Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-10-19
PORTO RICAN MONEY
The Currency of the Island Will Have
to Be Remodeled.
an ISSUE IN The CAMPAIGN
What the Silver Men Would Do
if They Had Power.
IMPORTANCE OF ELECTIONS

The question Of the remodeling of the
currency of Porto Rico which Immediately
1oiloWs upon the raising of the American
nag over that island, is one which points
10 the Importance of questions at issue in
the present congressional campaign The
Vaiue and quality of the Porto Rican
money which is widely distributed among
the inhabitants of that island. is recos-
nized as difficult to adjust The status of
the island is changed since the hosting of
the nag yesterday. 1t is brought within
the sphere of coastwise trade and becomes
part of the United States, subject to the
tariH and tonnage laws and laws of COM
merce and trade of the United States
American currency, which is legal tender
IN other parts of the United States he
cones such there, and economic necessity
requires that the currency in the hands of
the inhabitants of Porto Rico shall he
fixed.
MUST Come Before Congress-
ms must come before Congress as a SUBJ
Ject OF legislation, together with other uues-
tiohs "lth respect to the local government
OF the island. If the Philippines should he
come attached to this country similar ones
lions would arise that would have to be
dealt with by Congress. If a silver partv
elther under the name of democracy or
by union of the several factions has con-
trol OF either house of Congress- 1t is ap-
parent that this matter cannot be adjusted
without reopening in Congress the silver
agitation. The silver men, who never lose
an opportunity to bring up the silver oues-
ticn, will undoubtedly make use of this sit
uation to inject the question into the next
Congress, and there is likely to be a great
deal OF confusion before the matter can
be settled The silver party do not confine
Cnelr demands for silver n 10 Anne
product. but want all silver the world over
given free access to American mintage at
the legal tender value of the American dol
lar. 1t is not believed that they will be
satisfied, if they have 1t in their power to
prevent, to have a silver currency in Porto
Rlco OF one value and in the rest of the
United States at another, but will attempt
10 compel the recoinage of Porto Rican sill
yer into American dollars or it's acceptance
with some mark of designation pending re-
coinage, at valuation equivalent to the
value of the American coin. Still having
the power to block legislation in Congress,
they VIII probably not permit this question
to be disposed of at the coming session.
In the next Congress, the republicans will
have undisputed control of the Senate un-
less something unheard of in politics oc-
ours at this falls elections, and the power
OF the administration to deal with ths
question in accordance with the policy of
the present government will depend upon
the result of the election in the matter of
control of the House.
importance of the Coming Elections.
This is one of the many questions grow
ing out of the war with Spain which render
the congressional elections this fall of the
utmost consequence to the country. The
administl alton and the republican cam
raign managers are fully alive to the sit
uation, and are trying to arouse the people
to the realization of the very great impor@-
of the election. They are sending out
a large quantity of literature, and the at
tentiCn Of their speakers is being called
particularly to the necessity of dwelling
upon the fact that the policy of the admin
iStratlOn is not carried out to completion
with the mere ending of the war and rhe
conclusion of the treaty of peace. Upon
a consistent policy being followed until
the whole matter of our relations toward
the conquered territory has been settled de-
pends the question of whether this govern
ment SHALL derive any compensatory ad-
Vantages or whether the country shall be
thrown into confusion by reason of its
triumphs in the war. The speeches made
by President Mckinley in his western tour
ere believed to have gone a long way to-
wards awakening the people in that section
of the country TO realization of the sit
uaton, and that there is still work to be
done by the administration, which should
not be interfered with by political antag-
onisms in Congress. 1t is believed that the
republicans derive great benefit from these
speeches. and there is very strong desire
that the President should make similar
speeches in other parts of the country
where, up TO the present time, there mas
been more or less indication of apathy, and
where consequently the republicans feel
themselves in some danger.
The Democratic Tactics.
The democrats are conducting a very pc
culiar campaign, their purpose apparently
being to avoid arousing public excitement
and interest At their headquarters here
they have very few persons employed to
conduct correspondence and distribute liter
ature, and a very limited volume of cam
paign documents is being issued. The sys-
TEN heretofore in vogue with the demo-
cratic committee of making broad claims
and giving out correspondence from COM
mtteemen in various districts favorable to
such claims has been abandoned entirely
in this campaign. No information of any
character from any of the congressional
committees is given out at the democratic
headquarters; no Dragging bulletins are be-
ing issued, no estimates given out and
their claims are confined with the general
statement that they hope to have the next
House. 1t is asserted that they have no
money, and that each congressional dis
trict is being relied on to take care of it.
self. Their campaign book has been so
compiled as not to present any exciting
new issues and to avoid arousing any pub
lie feeling in the campaign with respect to
the war Inc question Oh tne ueTOCTallC
attitude toward the problems growing out
of the war is also kept in the background |
The managers at headquarters decline to
discuss any Of the estimates as to the next |
House which have been published, and VIII |
not indicate in any way districts which |
they are hopeful of carrying. Their whole |
course indicates that they place their re- |
lance for success upon a stealthy cam |
paign which will admit of local issues dom |
irating where the party standing on ma |
tional questions is unpopular, and which |
will enable them to take advantage of apa- |
thetic conditions where the republican vote |
Is strong when aroused. They are rece;v- |
ing reports from local committeeman from |
al. parts of the country, but these reports |
are treated confidential, and there az |
pears to be a general understanding within |
the whole organization that the campaign
is to be made as quietly as possible.
Republican Activity.
The republicans are sending out a great !
quantity of literature, and are working |
with great energy, but, aware of the sort !
of campaign the Democrats are maxine |