The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-28
HE is In ACCORD WITH GAGE
But WILL NOT URGE ACTION UNTIL
HE DEEMS THE TIME is RIPE.
Condition of the United States Treas
Pension Commissioner Evans.


| the currency question and its responsibility
| in connection Herewith, made the following
| significant statement this evening; Those
| who are seeking, regardless of party, TO es-
| tablish this country on stronger financial
| foundation and to insure the people more
| stable currency, need have no fears what
| ever about the President Mr. Mckinley
| is a single-standard man. He would be glad
| to see an international bimetallic agreement,
| but he believes, with the great mass of
| sound-money advocates, that such a thing is
| impossible and that the irresistible drift is
toward the single standard He differs,
! however, from some of his advisers as to the
! wisdom or desrability of forcing the is
| sue. He has heard of the old saw that the
| shortest way across is often the longest
way around. and he makes an application of
| this philosophy to the situation as he now
| sees it, He realizes the practical difficulties
| more keenly, perhaps, and more correctly,
| l think, than many clear-headed men do
who are wrapped up in the question of cur
rency reform and who are impatient to
crowd forward regardless of the prejudices
and opinions of the masses. President Me-
| Kinley is no less patriotic than they are.
and no less a friend of and believer in
| sound-money theories, but he is also poll
tician, and he does not believe in throwing
impatience of the sort that may defeat its
| own ends.
HE has his own ideas about carrying for
ward a campaign for putting the country in
| a better position financially and of building
| for his country a firmer credit. Secretary
| Gage and the President are in entire SYM
| pathy and accord in this matter. The Presi-
1 dent has unbounded confidence in his min
| lister of finance, and hopes to see his most
| advanced theories resolved into substance
and into fact, but he does not deceive himself
/ into thinking that these reforms can be
| brought about at once or without a pro-
longed struggle of, perhaps, many years due
| ration. Secretary Gage is of the same opin-
| ion, but he is perfectly willing to go to
| the front and pave the way for those who
| will follow him, and thereby make the con-
quest easier for them. His relation to the
| President in this fight at the present stage,
| is that of a brigade of slxirmishers thrown
out from the main line to feel the enemy
and draw it's fire. The fusillade which has
! been directed against the secretary serves
the purpose of enabling the President to
| ascertain the enemy's strength, and it also
| sounds the temper of the people. 1t makes
| the people familiar with many points about
currency reform which may have been OBJ
| scure to them. 1t accustoms their ears
| to the sound of phrases against which they
| have had unreasoning prejudice The edu-
cation which ensues will serve to dispel fears
of shadows which have for a long time con-
| fronted them.
''The free-silver batteries will pound away
at Mr. Gage until they get tired, and By
| that time the plan of the Indianapolis None
| tary Commission will be ready to be urged
on Congress. Discussion over the two plans
and also on the more moderate one con-
| tanned in the Presidents message will, in
| the course of time, become so general as to
| leave little doubt as to their effects upon
| the public mind. The President, from u
strategic position Of observation in the back
| ground, will be commandingly placed. If, in
| his opinion, the time and the occasion is
| propitious for continuing the agitation in
Congress he has but to give the word and
| the friends of the administration will stand
| by him. If, on the other hand, it should
| seem to him that the time is not ripe for
| crowding on steam, he can reduce the press
ure and permit the agitation to quiet down
| for the moment. Word can be passed along
| the line to that effect and discussion be-
| permitted to lag If it should seem TO him
that there might be a party advantage in
| taking more moderate course for the time
| being. This can be done without reversing
| the engines or taking back track and also
| without giving offense to Mr.. Gage or to the
| sound-money element which is seeking to
| give its strongest support TO the administra-
| tion.
| Between Mr.. Gage and the President
there is complete understanding on this
very question of policy and of the ex-
| igencies of politics. 1t may seem to
.the President poor judgment to run the
risk of sacrificing a Republican majority
in the lower house of Congress by pursuing
a too unrelenting course for currency re-
form, and by so doing postpone the day of
practical reform 1t is the Presidents ar
| dent wish that his first term should witness
the enactment of healthy laws for the bet
| terment of national finances and for the
| establishment of q more stable currency
| for the people, and it would be a great dis
| appointment to him to see the House of
| Representatives swing into Democratic con-
! troll in 1899, for the reason that it would
| prevent the consummation he most devOut-
| ly prays for. Whichever course he may
pursue later on will depend entirely on
| what he deems to be best for the welfare
of the Republican party. When the time
/ arrives for him to make his position plain
| feel sure that the whole Republican party
will back him up and be ready to look or
| him as their natural leader, as ne is their
| official leader.
1t has dawned on the trained politicians
| Of the Republican party who have come In
personal touch with the President during
the past nine months that he is a better
| politician than any of them. He is a MANY
| sided mana man who has clearer in
! sight into questions anecting the public
| welfare than any statesman who is to-day
! i'm public life. He is not the President OF
any clique or class Next to the welfare OF
| his country he values the success os the
| Republican party, and while a strict ad-
herent TO its principles and its tenets. he
| is no theorist and will not willingly per-
NIT the organization TO so upon the shoals
by pursuing too direct course when by
the exercise OF diplomacy. he can keep in
quieter waters and reach a safe harbor
without danger"
The federal treasury has rarely been In
as commanding position 1t is to-day
| with relation To the general money mar
hot has 1arps. snu,u IN Snoof.f