Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-01-27

nonOy1 WHICH MAS uOuolou bhO NhAuo VI
obligations payable in money and en-
riched the few who are fortunate
enough to own bonds or other securi-
ties which are reasonably certain to be
paid dollar for dollar? Every cent
made by misers, gold gamblers and
other spectators in money. is dishon-
estly flched from the great army of
toilers and wealth producers
Is Secretary Gage an honest man?
That is a very difficult question to an
swer. There are so many degrees Of
honesty viewed from different stand
points. Thieves have different stand
ards from persons who won't steal. 1t
is so we'll known that they have a
standard of honesty that the saying
Honesty among thieves" has become
proverb There is no class of men,
except, perhaps, the bankers, who
boast more of their honor and honesty
than the gambling fraternity. Not
withstanding this, there are many
doubts in the community at large as to
the honesty of gambling, and the peo-
pie are constantly demanding the pass
age of laws to check or stop gambling.
Now it may be that Mr.. Gage has some
idea or standard of honesty among
bankers. but from all his writings and
sayings he does not seem to think it
necessary to extend his principles of
honor and honesty beyond the frater-
nifty to which he belongs.
Do you think that Mr. Gage would
be dishonest in the treatment of the
rights and interests of persons not con-
nected with the banking fraternity?
Not at all; his intentions would be
good as to the world. The trouble with
him is that he cannot conceive it pos
sible that any person not banker
should have any rights or interests;
and in ignoring the rights and interests
of everybody outside of his fraternity
it is impos sible for him to conceive q
wrong thought or motive, because, in
his view, where no rights exist no in
jury can be inflicted.
What makes You think that Mr..
Gage is limited in his views Of right
and wrong to the banking fraternity
to which he belongs? Because he APP
pears utterly oblivious to the injustice
of taxing the people to pay subsidies
or make donations TO the banks, which
would be an act OF cold robbery and
villainy on his part if he knew the tax
payers had any rights which bankers
were required to respect
How does Mr.. Gage propose to give
the banks subsidies? He proposes to
issue United States gold bonds, buy up
the greenbacks treasury notes, and
silver certificates, and have no money
in circulation except gold and bank
currency.
How would that be giving subsidies
to the banks? 1t would not be giving
subsidies to the bank, if he did moth
ing else; but that is only part of the
scheme.
What else does he propose to do He
proposes to allow the banks to buy
these bonds which he proposes to is
sue, and deposit them in the treasury
of the United States for safe keeping,
while the owners are sure of drawing
their semi-annual interest on the
bonds
How would that be giving a subsidy
to the banks? That of itself would
give no subsidy to the banks; but he
proposes to give the banks United
States money called bank circulation,
issued by the government and redeem
able by the government to an amount
equal to the face of the bonds You
see this, if not . subsidy, is at least a
direct gift to the banks, because the
banks have their bonds and draw in
terest on them and get back from the
government the full amount of the
purchase money of the bonds. You see
this game beats the boy who said to
his playmate that he couldn't have his
cake and eat it too. The banker has
his bonds and the money he paid for
them. If Mr. Gage has any conception
that the Taxpayers had any rights
how could he propose that the govern
ment should give to the bankers with
out consideration hundreds of millions
of dollars?
Is there any other evidence that Mr..
Gage is oblivious to the rights of every
body but bankers? Oh, yes, he says
that requiring bankers to go to the
trouble Of depositing their bonds in the
Treasury department before the gov
eminent donates to them many hum
dreds of millions is waste of capital
and says In his speeches and inter
views that he anticipates a time when
the government will give the banks all
the money they want to do business on
without requiring Of them any security
or consideration whatever. He thinks