an extract from
/ the Columbus speech al the Hon. Huke
! Smith, secretary Of the interior, ia which
he quotes a rairoad president Interested
! in "A Mexican ll--roaU ou the silver
| question lou assume that Mr.. smith re-
! Iers 20 me ana suggest a reply
! 4 suppose you 90 TINS knoW-ns, as You
! do. tina, entertain 30 -uca sen..nen5~ as
/ these ami assuming Jhat / naturally would