The Topeka state journal., 1897-09-10
GOV. LEEDY SEES 1T.
Says We Are in the Midst of
Great Prosperity
But He Does Not Believe That
it Will Last.
Says the Money Question Must Be
Solved and it Will Be the Main
Issue in the Next Campaign.

Governor Leedy agrees with William
]. Bryan that the principal and per-
haps the most important issue of the
next national as well as state COM
paigns will be the financial question.
There are many other subjects
which will come up for discussion,
said the governor to a Journal reporter
today, but I do not believe that any
of them will supersede the silver ques-
tion in Importance or diminish the inter-
etary reform.
Antitrust and anti-corporation agN
tation will continue. But 1 believe
said the governor, that the money
question will be upper1nost The or
ganization of the various kinds of po-
litical reform clubs will aid the Popu-
list party in the battle which it has be-
fore ii. The people seek relief, although
we are now in the midst of great pros
perity. Prosperity is what we are all
after Yet l can not persuade myself
prove but temporary. When that is
passed where will we find ourselves.
Back in the old rut certainly. What
we need most is q solution of the mon
ey question. When the money metals
of the United States are placed on
proper basis and the present vicious
gold standard administration is relega-
ted to the rear, or better yet, swept
from the field of political conflict, then
will the people of the United States be-
gin to enjoy the real prosperity. In my
under the present policies of our ma
tional government.
I will say, however, that if Mark
Hanna can guarantee a continuation of
our present prosperity we will seek no
changes from present conditions. But I
grow very tired when I hear men
championing the Mckinley administra-
ton because of the prosperity which
it has brought to the people of the
United States.
Prosperity indeed. How has it come?
Hmm
and in Europe and unprecedented
crops in the west. 1 think it is as un-
fair as it is unreasonable to base our
prosperity on the misfortune of others
and yet claim that the conditions are
the result of the handiwork of McKin-
ley. How foolish it is for men to talk
this way. Any man who will give the
subject moments consideration
knows whether or not he will admit it,
that the present high prices are due to
the conditions in Europe. OF course if
Mr.. Hanna can guarantee a famine in
Europe every year and immense crops
in Kansas at the same time presume
there are men who would be delighted
TO have such a condition exist. BY this
1 mean that there are men who, as
shown by utteranceS at this time, would
rejoice at starvation a abroad just as long
as the gold standard was maintained at
home.
''I have little sympathy and less re-
spect for men who talk in this vein,"
continued the governor. I'VE have
heard for years, the constant shouting
about Republican prosperity. 1t is the
same old cry which is brought out in
every national campaign.
I'VE have been deceived in the past
just some of us are being deceived
now, as to true conditions. We have
held confidence in some of these claims
but the history of the past shows that
each time we have done so, we have
discovered in the end that the other
fellows were simply whistling until
they could get out of the woods. The
conditions remain 1Jncha
as compared with the past. 1t is the
same old battle of the people against
corpora tions and trusts. not the least of
which is the gold standard money the
ory. We must work until the change
comes and with it will come genuine
and permanent prosperity.''