The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-18
CLAUS SPRECKELS
TALKS OF SILVER
Thinks That Free Coinage
Would Wreck the
Country.
WOULD MEAN DISH0N0R
He Does Not Believe There Is
Any Danger of 1t Being
Successful.
HOW TO CURE HARD TIMES.
Let People of Money Invest 1t in
Enterprises That Employ
Labor.


try and in the world-what is really neces-
sary is its employment" said Claus
Spreckels, looking up from study of the
plan of his proposed beet-sugar factory
and refinery, in his private business office
yesterday morning.
THE average man is much more inter
ested in securing employment than he is
in any of the vagaries OF the political
economists. l venture to say that dis
cussion of the ways and means by which
the farmer may get rid OF his mortgage
will interest him more than any other
subject one might suggest. And that is
the subject that the patriotic citizens of
California should keep to the front. Men
with money should employ it. That, to
my mind, is the solution of the whole
matter. The proper employment of
money means the employment of men.
Il have just returned from a visit to the
most prosperous country in Europe-f
not, indeed, at this time in the whole
world. 1t is a country that looks out for
its own. 1t is a high-tariff country. BY a
system of bonuses TO manufacturers it en-
ables them to enter into competition with
the manufacturers of the world in the
markets of the world to such an extent
that no less an authority than the London
Times, the 'thunderer,' gave place to an
article while 1 was there warning England
that it would have to return to tariff sys-
tenn if it would preserve its place among
the nations in business sense.
This country that l am speaking of is
Germany. Its prosperity in these times
that people call dull is simply marvellous
II is building up in every quarter, and en-
terprise marks every field of endeavor in
the empire. 1t should be so in this coun-
try-this is my country, and want to see
it forever in the lead.
Now, speaking OF the money question
that has suddenly become such a factor in
politics." continued Mr.. Spreckels, 81
know whereof l speak when I say there is
plenty for the business of the world. 1t
can be had in abundance upon the offer
ing OF good security. While 1 was in Lon
don friend of mine borrowed $4,000 for
seven days, for which he had to pay at the
rate OF one-eighth of per cent per annum.
You can figure it up-it amounts to but a
few shillings for the use OF that big sum.
Money IS lying in the vaults there only
waiting for the security that may bring it
into use.
they feel in London and throughout Europe
concerning this silver agitation in the
United States. 1t is a time OF great sus-
pense to them, for they look upon the
adoption of the free-silver idea as literal
reputation of our debts. Business men
said to me: Surely, the United States
the people OF the United States-a big,
busy, brave, solvent Nation, will never do
such thingP
81 said to them: DO not be afraid !;
they will never do it,
Il am as confident now as I was then
that they will not do it. This country
stands in the front rank of the nations OF
the earth. Can it afford at this day to
build another Chinese wall? No. We
must trade with our neighbors-the other
nations-and to do so we must bave
money acceptable to them. That is plain
business sense. Not only that, but it is a
demand of honor. We must sustain our
credit.
''Now as for this cry for silver and its
benefit to the working people-that is
simply the talk either of the demagogue
or the unthinking. With free silver the
laborer receives cheap money for his work
and is compelled to pay high prices for
what he buys. would scarcely be going
too far to give it as my belief that free
silver would mean revolution.
But. as I have said, this is scarcely to
be feared. The people of this country
have too much good sense to commit any
such folly. What the working people do
need, however, is employment; that is my
hobby. Given employment, the working
men of this country know that thew are
the favored people OF the earth, that OBJ
portunity lies on every hand and that they
can become whatever they set their minds
to-"
Returning to the subject uppermost in
his mind, Mr.. Spreckels said: az am en-
gagged in this new beet-sugar enterprise.
not for the sake of making more money
certainly. started out in life with the
simple ambition of providing for myself a
competence against old age. have more
than done that. L enjoy good health and
must keep at work. ] would consider that
l was doing myself and my fellow
citizens a wrong were / to conten.
myself with sitting down and cutting
coupons. l don't think any man of any
capital has right to do that. By inau-
gurating this beet-sugar industry, as 1 in
tend to do, compete with myself. 1t
will greatly interfere with my interests in
Hawaii, and Will virtually destroy my re-
finery here. But what of that? 1 am con-
WINGED that beet sugar is the thing. Shall
/ sit down and wait for some one else to
enter in and take the lead? am not used
to taking second place. No. But that is
because I find my greatest pleasure in
these plans that give employment to
others. 1 have Travelled all over Europe
studying this beet-sugar industry.
II was treated handsomely and accorded
opportunities to study the methods that
are accorded TO few. l have not thrown
those opportunities away. l have here
before me plans for an immense refinery
that shall combine all the latest
Improvements in the manufacture.
Now, this to be sure, is the
results of my experience and study OF this
business. Still l am not disposed to make
secret of it for my own profit. am will
ling and would be glad to advise With