Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-08-19
AS TO THE CURRENCY.
The Presidents Policy In Carefully
ExpesHfent.


The most noticeable feature of the
discussion about the currency COM
mission was the utter absence of any
higher tone in it all than the mere
question of party expediency. That the
administration owes its power to last
falls pledges of currency reform seemed
to be consideration entirely elimi-
mated from discussion. Perhaps this is
not to be wondered at so muchs little
is to be expected in the way OF attach
ment to pledges from an administration
which has spent a twelfth OF its lease
of life in arranging to repay campaign
contributors through the tariff, to the
exclusion of all other subjects of dis
cussion. With such an administration,
under such conditions, it need not ex-
cite surprise that so poor and pitifui
sop to decency rs the currency commits
sion scheme should, after it had been
prepared and publicly announced as
about to be transmitted to congress, be
withheld, while the republican politi-
clans wrangled over the question of its
expediency.
Hanna, it appears, favored the trans
| mission of the message. Not that Han
ma had any idea that congress would
do anything on the subject if it was
sent in, for Hanna knew full well
| how completely at odds the repub-
licans in congress were, underneath
| their surface semblance of harmony,
| and how hard it had been to
hold congress together long enough to
| straighten out the conflict of selfish in
| terests over the tariff. But Hanna rea-
soned that the contest in Ohio, in which
he had so vital a concern and upon the
result of which will depend his re-
election or the loss of his seat in the
senate, is to hinge in great degree upon
| The financial question. An indication
by the administration that it favors
| legislation which will prevent future
| drains upon the gold reserve might
catch the business men in the state and
thus strengthen the republican cause.
| Hanna was well aware that no action
would be taken by the senate upon the
| presidents recommendations, if made,
| but he believed, apparently, that the
mere making of such recommendations
would be accepted as proof of the sim
cerity of the administration, and, by
| giving press and people something else
| Talk steer AWAY
| dangerous ground of the Dingley tariff.
The eastern republicans in congress.
as a rule, took the other side of the ar
gument. They feared that the financial
issue might again be thrust into prom
ipence at a time when their business
constituents were demanding rest from
discussion anS opportunity to adjust
themselves to the new conditions of the
Dingley bill. They asserted that they
| were deluged with letters from mer-
, chants, manufacturers and bankers
urging the unwisdom of renewal of
the controversy over the financial ques-
ton until the exigencies of a political
campaign should demand it.
So the president, simply careful
gentleman, much too amiable and too
| impressionable to be safely intrusted
with the great executive Office" bal
anced the pros and cons of currency
reform on the pole of expediency and
hesitated. How happy might he be
with either, were t'other dear charmer
qway!-Albany IN. " Argus.