The times., 1898-01-26
A REBukE TO MR. GAGE
The Removal of Mint Director
Preston So Considered.
1T NAY LEAD TO A RUPTURE
The Presidents Peremptory Order
Think Of Resigning Agafn-Was
the Removal Made to- Placate the
Bimeta lists?


The resignation Of Mr.. Preston as di-
rector of the mint was only a fiction of
political usage. Mr.. Preston was no.
titled that the President desired to fill
his place with Republican. Mr.. Pres
ton, therefore, resigned.
The cause OF the removal of Mr.. Pres
ton is not hard to find, although he
himself is at a loss to account for 1t.
Mr. Dodge, his successor, is a thorough
Republican.
1t is well known that the President
has stated that he is in favor of BIZ
metallsrn. Mr.. Preston is not BIZ
metallist. He said yesterday that he
was not a Democrat, nor was he Re-
publican. but IAN independent" Mr..
Preston has trained with the former
President and the former Secretary OF
the Treasury, and he has been believed
by some people to be what is known as
a gold Democrat" This term, as ap-
piled to himself, Mr.. Preston repudiat-
ed yesterday. Il am against silver,
he said. $50 much so that am bigot
on the question, but l do not tnlnK
tldt my views OD silver ia = 'As -"
thing to do with my removal.
Mr.. Preston is q Tennesseean, who
has been in the service OF the treasury
for forty-one years. In 1874 ne was
made an examiner in the mint bureau.
In 1888 he was appointed director OF
the mint by the late President, anu
held that place until asked 10 resign
by President Mckinley. 1t Is peheNeu
thar Mr.. Preston's rabid or blSoted
views against silver as standaro money
commended him to the previous Al
ministration. He undertook, during the
last Administration and during the eA-
istence of the law authorizing the pur-
chase of silver bullion, to decline to
buy it on the plea that the offerers
wanted to fix the price. He was sus-
tanned in this by Secretary Carlisle
In the last campaign Mr.. Preston fur
nished a great deal of what was term
ed Sound money literature.
The removal of Mr.. Preston is re-
garded In some respects as an affront
to the Secretary of the Treasury. The
latter was not, ii is stated-and the
statement appears to be borne out by
the peremptory request from the Pres
ident that Mr.. Preston resign-adVlsed
of the intention of the President. and
it is known that Mr. Gage held Mr..
Preston in high repute. The talk about
the matter is that Mr.. Preston was too
radical in his opposition to silver, and
that it is not the cue of the Republic
an Administration to cherish such SEN
timents The President as above
noted, does not think that sound
money excludes silver, and in this re-
spect his removal of Mr. Preston is
considered as a rebuke TO both the di-
Treasury, and equivalent to telling
them that they hold heretical financial
views. considering the new light from
the West. 1t is possible that the Pres
ton incident may lead to an open rup-
ture between the Secretary of the
Treasury and the President.
The feeling against Secretary Gage
among the Western Republican Sen
ators, who are bitterly opposed to his
financial policy has been intensified
since the President named a
successor to Mr. Preston, and
as that was virtually a removal it
is freely predicted at the Capitol that
not many weeks will elapse before there
is a new Secretary.
The story is revived, also. that not
long ago Mr.. Gage practically offered
his resignation to the President, but it
was not written out and the matter was
then dropped. Had Mr.. Gage retired it
is the opinion of most of the Western
Republicans that the Teller resolution
would not have been pressed, nor would
Mr.. Wolcott have been compelled to
attack so vigorously the Sec
retary and others connected with the
Administration for their alleged efforts
to have the world believe that the Re-
publican leaders were not sincere when
they adopted the money plank of the st.
Louis platform.
Whether true or not. report is in
circulation that the relations between
Secretary Gage and the Republican
Senator's opposed to the single gold
standard have become so strained that
Mr. Gage has rendered his resignation
and will soon cease to be member OF
the Cabinet.
The Senators who demand that ne
shall retire are understood to be daily
complaining to the President that they
cannot be expected to uphold the Ad-
ministration if the financial policy is to
be one antagonistic to the wishes OF
their constituents.
The question is becoming very SER
ious one in legislative circles, and the
prediction is freely made that Presl-
dent Mckinley will soon find way in
which to declare in no uncertain tones
inst where he stands on the money
question.
The "kickers" among the Western
Republican Senators are anxious to
know if he stands by Mr.. Gage or is still
for the ST. Louis platform.