The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-23
He BEGS THE QUESTION
Secretary Gage Writes a Letter
to President Gompers.
MAKES A PLEA FOR GOLD
Takes Exceptions to the Resolutions
Passed by the Federation Denounc-
ing Single Standard-Igno or
ance and Perversity.

Washington, Dec. 22.-Secretary Gage
ident Gompers of the Federation OF
Labor:
Il have read the resolutions adopted
at the Nashville convention of the Fed
GRAFTON of Labor, which recite as fol-
lows:
Resolved. That we declare ourselves
most positively opposed to the Gage
financial bill recently introduced in
congress by the secretary of the treas
ury. 1t is a measure that If adopted as
a law will only the more firmly rivit the
gold standard on the people of the
country and perpetuate its disastrous
effects in every form.
Resolved, That we pronounce the
Gage bill an undisguised effort to retire
our greenback currency and all govern
ment paper money, with a view to the
substitution of national bank notes in
their stead, and thus fasten the nation
al bank system for many years upon
the American people
Now If 1t be true that the gold
standard by which things have been
measured as to price for the last so
years in this country is inimical to the
interests of the laboring classes of the
United States, then l think 1t is mimi
cal to all classes; in other words, | do
class by another either through false
weights partial laws or a bad monetary
sytem can be made TO work for the per-
manent benefit of the exploiting class
ITSELF or for the general veal, even
were 1t defendable on any ground of
right or justice, which 1t is not Grant
ed. therefore, that the permanence of
the gold standard (for which | argue)
operates in this evil direction, then your
resolutions of condemnation are well
founded, and / am justly charged either
with an ignorance which constitutes me
a foolish adviser, or with a perversity
of motive which makes me an evil adj
wiser. l have a right to disavow the
charge of perversity or evil purpose
since there is nothing in my whole life
as related to my fellow men, either in
word or deed, from which the possess
sion by mo of such characteristics can
be inferred. much less demonstrated.
But ignorance often unconsciously
works as deep injury as evil intent
might do, and to the sin of ignorance,
II 1t be a sin, ] must confess myself to
be possible victim. This confession.
however. ought not to classify me as
separate from my fellow men generally
whether they be considered as individ-
ual units or as congregated in groups.
Ignorance is a relative, not an absolute
term, since few are totally ignorant.
and none are absolutely wise. Nor does
the number constituting the group
change this fact, since the wisdom of a
group, however large, cannot be greater
than that of the wisest man in ii.
This remains true whether the sub
ject matters involving knowledge and
judgment be astronomy. physics or
finance. The condemnation then in
volved in the result referred to is meas
ured by the just or imperfect apprehen-
sion of questions relating to monetary
science held by the wisest men who
supported them.
Laying these general considerations
aside let me say through you to the
great body you honorably represent,
that, If instead of denunciatory resolu-
lions, which are not argument, you, or
anyone in your behalf, will show that
the views / entertain and advocate are
other than salutary to the great eco
nnmic body of which We are all indie
pendent members, l will abandon them
hesitation. My present convic-
ton, the honest fruit of sincere study
and reflection, Is that breakdown in
our present money standard would be
most disastrous blow to all our COM
mercial and industrial interests, and
that upon the wage workers as a class
would be entailed the most serious
effects of the disaster. Believing this |
must so hear witness"