The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-07-15
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OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 10. 1899
The Cold Standard

line oHOrl Ou tuo PaAb VI
Republican leaders to commit their
party to q single gold standard dec.
lsrstion continues to be topic OF
very ganersl interest. 1t is not
viewed, however, with the utmost
satisfaction by those members OF the
party whose friendliness to silver has
been more or less conspicuous in the
psst and who do not believe that the
time has come for the complete side
tracking of the white metal. 1t is
already evident that there will be
considerable discussion OF the ques'
ton before the party is finally
placed upon record.
Senator Thurston, of Nebraska,
who has twice presided over Repub
lican national conventions, and
who is thoroughly acquainted with
the Republican sentiment of the
West talked very frankly TO rep
resentatiYe of The Post. of course
he said, the advocates of the single
gold standard declaration will have
the votes in the convention to &C
complish their purpose If they are
disposed to force the issue. The
Eastern States hsye large repre-
sentstion in the convention, and we
know that the colored delegates can
be won over. At the same time, |
do not see the necessity for such &C
ton. There are in the West con-
siderable number Of Republicans who
held moderate silver views in 1896,
and who still hold those views. Not
only would it be unwise to ALLEVIATE
these Republicans, but there is no
reason financially why the step
should be taken. We are going
along splendidly enough now
"Were not many Republicans kept
in line for Mckinley in 1896 by the
promise and hope Of ultimate bime-
tallismi''
Yes, of course was the reply.
'Bimetallism was argued very strongI
ly on the stump. The Republican
Party, as far as it has ever declared
officially, is committed to verv ear
neat effort to secure fair show for
silver. II these efforts should prove
unavsiling, then the party is com
mitted to the maintenance of tie
gold standard
ALL EFFORTS NOT EXHAUSTED.
DO not think that all these efforts
have been exhaustedG'
No, do not. On the con trary, it
really seems to me if Great Britain
and India and the European nations
are inclined to look more favorably
than eyer on bimetallism under some
new adjustments. Personally, | am
in favor of maintaining the gold
standard unless we can bring about
conditions giving more recognition
to silver in the money world. Even
if there is no immediate hope of do
ing that, ! would like the Republi-
can Party to remain in an attitude
where it can consistently urge it and
honestly try for it in the future
Notwithstanding this, do you ex-
pect to see the gold standard declsr-
alton in the law and in the plat
formf'
"In the platform, perhaps, for the
reasons | have already given you.
In the law, no. With the narrow
Republican majority in the House
and the moderate views OF good
many Republican Senators, really
do not look for very much in the
way Of financial legislation between
now and the Presidential campaign.
l know lots of men in both branches
Of Congress who believe that we are
now running along in excellent
shape, and that there may be danger
in legislsting on the question, except
such laws IS IT is necessary to pre-
vent.the endless chain operating to
the discontinue Of the Treasury in
times Of panic. The world is not
afraid of our financial condition.
There is not fear in Christiendom
that our currency will depreciste,
our standard be lowered, or our obi
cations be repudiated. Therefore, |
do not believe any legislation, with
the exception have named,is wise or
necessary. II g gold standard dec
lsration should be enacted in law
or be placed in the platform, it would
presumably bring the money issue to
the front in the next campaign, but
not certainly. II is impossible to
accurately predict what the issue
will be. In 1896 we shaped our
selves to Aght upon tariff lines and
had to switch over to meet the silver
question:
THE WEST WILL MEET TIE ISSUE.
What will the West do if the Re.
publieans Party adopts single stan
dard declarationf'
The Republicans of the Middle
West will, / take it, stand up to the
issue, but in the silver producing
states We cannot expect to gain any
ground. | Judge that it would not
make much difference in Oregon and
Washington, where the people have
already stood up to the platform. In
my State, in the last campaign, we
had o platform which was practi-
cally o declaration for the single
gold standard, and while we did not
carry the State ticket, we made enor
nous gains, losing by about 5000
and carrying the Legislature. re-.
peat, however, that do not see the
the necessity of forcing such deslar-
ton upon the party, either in law or
through q national platform"
Erik Skrsm, of Copenhagen, q sec.
rotary Of the Danish Legislature and
q well known novelist, is in Chicago
on q semi-oficisl mission. Heis com>
missioned by his Government to in
.raakina 70 the condition of the Danac