The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-03
JOHN SHERMAN AND M.K1NLEY.

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Several new views have been throwI
upon Major McKinley's financial posi-
ton. The most important of these j:
the utterance of John Sherman, which
was given in New York 10 assure The
eastern gold standard men that Nc
Kinley is also a gold standard man.
When asked directly if Mckinley
was in favor of sound money, Sher
man replied: Certainly he is, and his
views are well known. Mckinley has
always stood and voted with the Re
publican party against the free coin
age of silver"
In the popular mind it is to be pre-
sumed this utterance will be ascribed
to Mckinley, because of the political
intimacy of Mckinley and Sherman.
This brings US down to the fiat ques-
ton: Does Sherman speak for Nc
Kinley with authority" We can de-
termine this with a great deal Of ex-
actitude. McKinley's first vote on the
! financial question was in 1877. On
the 9Th of November, 1877, Mr.. Bland
of Missouri moved in the house of rep
resentatives to suspend the rules and
pass a bill to authorize the free coin
age of the standard silver dollar. On
the call Of the roll Mr. Mckinley voted
yea.
This doesn't indicate that he always
voted with the Republican party
against the free coinage Of silver" as
Sherman asseyerates.
But that is immaterial. A survey of
McKinley'S actions one year later is
of vastly more Importance on this
point. The Bland bill was amended in
the senate, under the lead of Mr.. ALI
son, so as to provide for the coinage
of not less than 100000 nor more
than 100000 worth of silver bullion
into standard dollars, and in that form
passed by the house. President Hayes
vetoed the bill February %, 1873. On
the question Of repassing the bill over
the veto Mr.. Mckinley voted yea.
President Hayes secretary Of treas
ury wrote that veto message, and the
secretary Of treasury was John Sher-
man, then as now a gold standard man.
Mckinley voted to pass this bill over
this veto. John Sherman did not con-
troll McKinley's vote. 1t was as alb
solutely necessary to have gold STAN
dard votes then as it is now. But Nc
Kinley had his convictions and those
convictions were not the property of
John Sherman. 1t should be remem-
bered too that at that time Mckinley
vas a new man in public life. He,
like all new congressman, was inclined
TO look upon John Sherman as leader
and a man whose example he should
follow. Mckinley did not follow Sher-
man then, although Mckinley was new
and obscure. Is it likely that he is
following him now when Mckinley is
of greater moment in the public eye
than Sherman?
Mr.. Mckinley was chairman of the
committee on resolutionsin the Repub-
lican national convention of 1888, and
reported a platform which declared
that ''the Republican party is IN favor
Of the use Of both gold and silver as
money, and condemns the policy of the
Democratic administration in its eff |
forts to demonetize silver. these eff |
forts consisting of recommendations
by President Cleveland that congress
should repeal the Bland-Allison act. |
precisely like the recommendations |
made by Mr.. Clevelands Republican |
President Arthur.
Here again Major Mckinley was
always held tenaciously TO the gold
standard. Mckinley has never been
for it
There is this argument which might
make all these foregoing statements
is the argument that Nc
kinley may have changed, and, like
Carlisle, be today a gold standard man
of his views in former years.
But we have a later utterance from
still which shows that even
after he had been mentioned promi-
lently for president he was still for
silver. In his place in congress June
a, 1890, page GAIT Congressional Rec
,rd, he said: 81 am for the largest use
If silver in the currency of the country.
would not dishonOr it; | would give
t equal credit and honor with gold.
would utilize both metals as money and
liscredit neither. l want the double ,
tandard. Does anyone desire a
learer statement than that? Is
There is much anxiety in the west
yer McKinley's present QS90 views
n the financial question. He cannot :
peak now on the matter for it would I
e an indiscretion politically and a {
in regard to the national :
latform. But when the time comes. s
nd it will presently, Mckinley viii I
nnounce himself squarely and not |
the timid doubts of his I
-estern friends, it viii not be de- r
laraton for gold standard i
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THE HOPE IS IN THE PARTY.
Some little time Sincn Senator VNellar {