The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-06
HIS EAR TO THE GROUND.

From the annual report of Comp
troller Dawes, published yesterday, it
would seem that President Mckinley
is disposed to shirk his part of the
responsibility for currency reform; and
the presidents message, published this
morning. confirms that impression.
The president is not man of orig
inality or decision. He is, therefore,
very unlike his predecessor in charac-
ter, however similar may be their
financial views.
President Mckinley always has his
ear to the ground. So many wires
have been laid in and about the capital
that he frequently hears from Wall
street what he takes to be the voice
of the people; but now and then some
breathless courier, like Grosvenor or
Allison, rushes in with a warning as to
the murmurings and real sentiments
of the masses. Always counting on a
reelection, DESTROYS of keeping the
good Will of the money brokers and
the friendship of the people, the presi-
I dent would like to be relieved of any
responsibility in the currency re-
/ form" movement He has already
recommended it in his special message
of July "a, 1897, and that ought to sat
/ isfy the currency reformers without his
being compelled to reaffirm his en-
dorsement.
Comptroller Dawes is evidently set
apart to perform the functions of me-
diator between the president and the
people, while Secretary Gage, who oc-
cupies the post Of honor in the admins
tration, may be relied upon to keep
the administration on the financial
track laid by the bankers at their
currency reform" conventions.
1t is well understood that Mr.. Dawes
is a close personal friend of the presi-
dent, and that undoubtedly his report
was read by the president before it
was put into print, and the assumption
is that there was no executive disap-
proval of the ground which Mr.. Dawes
| assumed.
But his position, which, on it's face,
/ is unfriendly to currency reform leg
islation, is Numerically opposed to
the views of the secretary of the treas
ury, which indicates that the admin
istration is beginning to practice up
already for its campaign specially of
riding the opposite direction horses in
1900.
The comptroller is besieged with tele-
grams and letters from all over the
country, it is said, some of which COM
mend his views, while others deprecate
the idea of postponing currency re-
form" day longer than is absolutely
necessary.
There may be fight, after all, on
this proposition, since Republicans
evince a. slight fear of making it an
immediate subject for change But the
friends of the currency bill do not in
tend to remain inactive. They will
plead their case before the leaders of
the Republican party in congress, a
majority of whom, according to Chair
man Hanna of the reform commits
sion,'' are already pledged to its sup
port. There is every reason to believe
that determined effort will be made
in the early weeks after the assem-
bling of congress to bring the leaders
u the party " d iSalIzdlloH OF the
forces behind their national organiza-
ton. The New York Press, forecast
ing the report and the policy contem-
plated therein, says that regardless of
Mr.. Dawes the campaign for currency
reform will be earnestly pushed. Many
influential members of the house and
some senators are known to hold the
opinion that it is the part of party
policy as well as party honesty at
least to attempt some amendments of
the currency laws. the necessity .foE
which was admitted not long time