The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-19
MONEY QUESTION NOT SETTLED
SECRETARY GAGE MApFe SUCH
A STATEMENT.
Political Decree of 1896 Did Not Es-
tablish the Gold Standard, and the
Minority Will Force Motion to
Reconsider It In 1900.

Cleveland, O., March 1S.-Secretary of
the Treasury Gage delivered an address
this evening before the chamber of
commerce on the financial question.
This was in acceptance of an invitation
extended several weeks ago by the
chamber.
The secretary was met by the officers
of the chamber upon mis- arrival in the
city and escorted to the hotel.
At o'clock they had dinner together,
and then they proceeded to the cham
Der. which was badly crowded.
No one but members were admitted.
After the address the secretary was en-
tertained at the Union club.
Secretary Gage said in part:
Most of us had cherished the hope
that the financial issues which have so
long texed the country had been set
tied by the political decree of 1896. Most
of US had believed that the peoples
voice, having once been deciSiVely ut
tered those who represented that voice
would be left free to peaceably adjust
the financial policy of the government
in a manner consistent with the war
rant they had received. Events and
conditions easily recognizable now go
to show that such is not the fact. One
branch of the national legislature COM
paratiVely unaffected in its personnel
by the election of 1896. is evidently not
sytnpathetic to the reasonable and log
ical result. OF various political faiths,
the majority of members in that body
have the power to obstruct, perhaps
united. TO defeat the last expression of
the popular viii.
More than this the evidences are
strong that the minority will force a
motion to reconsider in 1900, the peO-
pies verdict of 1896. Already the lead
ers are bringing their skirmishers into
line for the congressional contests Of
next autumn. In a recent appeal, sep
arately issued-yet by indubitable signs
jointly conceived-the coalition fOrmu-
lated the catch words for the new cam
paign.
In reading these three addresses to
the people as 1 have read them, care
fully (and as psychological study they
are Interestingly 1 am constantly re-
minded of the character of IagO in the
tragedy of 'OthellO.
After abiding to the three addresses.
as being barren of fact, surcharged
with injurious and slanderous allega-
tions, unsupported by any evidence,
he sums up what he understands to be
the natural deductions from their state
ments and said:
Among a people, rude, ignorant and
superstitious, the 'bogy man carries an
important influence. He is thoroughly
believed. but we have a right TO be-
lieve that he cannot be introduced into
the life of a free and intelligent people
in the closing of the nineteenth CEN
fury, even by sponsors so respectable
as the three chairmen of the new pO-
litical league. 1t is a noticeable fact
that the political leaders to whom l
have referred offer. in their present ad-
dress, no curative recommendations.
By fair implication, their advice is:
Break down, destroy. We will name
the remedies later. But we know in
advance what their alleged remedies
are; they are substantially found in
the Chicago platform of 1896, and
prominent among these is the free coin
age of silver at the ratio of 16 to l.
The ruinous character of the remedy
has been again and again fully eX-
posed-the shock arr ruin to our COM.
mercial and industrial life, which the
inauguration of this remedy would
bring"
The speaker then argued that gold
having been the standard of money for
years, a change from it would unset
tie values and result in commercial
chaos.
Mr.. Gage then assented that inter
national bimetallism would not have
the faults to be found in free coinage
of silver by this country alone, and
said the Republican party is pledged
to bring about the former as soon as
possible. meantime preserving the pres
ent gold standard.