The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1900-10-26
GERMAN AMERICAN
FOR GOLD STANDARD.
Is the Paramount Issue Of the
Present Campaign.
Rryan's BOgies, Imperialism and Mill
tarism Cut No Figure with the
German-BOrn Voters.
Nn Interview with August Blum

Can Interview with August Blum.)
Mr.. August Blum, cashier Of the First
National Bank OF Chicago, intends to
vote for the reelection Of President Nc
Kiulev.
Mr.. Blum is one Of the best representa-
tives i'm Chicago Of the type of Germans
who have gained, in this country, the re-
spect of fellow American citizens, for in
| tecrity. industry and ability. He was
| cashier Of the Union National Bank; but
after'the recent absorption of that instr
tuition by the First National, he was
made cashier of the First National He
is generally recognized throughout the
West as leading banking authority, one
whose Judgment in connection with the
various complex questions that come be-
fore every banker is almost infallibly cor
rect.
In politics he is q Democrat, and was
always prominent supporter of Grover
| Cleveland.
The following are questions put to Mr..
Blum, and the replies he gave:
Q. Would the election of Bryan benefit
| the business interests Of Chicago. Of the
whole United States. and the German
| American citizens particularly?
A. The election of Mr.. Bryan would,
| m my opinion. be a great misfortune TO
this country, and therefore to Chicago,
/ and therefore TO GermanAmericans and
to every other kind Of Americans. Amer
lean citizens of German birth are not a
class by themselves.
Q. What, in your opinion, Is the para
mount issue Of this campaign?
A. The paramount issue is that which
| is in the peoples minds, not in the party
platform nor in the speeches Of leaders
necessarily. There is one thing in which
we are all vitality concerned, and that is
the inviolability of the country's standard
Of value. For a quarter of n century we
| have battled for il. At the last moment
| to surrender 60 the enemy would be the
height Of folly. l know of no other is
sue comparable to this one in importance.
! Talk of Imperialism is disingenuous.
Much as we may differ about the desira-
| bilty of the Philippines as a colony, we
occupy them now and largely through the
help Of Mr.. Bryan. The thing is done.
Q. What do you think of Bryan's
statement about the recent German loan?
A. 1t is very difficult to follow the tor
tuous road of Mr.. Bryan's utterances.
| Four years ago | tried persistently TO I'M
| derstand his utteranccs about the stand
ard OF value, hut / gave il up at last in
! despair. To construe our ability TO ah-
sorb foreign loan, as evidence of bsd
! times, is decidedly Bryanesque. We
could not loan money 10 foreign govern
ments if we were not in prosperous CON
dition. When Mr.. Bryan undertakes 10
| prove the contrary il may give him pleas
ure. but it will not convince any one.
Q. Do you think that this country has
prospered during the last four years as a
result of Republican policies?
A. Yes; the country has prospered dur
ing the last four years. The BEST in my
opinion, that can be legitimately said OF
the policy of any party is that il does
not stand in the way of normal business
DEVELOPMENT which would mean prosper.
| ity. That can be said OF the Republican
marty. During the last four years free
play has been given TO industry, frugality
and TO the natural productiveness of the
country. There has been no attempt at
interference by tampering with the stand
ard of value, which would have meant
destruction Of prosperity"
Q. Do you think Bryan is a safe, solid.
wise enough man 10 be PRESIDENT
A. ] answer this with most emphatic
NO.
O. How do you think German-Ameri-
cans, as class, will vote in the presi-
Dental election this fall?
| A. They viii vote according 10 the die
tates OF their conscience. have too much
confidence in the good sense OF my coun-
trymen TO be doubtful as 20 the outcome.