Natchitoches populist., 1899-02-10
BATTLE ROYAL Is ON.
THE BANKERS ARE CLIMBING
INTO THE SADDLE.

the bankefs' ASSOCIATION VIII Whlp
the Republican Politicians Into Line
for the McCleary Scheme to Control the
Volume of Currency Through the Banks
A battle royal is on between the
bankers association and the republl-
can politicians. The bankers all are
demanding the passage of the Nc
Cleary-Gage bill now before congress-
The Silver Knight Waterman says the
passage of this bill will in effect put a
saddle upon the backs of the business
men, property owners and laborers OF
the country, and put the bankers In
the saddle, booted and spurred. The
demand of the bankers for the passage
Of this measure is the most brazen de-
mand ever made by any class Of citi-
zens of their government in any age.
1t is criminal demand that the peo-
Pile surrender their right to life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness, because
the effect of this bill will be to put
into the hands Of the banking combina-
ton the power to plumber the people
ad libitum. Under the operations of
such law, values become plaything
in the hands Of the bankers. To re-
tire. either through taxation or by en-
larging the bonded debt, all the green
backs and treasury notes and make sill
yer dollars redeemahle in gold, and
then turn over to the banks the pow
er to issue and control all paper money
would prove as disastrous to the prop
erty owners. business men and laborers
Of the country as it would to surrender
the taxing power to private parties.
With a sound and stable money the
people would be able to transact BUSH
ness and create wealth with which to
pay taxes, and an abuse Of the taxing
power would not destroy the people be-
fore an opposition could be aroused
that would restore to the people their
rights. But with bank control OF the
money volume the banks will be able
to expand the currency and lend short
dollars and then contract the currency
and force the people to settle with
them on long dollars. In short the pro-
posed bill puts into the hands Of the
banks the powers to manipulate the
money volume so as to transfer the
wealth of the country into the hands
of the money-lending classes with nc
check upon them and no regulator ex-
cept the greed of the bankers.
Under the operation Of this bill the
bankers will be able to bankrupt, al
pleasure, NOT only such individuals as
oppose their sway but the whole coun'
try as well. Under the threat of theil
| displeasure they expect to be able tt
oyerawe the people individually ant
collectively
| The republican party did not dare
make this demand Of the banks par
of the st. Louis platform. They vel
knew that to do SO would mean over
whelming defeat The republican vot
ers of the country are not In favor o
this measure. The republican party i
not openly pledged to it. That tn
bankers exacted a pledge from Chair
man Hanna, before contributing t,
the campaign fund, Is not doubted
neither Is 1t doubted that the pledg
was given. The chairman Of the re
publican national committee, in givin
such a pledge did not represent tn
sentiments Of the individual member
Of the party.
The republican leaders are afraid @
this measure. They wish to avoid II
but the bankers are insisting upon
as a guild pro quo for the campaig
fund furnished. President Mckinley
position upon this measure is evasiv
at the present time. He liz THROWN
up straws to ascertain the directio
and force of the winds on this, as b
does on all other matters. He know
the power Of the bankers, as facto
In politics, and inclines to favor theI
and will do SCI unless he becomes cor
WINGED that to do so will compass tn
political downfall OF himself and hi
party.
The republican politicians are moi
afraid of the bank question than the
are of the silver question, and the
would avoid another encounter upo
that issue If they could. The America
people cannot be thrown into pan
over the question Of gold standard {
bimetallism. They remember tn;
from 1851 to 1879 the business of tt
: country was transacted without the u!
of either gold or silver. except as a
annoyance caused by vicious claus
: In the law creating the greenback ar
reserving a special function for IL
metals. In 1861, when both silver an
! gold left us with war on our hant
more terrible than any war we al
likely ever again to encounter II