New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-21
CROKER ON SILVER AGAIN.
HE REITERATES THAT THE 16-TO1
QUESTION IS A DEAD ISSUE"
THAT WAS PROVED, HE SAYS. WHEN MR.
MKINLEY WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT
TIMES NOW BETTER AND THE
PEOPLE CONTENTED.

PEOPLE CONTENTED
Richard Croker has replied to the criticisms
hurled at him from all over the country as
result OF his recent interview In which he de-
clared silver to be dead issue, and in which
he came out for expansion Mr.. Crokers an
swer was made yesterday in an interview with
'"rammany Times" reporter. to be published
to-day. 1t Is as follows:
According to their point of view. these gen.
tlemen Of the press are quite right IN saying
that do not represent the Democracy OF this
country II they had only been thoughtful
enough to read the article in question little
more carefully, they would have seen that
gave my views simply as citizen OF New
York I trust that they will concede that am
entitled to the right Of free speech as we'll as
they are. 1 reiterate that the 10 to question
is dead issue. This was proven concusiveiy
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
trying to foist this dead Issue upon the Demo-
cratic party. and to make the old, dead cry 0
sixteen to one the Democratic slogan in l9Oo
Why should we carry dead weight IN thal
campaign? There is earthly reason for IT,
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, l
say that II the sixteen-to-one question is again
brought before the people. there will be telt
again throughout the Nation the same distrust
that prevailed in 1896 During the fall Of that
year. while the campaign was In progress every
man with a dollar Of surplus whether he was
millionaire or workingman. boarded his savings;
In fact, locked them up so securely that there
was actually no money In circulation. AS a
natural consequence, the times then became
wellnigh desperate. Look back at the winter OF
1896 and see what the mere rumor OF silver
coinage at the ratio Of 16 to L did to this
country You could not get money in the banks.
You could not raise money on any kind OF Sc
curity. and the result was the very hardest
kind of hard times.
From the South and West there always
comes the hue AID cry against New-York, be-
cause 1t is the money centre Of the United
States. But whenever there Is any great public
ir provement to be made in any section Of this
country, the first look for help is toward abused
New-York They rush to great city to raise
the money. They come here for the means to
build their railroads to construct their water
works. TO erect the plants for gas service, and
bond their cities for any kind Of improvement
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 II
is the money centre-that very centre without
which public improvement would be an impos-
sibility.
'If this silver question comes again before the
people and is made factor in the National
platform. the moneyed men OF the East will look
for investment outside of this country and the
banks in other States in the Union will be un-
able to borrow money in the East The result
will be that the poor will be the greatest suffer
ers. The present winter of 1S9S-'99 has been
free from the scenes OF starvation and suffering
that were so painfully Characteristic Of the time
when the financial strength of the country was
threatened. Everybody seems to be making a
living and to be contented The reason for this
is easily found. The men with money have
loosened their purse strings, and money Is being
plentifuy spent for public improvements.
Labor is not idle, and money Is In circulation,
because there is a feeling Of financial security.
Now, am talking, Of course. from the stand
point OF a New Yorker, as l find almost
unanimous sentiment against the free coinage OF
silver.
why should the New Yorker advocate silver?
The free silver issue Is, after all, merely local
issue In the sections where free silver will
benefit the residents Ii Is but natural for them to
declare for 16 to l. However, in my opin-
ion, the money question should be settled in
CONGRESS. But here in New-York, we must see
to It that the position Of our party on the money
question must meet the requirements, not Of any
one section but Of every section OF the United
States. When, In convention assembled, the ma
jority Of the delegates demand certain stand
ever has. fall faithfully in line without mo-
ment Of opposition or murmur Of protest.
But the Democratic platform Of 1900 has not
yet been written"