The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-07-11
For the Democratic Advocate.
COWEN ON SILVER.
His "Three Influential Glasses"

The Baltimore San of the 18th ultimo has
a sort of interview with Receiver John X.
Cowen, of the Baltimore and Ohio r. r. Co.
in which he talks against silver out of cour-
iesy TO Mr.. Morgan, the great New York
'.Syndicatist" who is at present trying to get
his grip upon that road.
He said: THE adoption of free silver
platform at Chicago means that the city of
Baltimore will give an overwhelming major
ity for the Republican ticket and that the
electoral vote of Maryland will he east for
Mckinley.
The truth and fact is that this interview of
Mr.. Cowen, will insure at least 10000 silver
votes in Maryland. He and his road Repub
licanized Maryland in 1895; they will not be
able to repeat the dose in 1896, even for his
fellow statesman Mckinley.
He says: Mere success of a tree-silver
element even before single law could be en-
acted would precipitate a panic with which
the one of 1898 would not be comparable,
&c, &c.
1t appears to be great shame that this
great political financier has permitted the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad to get into such
a financial hole. when he knows so much
about finances. Evil communications cor
rupt good morals. and it may be that Bill
Harig and Charlie Goodman have ruined
Mr.. Governs formerly brilliant intellect.
He further says: 'The savings bank de-
positor will understand that his little pile,
laid aside for rainy day, is TO be handed
over to him with just one-half of the pur
chasing value it possessed. Where he depos-
tied 1O0-cent dollar he is to be returned a
50-cent dollar.
He is evidently afraid that the savings
banks will serve theic depositors as his road
has its stockholders, and thinks the U. S. Gov
eminent endorsement upon its notes are no
better than the B. 4 0.'s upon its own.
Again the gentleman remarks: The wage
Garner is the second and holders of insurance
policies, including all members of beneficial
organizations, compose the third.
Now concerning the 'wage-earners, it is
not very likely that any of them, especially
the vast masses who average only say 75c to
S1.50 per day, and never see and hear of a
gold dollar are going to be influenced by .
person who is drawing over S30,00O Il year
salary TO manage at present q road that has
been most miserably mismanaged and got into
trouble while he himself was the chief legal
and business adviser.
Concerning the Insurance Companies, they
are generally well managed, and as rule
their officers and legal advisors do not dabble
in politics. They didn'tsell their policies for
gold nor have they ever promised to pay them
in any thing except the ''legal tesder'' money
of the United States, and in addition to this
their investments as a general thing are
decidedly safer and better than railroad stocks
and bonds, viz Real Estate, United States
and City bonds. Insurance Companies that
invest in railroad securities are certainly I'M
safe. Railroad securities are based upon
traffic and competition some times knocks
receipts and disappoints dividend seekers.
The only other interests or securities that rail-
roads enjoy is rolling stock, tracks, dc. &c,
all of which are continually being worn and
torn out and have necessarily to be repaired
and replenished.
Mr.. Cowen continues: Every wage-earner
knows how hard it is to secure an increase in
his wages. As to such an increase take for
example the Baltimore 4 Ohio Railroad.
Al Of its obligations must be paid an gold.
1t would be compelled to make its collections
in silver
How is this? Does the Baltimore 4 Ohio
pay its employees in gold today? Are its re-
ceipts today in gold? Are they not mostly
paper money, and will they not be the same
even if silver is remonetized? The fact is
that the B. Il o. R. R. Co. pay TO their Brit
ISL creditors gold and to their employees sill
yer and notes, and they will continue to do
so until the end of time or the roads existence.
Mr.. Cowen further says: SIN this fight
capitalists and wage-earners have a common
interest The latter will never think so as
long as the farmer gets all the 100 cent dol
lars and they the so-called so cent dollars.
Mr. Cowen had better stick to a reeonstruc-
ton of his railroad trust and let politics
alone since his Congressional career has added
no lanrels to his majestic brow.
You ought to head this article, Mr.. Editor,
with a heroic picture of Mr.. Cownen flourish
a large broom as he did at the Chicago Con-
vention of 1892, endeaving to sweep the
Democratic delegation from Maryland off the
face of creation into Lake Michigan.
FREE SILVER.