New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-07-27
THE MENACE OF BRYANISM
ABRAM s. HEWITT SAYS THE FINANCIAL
ISSUE is THE GREAT QUESTION.
PRESIDENT HOSTILE THERETO COULD
BRING ABOUT RUIN-IMPOssIBLE TO
WITHDRAW TROOPS FROM PHILIP
PINES NOW-EX-MAYOR TO
VOTE FOP NI'ECTNCTEy
VOTE FOR M'KINLEY.

VOTE FOR MKINLEY
President hostile to n sound system of
finance could, if so disposed, even with the
laws they present, bring about
financial cOnvuIsiOn and work almost irrep-
arabic calamity to the business interests
If Bryan were elected tomorrow he would
find himself confronted with conditions in
the Philippines which wOud make IL Inn
possible him withdraw American
troops from the isInnds.-E Mayor Abram s
Hewitt Tribune reporter yesterday.
Ex-Mayor Abram S. Hewitt is apparently
pleased at the outcome Of the conference of
Gold Democrats at Indianapolis. When seen
yesterday at his Burling Slip offices. he said. in
answer to questions:
There are Gold Democrats and Gold Demo-
Gratis. There are those like myself who believe
that the financial question is the overshadowng
one in this campaign. and they will vote for
Mckinley and sound money. Then there are
others, like Edward NJ. Shepard and he is hon
est who think that imperialism is the funda-
mental issue and will vote against Mckinley
The financial Issue, however. is the greatest
question of the campaign, because a President
hostile to a sound system of finance could, If
so disposed, even with the laws as they are at
present and with the United States Senate as
it is at present constituted, bring about a f1nan-
caI convulsiOn and work almost irreparabIe
try.
The Philippine question, the other hand, is
that will take at least four years to solve.
We have a legitimate title to the islands. and
we are confronted with moral and treaty obli-
cations that make it practically impossible at
the present time to withdraw the troops. I am
not in sympathy with McKinleys policy in the
Philippines but as I said before, I do not con-
slider that question the paramount one, or the
one of greatest emergency. If Bryan
elected and inaugurated tomorrow. he would
find it impossible to withdraw the troops from
the Philippines. Affairs there cannot be un-
tangled in a hurry. 1t will take three four
years to clear up the situation there, I
ticpated that the financial question would again
be the leading issue of this campaign, and said
so in a speech before the Chamber of Com
merce on February 8, 1898 when the report of
the delegates to the indianapolis Monetary Con-
vention was handed in"
Mr.. Hewitt here hunted up a pamphlet. and
turning to his printed speech, said:
Il said at that time: Mr. Dodge and Mr..
Rhoades have we'll said that this is the
beginning of a struggle which must be
fought out to the end. There can be
compromise. and there be other ques-
tion in the next election, and the Presidential
election which follows but the question of
whether gold shall remain the standard of
value in this country or whether deprecated
dollar worth less than half of its face value
shall become the unit of value in all transac-
tons. 1t is the only question to be settled, and
l am glad that that question has been pre-
sented and will be settled by the vote of the
people. If they prefer deprecated money If the
laborer prefers to have forty-1ve cents on
dollar. and the man who holds life insurance
policy desires that his wife and children shall
receive forty-fve cents on a dollar. and If every
man who is a creditor is willing to receive forty
five cents on a dollar then let it be so; but let
the question be fairly presented, as il will be
under the report Of the Monetary Commission.
and then I am sure of what Mr. Rhoades said
was the language of Judge Crawford; am sure
that the people of this country. who are always
honest when properly instructed am sure that
this heresy which threatens the foundations Of
all business will be buried so deep as 70 be be-
yond the reach Of resurrection.