Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-06
Secretary Gage Replies to
Open Letter Addressed
to Him.
HE REFUSES TO RETRACT
Considers That Election of Bryan
Would Be Menace to the Business
Interests of the Country-Quotes
the Words of Schurz Himself.

Washington, Sept. 5.-Secretary
recently received from Carl Schurz
criticising the statements made by the
secretary in an interview August 26,
in which he expressed the opinion that
Bryan, if elected president, could eX-
ercise considerable ''perverse ingenu-
ity,' and put the government on sill
Yer basis, ruin it's credit and bring in
calculable disaster upon the business
interests of the country. In reiterat-
ing his statements, Gage says in part:
1T oug-.. to be apparent to you, as no
doubt it was, that l was speaking Of
the possibilities of the case under
circumstances and conditions as they
now exist; but you proceed to point
out however, that at the next session
of congress. which will meet in De-
cember legislation could be had which
would completely forestall unfriendly
action toward the gold standard, even
if Bryan were elected, and should still
cherish the firm-set purpose declared
| by him. in 1896 at Knoxville, Tenn.
where he said: IF there is anyone
who believes the gold standard good
thing, or that it must be maintained,
l warn lin not to cast his vote for me
| because l promise him it will not be
maintained in this country longer
than am able to get rid of it,
| In way OF rejoinder to Schurzs crit
icism that false notes of alarm should
not be sounded by one in authority"
the secretary quotes from the utteran-
ces of Schurz in 1896 in which he
| (Schurz) predicted "the mere appre-
hension OF the possibility of Bryan's
election and the consequent placing
OF the country upon a silver basis,
would mean the practical paralysis OF
| the business of the country" adding:
Il am unable to perceive why the
same consequences in minor degree
perhaps, would not ensue now, which
you so forcibly foreshadowed then.
Now when the consequences are so
great as those involved, the forces OPP
Grating to inaugurate them should be
resisted at every point Even the pos
sibility of danger should be avoided.
1t is familiar fact and one altogether
too much in evidence that an admins
trative officer filled with hatred and
contempt of particular law can, by
perverse ingenuity practically null1fy
it's operations. The proposition that
in case of Bryan's election the present
congress can tie his hands so that he
cannot give effect to his expressed
intention appears to me fallacious. 1t
would require new legislation by q
party whose policy would have been
rejected by the people thru their last
expression at the polls. Further than
this the next session will expire by OPP
Grafton of law on the 4th OF March
next. The free silver minority would
be justified by their constituents in
using all resources of dilatory proce-
dure to prevent such legislation. Al
firmative legislation such as you sug-
gest would probably be Impossible
Can any one doubt that Bryan would
urge action by his friends in congress
to prevent further Strengthening OF
policy which he denounces as Grimm
all If Bryan is elected president ii
is of all things most probable that the
next house will have a democratic ma
jority, but even admitting that the
congress dating from March 4, will
not be able to effect any change II
our present financial legislation
What we may fairly ask, will be the
; effect of continued agitation Of the
question upon business and industry
set in motion by president bent up
on the restoration of free silver a
the ratio of 16 to 1, and elected upor
, that platform. You end your letter
: by suggesting that | retract what
said in fairness to the business com
munity which should not be unneces
sarily disquieted, especially not b.
those in authority. Thinking as l dt
that the election of Bryan would BIZ
real menace to the commercial AM
industrial interests of our people be
cause of the purpose he cherishe
and the power he would possess, l lt
not feel at liberty to act upon you
J suggestion. feel it my duty to a
least wait until after Bryan himsel
: has retracted his statement of 1889
t that it (the gold standardD 'woul'
l not be maintained in the countr.
g longer than am able to get rid 0
/ it,"
4 LADYBRAND is RELIEVED.