The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-01-04
PRESIDENT ATTITUDE
Some Mystery Concerning His
Position on Currency.
HIS RELATIONS WITH MR.. GAGE.
Although More Conservative In Biz Views.
the President Is on Cordial Terms with
the Secretary, Who L. the Most Infiu-
entail Member OF the Cabinet.

the President Is on Cordial Terms With
the Secretary, Who IL the Most inhu-
entail Member Of the Cabinet.
WAsHINGToN, Jan 4.-lSpecial. SEQ
retary Gage has for some time been at the
center of the stage in the national capital.
He is now the most talked of man In the
cabinet A few days ago the newspapers
had IL that he had offered his resignation
To the president and was about to leave the
cabinet This turned out not to be true,
or to be true only in limited sense. What |
did occur is very easily explained, and as |
I baupen TO know all the facts l will give |
them.
When the secretary brought out his plan
for reofganizing the currency system no
was savagely attacked by the silver men
They were specially antagonistic to his
idea. as expressed by him in a hearing be-
fore the house committee on banking and
currency, to perpetuate the gold standard
I'm the legislation which he had proposed
When these attacks came, Mr.. Gage went
to the president and had talk with MIN
1t was only natural for him to wish TO
know If his chief was satisfied with MS
course. He did not tender his resigna-
ton in so many words, or even by I'M
plication, except that he did say he was
going on with his fight, and If at any time
| in the future the president Thought ne was
battling unwisely or too eagerly he tine
secretary wanted to be called down
Cordial Relations.
| OF course there was the inference that
| II the president should find the secretary
was going too far or too fast in certain
direction perhaps the administration coulu
be relieved of embarrassment by the resle
nation of the offending official, ana tnis
was the nearest Mr.. Gage came to oner-
ing his resignation. / am reliably INFORM
ed that the conversation between the pres
ident and the secretary of the treasury on
this occasion was of the most friendly and
cordial character. The retirement Of Mr..
Gage from the cabinet was farthest from
the thoughts Of either man when they
lparted. - -,
message formally approve what is now
known as the Gage plan, yet he was quite
willing that plan should be brought for
ward by his cabinet officer. Moreover, ne
wants the secretary to go ahead with Ms
agitation and promises support In secur
ing some action. Inasmuch as the gossip'
of Washington have been wondering what
: President Mckinley would do-follow TIT
; timetable path along with Senator VOL
: colt or 90 with the gold standard people
led by Secretary Gage-the answer OF TIT
president appears to be that he leans NOR
strongly to the Gage than to the Wolcot
idea.
am reminded by Democratic senate
that four years ago there was somewha
: similar situation in the cabinet, excep
e that In that case the president, who did no
d quite agree with his secretary OF the treas
$ ury. had his own way, while the secretar
found it convenient to modify his views
accordance with those of his CHIEF. fres
,. dent Cleveland was q gold standard ma
e pure and simple, while Secretary Cariis
e still had leaning to silver. But u
l. strong will and earnest convictions of tn
h president carried the day, and when Nj
N Carlisle had modified his views to SON
It extent he became one of the most earne
le and eloquent advocates OF the system Il
a which Mr. Cleveland stood.
{, McKinIey's Attitude.
In AS to the present attitude of the pres
m dent some little mystery remains. IL
L. best explanation of his position ma
s. heard was given by member OF the ca
met who is not himself especially interes
L. ed i'm financial affairs. 1.-THE preside
u Gil. THAT he was commanded by the
lie Louis platform to promote two thing
o. One of these was the gold standard, al
y; the other was international bmetallisi
mt The first was to be held to till the latt
ot could be achieved. The president has no
xt estly tried to bring about the information
ed apreemept I think If Senator Wolct
ep were asked the question If the preside
he had Loyalty supported him and his G
of leagues during their work for bimetaiiis
be In Europe he would admit that such
CHI the case. But, that effort having PROVED
n failure the president now returns TO u
nd other commen6 OF the st. Louis platfo
he and is doing his best to make sure
safe the means of preserving the 81
to- standard" :,
he docs the president personally belle
M i'm the practicability of successful inter-
ma tional bimetallismy" / asked.
IN "As to that, replied the cabinet OHIO
~ at am not sure, but think he does
he think he believes that II England were
no. come in France would willingly join, &
We. many would be forced In, and Russia
the others would have to follow suit
a.. though have not talked with the pr
"a dent on this particular point, am
'. he believes bimetallism could DC sustain
- | III the great natiOne Woio w "e.sS
l".' IL. hut he does not believe the nations
go agree. So there Is nothing left for
ia TO do but to preserve things as they
oy in accordance with the instructions 81
one him by the Republican convention
MT. Cages Views.
ark Secretary Gage, on the other hand,
on not believe "a fixed and relative value
ru. tween gold and silver" could be maint
.v. ed II all the nations Of the world wer
Ger ioin in the effort 1t might DO for s
uch time. but eventually, In his opinion,
who ural law would strike down the pr
,s,v ranged parity Mr.. Gage thinks Ger
,ss. relationship In the value OF the two m'
.h,. could no more be maintained by co-ol
'.au tion of the nations than liked rela'
.S.a ship between the barometer and the
mometer could be preserved by act OF
Qress. This is why MIR. Gage Is SO o.
tiopabls to the bimetallists and silver
Personally Secretary Gage, arr
- whose head the storm OF politics
Says rases. is one Of the most agreeable me
uIes the cabinet He 10 approachaole. &c
no,s Kind hearted. good talkor and "a
fond of meeting bis friends He
vnen neat way OF working and talking
y :" same time, always without effort Oh