The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-15
Are They sincere.


A Washington dispatch. published in
the New York Sun. intimates quite strong
ly that the silver senators-at least some
Of them-are gold men al heart. and that
in advocating silver legislation they are
simply Incorporating. One statement in
the dispatch is as follows:
There is indisputabIe evidence at hand
TO the effect that some OF the silver SEN
ators. those supposed 10 represent dis
tinctively silver constituencies have been
financially embarrassed for several years.
one or two are getting on their feet
again. others hope TO do so Nearly all
have a score OF financial irons in the
hre. and. strange as il may appear, not a
single iron has any direct connection
with the silver properties in the silver
states. The outside enterprises are in
eastern and southern states. and must be
hOated and supported by gold loans OBJ
tanned in the eastern states. There is the
best kind Of evidence to substantiate these
statements. These silver senators from
straightOut silver constituencies are very
well known in Washington. They have
fine hOmes-sOme Of them are heavily
mOrtgaged-and these senators represent
themselves; in other words, they are their
own constituents "
Not long ago it was stated with great
positiveness that Senator Teller was
largely interested in the gold mines of
Cripple Creek, and had stated to New
York friends that he expected to make a
fortune out OF these mines This state
ment has never been denied. 1t is also
stated that Senator Stewart is the owner
of several thousand acres of alleged gold
bearing land in South Carolina, and that
he is hunting for capital to develop the
mines on these lands. If he gets the cap
ital he must get it from those whom he
calls gold bugs.
Time and time again it has been as
serted that in all the contracts Senator
Stewart makes which call for the pay
ment of money to himself contain the
gold clause-that is, a clause requiring
the money TO be paid TO him, whether
principal or interest, shall be paid in
gold. SO far. as We have seen Mr.. Stew
art has never denied this assertion. 1t is
fair to assume therefore that it is true.
But If Senator Stewart. who is one of
the great leaders of the silverites, be-
lieves that the free and unlimited coinage
of silver would not put the country on
a silver basis-that is, would not debase
the currency-why does he insist that all
contracts for the payment of money to
him shall be gold contracts? The fact
that he demands gold contracts is proof
not only-that he does not believe what he
says about free silver coinage, but also
that, for reasons which he does not dis
close. he is playing the part of a dema-
gogue.
There is no doubt that good many of
the silver senators do not represent the
constituencies which elected them. They
know that the silver craze is dying out.
and that there is no probability that they
will be reelected unless they can do some
thing that would revive the interest in
silver They are, therefore, doing their
utmost to prevent any legislation that
would tend to relieve the treasury of its
financial troubles. They mean if they can,
to force the country to a silver basis
against the will of the people. believing
that If they succeed in their purpose 1t
would be long time before this coun-
try could get back to a gold basis, and
that in the financial and political CON
fusion which would follow they would be
able to retain their political prominence.