The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-30
THE ISSUE NOT DEAD
Mr., Teller Says Silver is
Very Much Alive.
1T AGITATES THE WORLD
RESULT OF ELECTING FREE
SILVER PRESIDENT IN 1900.
THE SENATE COULD BE CHANGED
Mr.. Teller Declares Moreover that Legislation is
MOI Necessary to Bring the Free Silver
Question Again to
the Front.
washington Post.)

"Silvcr is not dead issue said Sena-
tor Teller yesterday, as he talked with a
representative of the Post concerning
the recent election and the political out
look. Mr.. Teller has just arrived in
Washington, although he left his home
in Colorado week ago. He stopped In
Illinois while en- route.
Then you are not cast down over the
result of the election?"
THE election pleased me in some re-
spects and disappointed me in Others
was surprised that the Democrats came
so near winning control of the House.
The conditions were against them, ahd |
fully expected that the Republican ma.
iority in the next House would be as
large as in the present. | was not sur
prised at the results in Kansas, Califor-
mia. and Washington, but | did think that
in Nebraska Senator Allen would be re-
turned. As for the silver cause, when
you remember that silver was not an
issue in the East and that in the West
everything was overshadowed by the idea
of expansion. | do not see that there is
any reason for being depressed.
What will keep the silver issue alive?
I'm the first place, nothing is decided
until it is decided rightly and satisfac-
torily TO the great mass of the people,
and the silver question has not thus been
disposed of. Still more important, how
ever. is the fact that there is an agita-
tion of the silver question throughout the
whole world. and while this widespread
interest is manifested the subject cannot
die We heard in 1896. after the repeal
of the Sherman law, that silver was
dead. and in 1896 the same story was re-
peated. Now we are hearing it again,
hut it is no more true at this time than
it was in 1893 and 1896.
NOT BURIED OUT OF SIGHT.
Silver has been called dead and
damned enough" continued the Senator,
smilingly, "but it does not seem to be
buried out of sight. Why he continued
when you think for moment of the
conditions throughout the world, you can
see that silver agitation is certain to
continue Two-thirds of the people of the
world are so situated that they are CON-
PEELED to use silver. III China are 400,
100000, and in India are 300,000,000,
with millions more in the Asiatic coun-
tries and in Africa. and az long as gold
is the standard in one parr OF the world
and silver in another, just so long is
there dislocation of exchange and a
disturbance of commerce. A fixed stand
ard of value for silly n is necessary, and
until it has been reached the silver ques-
ton will not be settled
with a new Senate, in which the
friends of silver will be in the minority.
u. 4.
plished?"
IF n President should be elected in
1900" was the reply, who is forcible i'll
his character, and who is also friendly to
silver, it would not be impossible to pro-
duce an effect upon the Senate, even if
that body should be apparently opposed
to free coinage. We have seen admins
trations convert the Senate to a position
against silver, and why may we not wit
ness the reverse? In addition TO this, it
is qnite reasonable to believe that if the
people spoke for the free coinage of SIT
yer in 1900, the Senate would be infiuen-
ced in favor of some sort of legislation
friendly to silver. 1t will not, however,
require legislation to bring the silver
question to the front. If the next Pfesl-
dent believes in silver he will appoint a
Secretary Of the Treasury Of the same
belief. and together they can order the
greenbacks to be redeemed in silver
while the interest on the coin bonds can
be paid in the same metal As a matter
of fact, we now practically pay interest
in silver, because when you deposit your
interest check in bank, and then later go
to draw against it, the chances are that
you will receive silver certificates. In
more than one way, as | have pointed
out. the silver question will be kept alive.
1t is not dead yet, by any manner of
means"