Evening journal., 1896-05-08
MATTHEWS WILL RUN
Indiana's Governor Is a Presi-
Dental Candidate.
THE DEMOCRACY NAY CHOOSE HIM.

Gratis of Indiana will in few days unani-
mously nominate for the presidency, has
explained his views on the political ques-
tions of tho day. On the principal topic
now before the country-that of finance
-Goyernor Matthews spoke for the first
time since the announcement of his
candidacy and / may say that he antiUi-
pated a public statement that he will
make at very early day.
said Governor Matthews:
Beyond the minor question Of a free
and unlimited coinage Of silvor is the
more important one as TO whether we
should maintain the double standard of
value or adopt gold as the standard alone
"Gold as a single unit Of value am OPP
posed to. / want to retain both gold and
silver, and, as soon as it can be accom-.
plished without harm to the country, l
should like to go back to the conditions
prior to 1878.
II can conceive that an immediate and
radical return to free and unlimited coin
age of silver would be very harmful at the
present time. The question of ratio can
be determined after we determine whether
wo will retain silver as standard.
For Silver by Agreement.
81 am friend of silver, but do not
know that would take the position that
would be satisfactory to the ultra silver
men. l doubt very much If any steps
should be taken for the free and unliimt-
cd coinage of silver in the United States
until an earnest and sincere effort has been
made to hold an international conference
on the question.
81 think, at the same time, that this
government should take the Initiative and
be franksenough to say to these other ooun-
tries, we want to come to some agree
ment. II we cannot como to some agree
ment with you. the United States must
| come TO a conclusion for itself.
TRY England, France Germany-it
may be a foregone conclusion regarding
England. She would probably come in as
regarding India, but not Great Britain
herself-but II she holds out, make it
/ France or Germany, and II they fail take
the matter up Independently and solve
/ the problem for ourselves / believe be-
/ fore we could go back to the free and un-
| limited coinage Of silver We should make
/ this effort to have the international con-
| ference, and do not believe it viii be held
unless the United States takes the initia-
| tive. Here in our state, where am best
acquainted with the feelings and senti-
ment of the people, the silver feeling is
| stronger than the gold. But 1 think the
/ Republican convention will adopt a gold
| platform.
II do not think the Democrats would
accept the platform of 1S92-it is too am
biguous on the metal question and admits
| OF different constructions. 1 doubt very
much II the party would accept that plat
| form with an eastern man. The platform
of 1899 was misunderstood by the Demo
cratic masses. When it was given Us at
Chicago, 1t was believed by many dele
yates that the construction that President
Cleveland would place ON It would be diff
ferent from the construction he has fol
lowed.
IL do not mean to critioiso Mr. Cleve-
land In this-he acted according TO his
conscience and his Interpretation OF the
meaning Of the platform, but there is a
difference of views as TO what this con-
| atruction might he. / do not think the
convention next July will permit reso-
luton to pass that is indefinite OF ambig-
uous-it must be plain statement ot one
kind or the other.
Would Maintain the Law.
asked Governor Matthews:
"Are you willing to guarantee, as far as
a candidate can that II nominated and
elected president Of the United States the
present monetary standard OF the United
States would be permanently maintain
edS"
Governor Matthews hesitated a moment
and then said:
Il cannot agree to approve existing con-
ditions unqualifedly. OF course / would
maintain the law have always regard
ed the demonetization Of silver as wrong,
and am now, and have ever been, ready
to support any reasonable proposition look
ing toward its restoration. appreciate
tho fact that this should be accomplished
by an international agreement.
"The agitation of this free silver ques-
tion is due, in my judgment to depression
of business.
"I am inclined to think many of the al
legations mado by tho friends of free sill
yer insincere, and also those of the ultra
gold monometallists regarding an interna-
tional bimetallism. ] am bimetallist !
l do not think that there is gold enough
in tho country to carry on commerce
Il am aware that the silver question
will make great trouble in the national
convention far more trouble than is good
for the party l trust, however, that a
plank will be inserted in the platform
that will be agreeable to all clements.
Il believe one thing is certain and thet
Is that the Democratic party must take
some stand In favor Of silver II it is TO bo
successful. / think today that tho ma
iority of the Indiana Democrats are un-
questionably in favor of a more liberal
view Of the silver question. The German
element in this state is not unanimously
in favor Of gold standard. as has been re-
ported, and many Germans-though not e
majority--are friendly to silver.
Il repeat that / do not wish to adopt
any measure that will convulse business
and be detrimental to our manufacturing
and business interests, but / claim that
a reasonable yielding in favor of silvor
will do none Of the mischief that has been
foretold by the advocates Of a single gold
standard.
''I speak from my earnest convictions,
and believe tbat no Democrat OF Repub-
lican can be e.tT,ad on the basis OF gold
monometalisfI, ,rny more than candi'
date could be elected on the basis of free
and unlimited coinage Of silver at the ra-
ito Of 16 to /. Both are radical, and l do
not know which Of the two is the more