The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-02-04
SILVER A LOCAL ISSUE.
Richard Croker Comes Out I'm An
other Declaration Against
sixteen 10 One.


In recent interview in Tammany
paper Richard Croker says:
1.-THE sixteen to one question Is a
dead issue. This was proven conclu-
s.vely by the expression of the will of
the people in 1896 when they elected
Mr.. Mckinley president of the United
States.
Now. the democrats of the west
and other sections of the country are
democratic party, and TO make the old
dead cry of sixteen 10 one the demo
cratic slogan in 1900.
'Why should we carry dead weight
in that campaign? The times OF four
years ago are past. To-day the times
are different and the issues are not the
same.
speaking for this section of the
country, | say that il the sixteen TO
one question is again brought before
the people there will be felt again
throughout the nation the same dis
trust that prevailed in 1896. During
the fall of that year, while the cam
paign was in progress every man with
dollar Of surplus, whether he was a
millionaire or workingman, boarded
his savings; in fact, locked them up so
securely that there was actually no
money in circulation.
"As n natural circumstance, the times
then became well-nigh desperate. Look
back at the winter Of 1896, and see what
the mere rumor OF silver coinage at the
ratio of sixteen to one did 10 this coun-
try. You could rot get money in the
banks. You could not raise money on
any kind OF security. and the result was
the very hardest kind of hard times.
"From the south and west there al
ways comes the hue and cry against
New York. because il is the money cen
ter of the United States. But when
ever there is any great public improve
ment TO be made in any section Of this
country, the first look for help is to-
ward abused New York. They rush 10
our great city TO raise the money.
They come here for the means to build
their railroads, TO construct their water
works, 10 erect plants for gas service.
and bond their cities for any kind Of inn
provement. Then, no matter how much
benefit is derived from this section of
the country, there is always the same
howl against the great city, because IL
Is the money center-that very center
without which public improvement
would be an impossibility.
IF this silver question comes again
before the people, and is made fac
tor in the national platform, the mon.
eyed men of the east will look for in
yestment outside of this country, and
the banks in other states in the union
will be unable 10 borrow money in the
east. The result will be that the poor
will be the greatest sufferers.
"rhe free silver issue is merely To-
cal issue. In the sections where free
silver will benefit the residents il Is but
natural for them 10 declare for sixteen
TO one However, in my opinion, the
money question should be settled by
congress. But here In New York we
must see 10 it that the position OF our
party on the money question must meet
the requirements not of any one sec
ton, but Of every section OF the United
States.
"When in convention assembled the
majority Of the delegates demand n
certain standard or certain reform,
New York will, as il ever has, fall faith
fully in line, without n moment OF OPP
position or a murmur OF protest. But
the democratic platform of 1900 has
not yet been written. Washington
Star.
cENATnp GRAY ON M,KINI.EY