The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-06
CRISP.S CHANGE ON COINAGE,
4 YEAR AGO HE ADMITTED HE
COULD NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

lie Contended That at Best the FL
nnncinI Question Was One of Ex-
periment-He Alluded to the
BIand-AIIison and sherman Laws
Rs Failures The ex-Speaker's
Friends Admit He is Weak on the
Financial Question.
Washington. April 5.-Many Of ex-Speal1-
er Crisp's friends in Washington regret
that he entered into joint debate with Sec
retary Hoke Smith on the financial ques-
tion, for. as one Of Judge Crisp's friends
remarked tonight: HE never was strong
on the money question"
In this connection Judge Lawson recall
ed an Interview with Mr.. Crisp which was
published I'm the Morning News on May 8.
1895, in which he frankly declared that ''ie
would be idle for him TO pose as a great
financial prophet, when men who have de-
voted their lives to studying that subject
are unable to agree as to the best method
OF bringing back to this country the PROS
perity 1t once enjoyed"
The Interview referred to took place In
this city, when Mr.. Crisp IVES on his way
TO spend n week at Asheville He had ar
rived In Washington via the steamer from
FAAN'A BANAANAAHh LIdL MT Oi6Nt@
land would not be a candidate for a third
term, Mr.. Crisp proceeded to say that ha
was not giving much attention to state
politics just now because this Is an on
year In Georgia and there will not be an
election in the state until next year. The
people of Georgia are talking
among themselves on the financial
question, just the same as IL
being done in other states. They are
naturally interested In the great question
Oh business prosperity. Many OF them
contend that free silver will give them
better prices for their products than they
are able TO obtain upon the present gold
standard. SO far as he Is individually con-
csrned, he admits that he Is not able to
soive the financial problem which has puz-
zled all the great iinanciers of the world.
In Georgia, as In other southern
states, the people are not committed ir-
revocably 70 either gold or silver. They
are struggling to get along to the best OF
ihelr ability ana provide for their families
doing.
'1rhe great experts of Europe and of the
United states diner as to the best means
oi settling the question, and the indica-
tlons are that the people themselves pro-
pose 70 try their hand at It during the
next national campaign"
IN the same interview IL was stated ssaA
best Mr. Crisp concludes that the dnan-
Slal question Is one OF experiment. as has
peen shown by all Of the financial legisIa-
ttt-n bNNiA NldtAtu curing the nAgt
twenty-five years, The Bland-Ailison ACT
aio not accomplish what its sponsors
canned Tor IL, neither did the sherman
law bring the relief that was exnected
Under these circumstances, Mr.. CrisD
says, u would be Idle for him to pose az
financial prophet" etc.
!. Many or Mr. Crisp's friends contend thar
y would nave been wise for him TO stand
ny the interview above quoted for thar
Was received not only In Georgia. but
throughout the United States as his hon
est convictions on the financial nIiaafinr
AT the time, many OF the leading newspa-
pers OF the country commended HIS frafk-
ne 6sss IN admitting that he was not capable
OF sowing the financial problem
Secretary Smith stated just prior IN bta
departure for Georgia, that II Mr.. Crisn
nad maintained the same position taken IN
lne aDouve quoted interview, he (smith1
would now be advocating HIS election fo
the Senate. :"
The reproduction of Mr.. Crisp's frank
utterances of one year ago are very in
on,, Ing az ms peroid and may cut an Inn
portant hgure In the future discusslon "a
the nnancial question in Georgia.