The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-06-17
BRYAN INTERVIEWED
THINKS REPUBLICANS WANT TO
RETIRE GREENBACkS.
The Silver Sentiment is Growing--Goid
Democrats Not Factor it hey
Act independently.
;nia
Norfolk Virginian.)

How do you view the non-action Of
the dominant party in the matter of
money lcgislation?" Virginian reporter
asked Hon. w. j. Bryan.
THE Republicans promised TO main
tain the gold standard until fore?gn ma
tions Joined in bimetallism. This does
not require any affirmative acton eA-
cept as to the attempt to secure inter
national bimetallism, and the admins
trarion has sent a commission abroad TO
consult other nations IN regard to CON
ference 1t seems to me that the lie
pubicans are doing upon the money
question all that could be expected or
them. 1t is probable that the admin
istration will recommend commission
to consider the question of retiring the
greenbacks, and | think it Is also pro-
bable that the commission Will be SO
selected as to report i'll favor OF retrlng
the greenbacks. The Republicans did
not, during the campaign, promise to
retire the greenbacks, but there is no
doubt that the Republican leaders desire
to do So"
HAS your observation upon the sab
ject of hard times led you to believe
that they are improvingT
$50 far as | have been able to see,
there has been no general improvement
in business conditions. The failures re-
ported weekly to not differ materially
in number from those reported year
ago, and bank failures have been more
numerous since the election than they
were before"
What are the chief reasons of the
continued business depression?
The position taken by bimetalllSts
during the campaign was that the low
prices received by a large portion of the
producers of wealth made 1T Impossible
for them to buy When the farmer has
nothing left after paying his taxes and
interest, he cannot buy from the manu-
facturer. and when manufacturers can
not sell they cannot employ labor. When
people are idle they are not good Gus
toners for the merchants.
rs the silver sentiment on the in
crease?"
THE silver sentiment is growing.
This is appartnt from the number who
are announcing their conversion, and
from the spring elections. / have no
doubt that the silver cause will be much
stronger in 1900 than it was last year"
Are you in favor of the maintenance
of free silver clubs until 1900?
Yes, decidedly. While events are The
best teachers, yet those who believe in
free silver must point out from time to
time the course of events, and show
their connection with the money ques-
ton. If the members of the free silver
clubs will make it their business TO cir
culate literatu and keep the matter be-
fore the public constant conversions 10
bimetallism will be the result"
do you expect the gold Democratic
party to be a factor in the next elec-
tionY'
lit is hard to say what influence the
gold Democrats will have in the next
election. The Palmer and Buckner vote
was only about 10000, many of these
being cast by persons who thought they
were voting for a Democratic ticket.
There is no way of knowing how many
gold Democrats voted for Mr.. Mckinley.
If the gold Democrats act alone they
will be insignificant in 1900. If they act
with the Republicans they may be of
some assistance. My own opinion is
that large number of those Democrats
who supported the gold standard in 1896
will be thoroughly converted to bimet-
allism before 1900 AS | have had occa-
sion to remark on previous occasions, |
do not think there can be any political
affiliation between the regular Demo
Gratis and the boilers. If the boilers
come to us they must come back beliey
ing in the Chicago platform. If any
of the Democrats are converted TO the
gold standard they can go to the bolt
ers.''
what are your impressions of the
South gathered from your tours through
Southern States?'
1.-The South is not suffering any more
than the rest of the country. In fact, |
are not sure that the South is suffering
as much as some other sections. The
people of the South have not borrowed
as largely as they have in some portions
of the country, and, therefore, not so
much injured by falling prices. When a
person is in debt he has certain fixed
charges which do not fall with falling
prices"
''Do you find Southern hospitality all
that you expected?
mo one is ever disappointed in regard
to Southern hospitality. The people
have earned reputat ion for their treat
ment of visitors and they seem deter
mined not to allow that reputation to
suffer / always enjoy visit to the
South"