The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-10-03
SULLIVAN ON FINANCE.
Views Credited to the Big Pugilist on
the Honey Question-How Cleveland
Knocked Out Prosperity.

views Sreulteu 10 the D1S Pu&lilSt on
the 7oney Question-HowC Cleveland
Knocked Out Prosperity.
Editor Ramsey, of the ProgyessiUt
Farmer, recently visited Boston and
other New England cities for the pur-
pose of studying the financial question.
He has been writing a series of articles
on the subject for his paper, and fur
nlshing some interesting reading oc-
casionally. In one Of his letters we
find the following, which purpor's to
be an interview with John l.. Sullivan,
the big pugilist and ex-champion
heavy weight of he world. Says Mr.
Ramsey:
John L. Sullivan, for twelve years
champion pugilist Of the world, has
been interviewed by hundreds of re-
porters. but not one of them ever ap-
preached him for his views on finance.
l found Mr.. Sullivan at Gays Hotel,
corDer Washington and Dover streets.
He was chatting with some friends, and
for wonder, was strictly sober. He
has not drank much for five months.
A neat fitting gray suit, cut away
coat, straw hat and patent leather
shoes gave him the appearance of a
well-to-do business man, rather than
that of sport. told him was gath
ering financial data and getting the
views of all classes Of people and that
| wanted to ask him a few questions.
He smiled and said:
"Well, pard, l expect you have
come to the goats house for wool.
What l don't know about the financial
question would lill all the books in the
Boston public library. See? But l. N
re ady to answer questions.
MIR. Sullivan,' l said, 'Do you
think the repeal Of the Sherman law
had anything to do with the recent
hard times and business stagnatiou; or
do you attribute them to other causes?'
Mr.. Sullivan said: Il don't under.
stand this business at all but / dc
know that to stop making money is g
sure way to decrease the amount in
circulation. Any fool ought to know
that. See? l can tell that busines:
has been dull since this law was re
pealed. Cleveland had been in train
Ing for several years getting ready to
knock out tn. silver men. Looks like
brother Cleveland knocked out the
whole country in the second round
She was pretty groggy before but tha
left. upper cut Of his did the business
See? l think he ought to have the
belt.''
"What do you think of the tarif
racket" l asked.
'.Oh, it's like the money question-al
mixed up. l live in protective state
but 1 can't tell any difference. If 20,
keep up high tariff and have no none,
to buy goods the manufacturer viii
feint with his right and land Oh YOU
ribs with his left. Or if the tariff i:
reduced and you still have no none,
to buy cheap goods-no matter how
cheap, you'll get stitfener under th'
jaw and go over the ropes. If I cal
get suit of clothes for five dollars ant
only have two dollars, I'm badly il
the soup. See?'
"What, in your opinion, is the 5es
way out of the dif1iculty?" asked.
Mr.. Sullivan said: 'Why. the folks
haye got to vote out oft. They shoul'
not let the politicians put up any NOR
bluff. See? If they put up men win
are wrong on the money question
who are for contracting the currency
let everybody land on their wind. See
Let the folks 90 into training righ
away and train hard. Punch the ba
three hours every day. Get ready 70
a fight to the finish. All the othe
fights have been draws, with snid
,, referee. Cleveland has played foul a
the time. The nabobs will try to ii
his place. Both of the leading partie
will nominateiheavy weight plutocrats
l guess. That's always their game
Maybe one or both will promise to h
straight from the shoulder and Ian
above the belt. but they are born liars
Sees'
Mr.. Sullivan. do you think the me-
party is on the right line, and will
save the country:''
Il don't see much Of it up here i
Massachusetts. | consider it in til
feather weight class up here. But
learn that it is putting on good de;
of muscle in the South and Yves
knowing so little about it | don't car
to say whether it is right or wrong.
it is good sprlnter it may soon ovel
take the old parties aud take the be
from them. I'm sure that somethin
must be done to save the people {
these United States from another er
of slavery that will bind white an
black alike. and crush out the gre:
middle and lower classes, and then til
few rich will, like Samson, pull til
whole fat down on themselves. See:
Thanking Mr.. Sullivan for his kino
ness l took my departure not, howeve
without taking a look at the beautltl
$500 gold belt given him by Ne
York admirers. and which is on exh
bition at Gays Hotel. The belt
made of beautifully engraved gold bal
about five inches wide, fastened t.
gether in the form of links. His nam
is set in diamonds, there being thre
hundred in all, most of them sma
ones, of course, but one is said to
worth $500. John L. has made
wagon load Of money, but this belt
all that he has left Of substantial valu
unless it is a part Of the $4,000 ga
money contributed by persons who a
tended the benefit given him by Co
bett and Mitchell in New York a te
months ago.
! If ever fight Sullivan it will be
a distance Of three miles with a Ga
ling gun.