New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-19
"P4NIC NEEDED"

PANIC NEEDED"
That was very significant headline with
which The New-York Herald" prefaced its news
columns on Monday. THE Herald" has lately
been taking an active interest in conjunction
with The Sun" "WOrld,' Times and Even
ing Post" of this city, in the enterprise set on
foot by MeSsrs. Plat, Quay and Clarkson TO
defeat the nomination of Mckinley at St Louis.
The article in question over which the rather
startling headline lowered purported to give the
results of a consultation between Messrs. Platt
and Quay in Washington on Sunday as 10 the
state of the anti-McKinley campaign and the
methods by which il Is TO be continued The
headings in large type are Panic Needed to
Beat Mckinley" PLAT Returns from Seeing
QUAY and the Word Is That the Fight Is TO
go on Harder Than Ever Bankers To Be
Enlisted" Mark Hanna Is To Be Attacked
II 1t Will Not Act as q Boomerang" In the
body of the article It is stated that the fight
will 20 on more tiercely this week than ever"
and it is denied that Mr.. Platt's temporary
quiet is indicative of any cessation of hostili-
ties" Also that McKinley's financial record
"wil be attacked so vigorously that it is hoped
1.-The active antagonism of Republican bankers
"and large investors will be enlisted" The
In the frank disclosure of the plan by which
they are to be "enlisted" 1t Is as follows:
The opposition believe that such a disturbance
can be created In financial circles over the uncer
tainty as TO what would follow McKiney's cleo
ton TO cause a panic. The alarm OF business
interests is what the opposition are now count
ing on to beat Mckinley. II stocks would take
great slump the anu-McKinley men believe that
IL would drive sOund-money delegates away from
him or force him to make declaration. This is
what they want.
In pursuance of this plan It said that 1.-THE
"anti-McKinlcy forces have assurances that this
"week 100 officers of financial institutions will
publish a demand that Mckinley shall define
his position on the money question. This will
'accentuate Platt's contt ntion. The Plat men
were talking hopefully of panic last night"
So then, to "accentuate Piatt's contention we
are to have "such disturbance created in hnan-
cal circles as to cause a panic and 40
officers of financial institutions are to assist
Plat in promoting 1t. Since when did Plat
gain such an influence over the officers of linan
cial institutions that he is able to command their
cooperation and active aid in organizing iinan-
cial panic-than which nothing is more TO be
dreaded by wise and prudent finanCicrs-for the
sole purpose of promoting his political schemes?
Is it true that SO many officers of financial in
stitutions-Or, indeed, any-are ready to create
q panic for any reason whatever: Does any
officer of financial institution dclude himself
with the notion that he can prevent the NOM
nation of a candidate for office in whose sup
port a vast majority Of the people are already
enlisted by making an unprecedented demand
upon that candidate in advance Of his nOmna
ton. and threatening a financial panic as the
penalty Of n-compance? What nonsense.
And SO the Plat men were talking hopefully
Of panic! Think Of that. honest Republicans
You who, in the vague notion that you have
something to do with the selection Of candidates
as well as with voting for them afterward, have
made known your preference! You who, during
the last few months, in a manner most positive
and unmistakable, by majorites without prece
dent in any preliminary Presidential canvass,
have so clearly indicated your choice that the
most yirulent Of opponents cannot fail TO recOg-
nize its force and understand It's meaning Just
consider for a moment that two or three Bosses"
have put their heads together and concoctcd
plot TO defeat your will by organizing panic.
That they openly boast that they have $50 off,
GERS Of financial institutions backing them in
their endeav0r, and that they are talking hope
fully of panic. Was there ever such an eXhi-
bition Of desperation. or such a manifestation Of
cold-blooded total depravity? And these men
are called, or call themselves, leaders! Is the
Republican party reduced SO low?
And the 100 officers Of financial institutions"
who propose to play subordinate but tremen-
dously important parts in this plot by making
an indecent demand which they already know
will not be complied with for the avowed pur-
pose Of creating panic! Who are they? Let
us have the names of these co-cOnspirators, now
that the plan has been disclosed and know just
who the men are who are ready to incite
panic in order 10 scare majority Of the people
out Of their honest choice for President. The
people have right to know them, and they will
await the presentation Of their demand" with
unusual interest. If our financial institutions
are in the keeping of men who are ready TO in |
cite a panic for the sake of defeating the NOM
ination OF candidate for President, it is high
time the fact was known and the names Of these
custodians Of public and private credit made
public.
Talking hopefully of panic" are they?
Well.