The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-17
A HOPELESS UNDERTAKING.

Mr. w. w. Bowers of San Diego, Cal,
who has represented his district in con-
gress for three successive terms by the
grace of the Republican voters and was
defeated last fall by a Populist has
just reached home. He was at once in
4erviewed by the representative of To-
cal newspaper regarding the prospects
for silver. This is what he said:
president Mckinley is going to do
all in his power to carry out the pledg-
es made in the Republican platform at
the St. Louis convention, declaring for
an interna tional monetary conference
In this practically all the leaders of the
party, so far as 1 know, are agreed.
The vote on the motion of Mr.. Dingley
q week before adjournment showed
this His motion for the appointment
of a monetary conference passed the
house with only three dissenting votes.
But, between you and me scarcely any
of them believe it will amount to any
thing in the way of direct result In
other words they don't feel as though
anything would be accomplished as
result of this conference. Still they be-
lieve in doing what they can in that di-
rection to the extent of carrying out
the party pledges at least"
Mr.. Bowers has probably stated cor
rectly the feelings and sentiment of the
leaders of his party and there can be
little doubt that they are shared by the
people of the entire country. Scarcely
anybody believes or has at any time for
a number of years past believed that
anything in the direction of a restora-
4ion of bimetallism can be accomplish
ed by an Internal ional conference. The
result of Senator Wolcott's recent mis-
sion to Europe, so far as reported only
serves to confirm this view.
Nothing less has been expected of
President Mckinley, however, than that
he would do all that it is possible for
him to do to carry out the pledge made
to the people by the st. Louis conven-
tion. His intention to do so is confirm
ed by Mr.. Bowers who probably speaks
from more than hereSay- This opinion
has been further strengthened bya rumor
which comes from Washington that
Senator Wolcott will again visit Eur
ope at an early date as the accredited
representative of the president, for the
purpose of attempting to do something
in the interest of silver.
The president is probably acting in
the matter solely from sense of duty,
having no faith in his power to ac-
complish anything and not caring
whether he does or not. He doubtless
has implicit confidence in the power of
tariff revenues to bring prosperity to
the country and knows that when this
IS accomplished it will matter little
whether the country is on the gold
standard or the bimetallic standard as
long as that prosperity lasts.
If the proposed tariff legislation shall
fulfill the expectations of it's friends,
the administration can well afford to
fail on it's programme regarding silver.
But if the president shall fail in both
undertakings how shall he and his par
ty be redeemed? Where can the people
then look for help except to independ-
ent free coinage of silver.
1t is just such a contingency that the
leaders of the silver forces are looking
forward to with confidence and that is
why they are disposed to be so gener-
Gus regarding the tariff legislation as
TO declare that they will place no OBJ
stacle in it's way. The campaign of
1900 will be fought in Washington dur
zng the next sixty days.