The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-05-25
BATTLE FOR GOLD.
Mr. o. T. Sawyer, the Dry
Goods Merchant,
Receives a Circular From the
Eastern G0ldbugs.
SENDSA STRONG REPLY
The Methods Of 1898 Are Being
Repeated.
Retail Merchants Are to BE In
timidated
Into Opposing the Election of
Major Mckinley.
SENDSA STR0NGREPLY
Merchants Are to BE In
timidated

Dry goods firms Of Topeka have re-
cefved a circular letter from the Dry
Goods Economist urging them to OPP
pose Mckinley because ne persistently
refuses to commit himself to the single
gold standard.
In furtherance of the scheme to fas-
ten the gold standard upon the coun-
try the methods employed in 1893 are
being repeated this year An example
of the means employed by the gold men
for this purpose is found in circular
which is reproduced below. 1t is re-
produced from an editorial which ap-
peared in the Dry Goods Economist,
copies of which have been sent to the
retail dry goods trade throughout the
country. Similar circulars were sent to
the country banks and various lines Of
trade ia 1893 for the purpose of urging
forward a demand for the repeal of the
Sherman law. What effect they had
cannot be known. but the Sherman law
was repealed
The consequences of that action are
seen in the multitude of business
wrecks which lie bleaching on the COM
mercial sands.
lit is reasonable to suppose that the
lesson to be derived from the history
of the past three years viii not be ig-
nored; that the consequences visited
upon those who bHndly followed the
lead or yielded to the threats of the
eastern gold bugs have not been with
out their uses.
This circular is important in the
sense that it throws much light on the
cause of the unanimlty with which the
people have hoczed to the Mckinley
standard. They regard it as pretty
safe to stand by the man whom the
eastern gold bug interests oppose.
Mr.. o. f. Sawyer of this city has
sent a reply to this circular, which is
also given below.
The Circular.
1t is the persistent policy of the Dry
Goods Economist to look up rather
than down, to count the rays of sun
shine and glimpses of blue sky rather
than the clouds, and to be generally
optimistic rather than the reverse. But
is is impossible not to recognize the
grave dangers that beset the business
interests Of the country, owing to the
peculiar circumstances that at present
surround the candidacy of Mr.. McKin-
ley for president We do not rank
among these dangers the possibility or
pEoDaDlnty OF a change in the tariff
ne believe that outside Of Interested
Inanu1acturers the great mass of Re
pupAcan business men who have weight
and influence in WASHINGTON ara nor
In faVor of any radical change in the
rates of duties and are heartily oD-
1-
a-sA Win Lne name OF the man who at
this writing seems to have SO favora bic
chance of being nominated aft ST
LOUIS ANY question of tariff revision
however us entirely OvershadoWed by
the vastly more important ono of
whether the next president of the Uni
teu states IS TO be a strong, OutspOken
anu Aestlles supporter of the existing
slaple got0 standard or a dabby truck
4lH8 ana dlsingenuous associate of
those who for selfish reasons desire to
s7"-lHs-r
standard of value cut in half and rem
IsLe4 SUBJECT TO constant fluctuations
---- N-efAiniey S record is that of a per
A-s-eAt lanuerer to the unsettlenent of
cur financial SYSTEM whether ha has
changed mis- views Of late or NOT M
one Knows, for i'm the face Of reDaatad
eXssperaungly silent
Loud as Mckinley's boom has been
@l,-Il, -I--,-- n 2y no means a fOregone con
uon We cannot believe that Other 49,,
OF vastly greater strength and 7-sef1--
4tLs ~ 1sCoIas VIII be ignored bv
tnelr party i'm favor of one whose uri
---s ana pubic career has given evil
1el4-e Of no more than the most o~
I1laIy aplllties7 but should MCKINLEY
~ Ao1illna aLedr then win come to tba
Democratic party the greates+ or,r,1-
Aunlly lt has had since 1884 Shof1i9 Il
e-oltl-4age q good man and come o11f
-@a-Assaly win an uncomprOmising gold
3-alualu plank 1T viii switch fh0r1s-
ands OF Republicans into its ranks vrbr
VIII FULLY cover the detection of tboso
VINO favor free silver, uncertainty and
business depression
For these reasons it Sc rieI,l7- fr,r,~--+
ant not only from a business D0i6f oe
view, but even from that of mere po1f-
Lcs' mat the merchants of the entire
country who favor the maintenance Of
the gold standard should place them
serves distinctly on record. Let the
qIy goods trade make itself plainly
leaId on this question 1T spoke
AAAACuEn our columns with u0 rrv0a44-f S.,
voice against the continuance Of the
puISnase OF silver by the government
% 49s5, let US hear from it again at this
-14tlSat PERIOD in our financial history
D6A GOODS MEN OF THE COM
-! -! Do YOU FAVOR THE MAIN
- - 1-,- - OF IdE PRESENT STA
LET Us HEAR FROM YOTT
Mr. sawyers Reply.
Topeka, Kan. May "a. 7sae
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