The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-21
SENATOR CHANDLER's ADVICE

In his letter to the New York Post,
printed in the Journal yesterday, Sena-
tor Chandler has doubtless sounded the
keynote of the opposition to the finan-
ciaI measure submitted by Secretary
Gage for congressional action.
Senator Chandler is a member of the
political party at present in control of
the government, but he is one of the
many thousands of Republicans who
voted the party ticket in 1896 in the
belief that the pledge made in the st.
Louis platform to do all possible to
further the cause of bimetallism, meant
more than is embodied in the course
advocated by the secretary of the
treasury. The New Hampshire sena-
tor is clearly Of the opinion that the
placing of the country more firmly on
the gold standard is not the best way
to further the cause which Senator
Wolcott was sent to Europe to repre-
sent.
European nations may well question
our sincerity if while inviting them to
join with US in establishing a system
of International bimetaIlism, we at the
same time are engaged in an effort to
still further discredit and render sub
servient one of the metals.
If Mr.. Gage shall urge his currency
acquiesce in such a course, perhaps the
calamity to the party predicted by
Senator Chandler is not overdrawn.
There are enough Republicans in the
country who hold views similar to the
senator's to easily tip the political
scales to the side of the 5000 600 and
more voters who were in opposition to
the successful presidential candidate in
1896
If the calamity to the business of the
country, which he declares will follow
Secretary Cages prospective course,
shall become a reality, there can be lit
tie question about the political conse-
quences. Following is Senator Chand-
lers idea of what may come to pass,
in his own language:
IF Secretary Gage continues to press
upon congress a bill, the object of
which he says is, first to commit the
country 4nOre thoroughly to the gold
standard, and the immediate result of
which is to throw doubts upon the sin
cerity of the presidents declarations in
favor of continued efforts to secure BIZ
metallism, a political turmoil will arise
IN congress which viii split the now
united Republicans into fragments,
while it will unite and consolidate the
now incOngruous opposition.
With such an uprOar in congress a S
these proceedings will create, with GER
tain congressman embrOiled therein,
with presidential vetOes, as threatened
by Secretary Gage, under angry dis
cussiOn, it will happen that all business
enterprises and bonds and stocks will
be disturbed, prices will fall, insOlVen-
cies viii increase, and the Republicans
will lose the congressional elections in
1898 as disastrOuSly as they did in 1890
and beyond the hope of a faVOra BILE re-
action in 1900 at which time, therefore,
a Bryan Democratic president and con
gress will be chosen"
Here are presented strong reasons
from both a political and an economical
standpoint against even an attempt to
enact the Gage bill into law. Senator
Chandler may not be wholly correct in
his forecast, but he is man of long ex-
perience in public life and one who has
stood high in the councils of the party
with which he af1liates. He is at least
entitled to a respectful hearing.