Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-09-06

Stdnt. IN winch you utter some WorQS OF
criticism upon the statements made by
me in newspaper interview published
August 10Th, In which / expressed the
opinion that Mr.. Bryan, If elected Pres
ident. could. by the exercise OF consider
able 'perverse ingenuity put the govern
ment on silver basis. ruin its credit and
bring incalculabie disaster upon the busi-
ness interests of the country.
You deny that the dangers set forth
by me in that interview really exist and
that any President will be able to do what
| declare might be done. unless the Re-
publican party in control of the govern
ment In both the legislative and executive
branches. proves itself utterly dishonest
in its professed purpose to maintain the
gold standard You say your denial is
not based upon the reasoning of those of
your critics who seek to show by figures
that President, desiring ever so much
to put the country on a silver basis, would
lack the means Of doing So On the con-
trary, you admit for arguments sake
all that l say on that point. 1t would not
seem, therefore, that there is any par
ticular difference between us as to what
Mr.. Bryan as President could do under
is.
1T ought to have been apparent to you.
as it no doubt was, that l was speaking
of the possibilities of the case under cir
cumstances and conditions as they now
exist; but you proceed to point out how.
at the next session of Congress, which
will meet in December. legislation could be
had which would completely forestall I'M
friendly action toward the gold standard
even If Mr.. Bryan were elected, and should
still cherish the firm-set purpose declared
by him on September l6 1896 at Knoxville,
Tenn, where he said: If there Is any
one who believes that the gold standard
Is good thing. or that 1t must be main
tained, warn him not to cast his vote for
me, because l promise him 1t will not be
maintained in this country longer than
! am able to get rid of it
You rebuke me in polite terms for
sounding a false note of alarm, disquieI-
ing the business community and especial
~ when uttered by one in authority.
II am not at all skilled In controversy,
and have had no practice in dialectics,
but l will indulge in few words In the
way OF rejoinder to your criticism.
disaster could overtake this country Cin
this l think you will agree with mel
than the breaking down of the gold stand
| ard and the adoption OF that principle of
| money for which Mr.. Bryan contends II,
| 1896 you yourself are quoted as having
said:
The mere apprehension of possibil-
| ity of Mr.. Bryan's election and of the con-
| sequent placing of our country upon the
| silver basis has already caused untold
| millions of our securities to be thrown
! upon the market Scores OF business or
ders are already recalled, large number
| of manufacturing establishments have al
ready stopped or restricted their opera
tons, enterprise Is already discouraged,
i and nearly paralyzed. And If these are
| the effect of mere apprehension of q
| possibility. what would be the effect OF
| the event itself? There is scarcely an i'm.
| aginable limit to the destruction to be
| wrought by the business disturbance that
| Mr.. Bryan's mere election would cause
| Il myself am unable to perceive why
| the same consequences in a minor degree
perhaps, would not ensue now. which you
| so forcibly foreshadowed then.
L
these are involved. the forces operating
to inaugurate them should be resisted
| at every point. Even the possibility Of
| danger should be avoided. 1t is a familiar
| fact, and one altogether too much in evi
dence, that an administrative officer filled
with hatred and contempt OF a particular
law, can, by perverse ingenuity, praeti
| cally nullify its operations. You point
| out in your letter that If the course indi.
| Gated by me in the interview referred tt
| should be contemplated by Mr. Bryan
| the Republican Congress which meets II
| December next, could In advance restrain
| him by new and more effective manda
| tory provisions The proposition that IN
| case of Mr.. Bryans election the presen
| Congress can tie his hands 80 that h'
cannot give effect TO his expressed inten
| ton appears to me to be faIlacious. /
| would require new legislation by party
| whose policy would have been rejected b,
| the people through their last expression
| at the polls. Further than this the mex
session will expire by operation of law OF
the 4th of March, 1901 The free silver mi
nority would be justified by their constit
uents in using all resources OF dilatorl
| procedure 10 prevent SuCn aIlf
| against such tactics affirmative Legislation
| such as you suggest would be probabl,
| impossible. Can anyone doubt that Mr.
| Bryan would urge action by his friend
| In Congress to prevent the furthe
strengthening OF the policy which he de
nounces as criminal?
Your remarks upon this point seem 4
indicate that you rely upon the exercis'
| of the power already conferred upon tn
| Republican party TO prevent the country
from experiencing disasters which Mr.
| Bryan will, II he can, bring upon US
May / not suggest that the way to secur'
safety is not to take power from thos'
| upon whom you rely for protection ans
| confer II upon those whose action 20,
| may have good cause to dread,
Since you have raised the question o
further legislation, let us look little fur
Their forward. II Mr.. Bryan Is elected
President, II is OF all things the mos
| probable that the next House will have
Democratic majority. but even admittins
| that the Congress dating from March 4
1901. will not be able 70 effect any chang
| in our present financial legislation what
| we may fairly ask will be the effect Of tn.
| continued agitation OF the question upor
business ana industry, set in motion b.
| a President bent upon the restoration o
| free silver at the ratio of Is TO /. anf
elected upon that platform?