The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-13
Mr.. schurz and MIR. Ga~e.

As the Hon. Lyman J. Gage had put
himself out Of court already by the force
of his own unanswerable argument in OPP
! position to his recent silver scar crow
letter, il was perhaps superhuous for
the Hon Carl Schurz again to dignity him
by noticing his latest efusiCn. as he has
done in The open letter printed elsewhere
in The Times this morning Having
| elected TO do so, it will at once appear
to the reader that Mr.. Schurz has made
a complete job of it and left Mr.. Gage in
an even more unenviable and ridiculous
position than he occupied before, if that
were possible.
| 1t was peculiarly unfortunate for the
| latter that. In his reply to the first
| Schurz letter, he should have attempted
/ the argument that the Republicans in the
| coming session of Congress, in the event OF
Mr. Bryan's election. would be unable 10
| close the loopholc in the gold standard
! law. which. as Gage and others seem to
confess. was left in it by the orders OF
Marcus A. Hanna, in order 10 have some
! thing upon the basis of which TO scare
the financial and business community into
/ liberal contributions and active work for
the Mckinley ticket. Mr.. Gage asserted
that Congress would probably" find it
difficult TO remedy the mistake or omis-
sion. owing to possible obstructive tao les
OF the minority.
To this Mr. Schurz forcibly replies that
his experience in parliamentary Affairs
satisfies him that if the Secretary OF the
Treasury will prepare simple measure
Of remedial legislation and have IL in
troduced on IRE first day of the session,
ana the majority presses 1t with SIN
cere determination 10 overcome obstruc-
tive tactics the three months of The ses-
sion will be more than sufficient to put
through such a bill" Mir. Gage is not a
parliamentary expert He has not the
record OF long service in the Senate be-
hind him. as Mir. schurz has. His knowl-
edge OF parliamentary affairs is probably
confined 80 what he learned at the ses
sions OF the Single Tax Club, to which
he used to belong before he became
Republican Cabinet Minister. He may,
therefore. be unwilling 20 take his oppo-
nent's word for things OF which he is
practically ignorant. But if n does not |
wish further TO add to the mirth of ma
lions he will drop the inability argL
incnt. as well as its companion piece in !
his lette~ in which he urged that if the /
Republican majority had the power they /
might lack the disposition to re-enforce /
the gold standard law, given the election
of Mr. Bryan previously.
On this point Nj Schurz asks him if
he suspects that. in such event. the Re
publican majority might not be wiling TO
take action. even il such action appeared
necessary to save the gold STANDARD He
says.
..If not willing Tie Republicans would be say
ing 10 the American people substantially ihi-:
We are the men TO maintain the gold standard
TherefGfc you must keep in Office and permit
rs 10 do whatever else please. however obnoA
ioii= il may be- 10 you. FOR. il yoa ystc out
we SHAH lst the gold STANDARD 20 TO pcrdition
even vLiie able TO save it. We nave you by tie
ti.roat and msan 10 hold sou 20
Having demolished the Secretary's POSI-
ton in regard TO remedial legislation, Mr..
schu.z proceeds TO draw The deadly paral-
lei on him ana 10 show the difference be
tween the technical and sane views OF
Gage. the Gnancier, on July 16. and those
OF G-ge the Administration agent, under
orders to yell wolf! wolf, on August q.
Comment on this branch of the SchurA
epistle is unnecessary. The text is quite
able to speak for itself
If Mr. McKtnley'a advisers are aincere
in their desire 10 advance his prospects
for election. they viii urge him TO force
his Secretary OF the Treasury to silence
for tie remainder OF the campaign. For
our own part we ask nothing better than
that he shall keep on airing those peculiar
views and arguments OF his. whion, as it
has often been our joy TO remark, are
invariably more dangerous Al the breect
than at the muzzle.