The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-10-12
AUGUST BLUM FOR MCKINLEY,
Prominent German-American Democrat
and Business Man Out For the Repub=
Iican Nominee For President.

-
and Business Man Out For the Repub-
Iican Nominee For President.
Mr.. August Blum, cashier of the
First National bank, of Chicago, in
tends to vote for the reelection of
President Mckinley.
Mr.. Blum is one of the best repre-
sentatives in Chicago of the type of
Germans who have gained, in this
country, the respect of fellow Ameri-
cans, for integrity industry and abil-
ity. He was cashier of the Union Ma
tional bank; but after the recent alb
sorption of that institution by the
First National, he was made cashier
of the First National. He is gener-
ally recognized throughout the west
as a leading banking authority, one
whose judgment in connection with
the various complex questions that
come before every banker is almost
infallibly correct.
In politics he is Democrat, or at
least was always a prominent sup
porter of Grover Cleveland.
The following are questions put to
Mr.. Blum, and the replies he gave:
@. Would the election of Bryan
benefit the business interests of Chi
cago of the whole United States, and
the German American citizens par
ticularly?
A. 1.-THE election of Mr.. Bryan
would, in my opinion, be a great mis-
fortune to this country. and therefore
to Chicago, and therefore to German
Americans and to every kind of
Americans American citizens of
German birth are not class by them
selves nor do they need to be talked
to as if their interests were apart from
those of other Americans. -
@. What, in your opinion, is the
paramount 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 the 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.
battled for it, At the last moment to
surrender to the enemy would be the
height of folly. know of no other
issue comparable to this one in inn
portance. Talk of imperialism is dis
ingenious. Much as we may differ
about the desirability of the Philip
pines as a colony, we occupy them now
and largely through the help of Mr.:
Bryan. The thing is done. Political
programs should never be RETROSPECT
tive. The heart of the Democratic
party is not with Mr.. Bryan in his
artificial issue. What Mr.. Bryan,
himself, if elected, would do about the
Philippines is too vague and illogical
to seriously consider. -
O. What do you think of Bryan S
statement about the recent German
loan3
A. cit is very difficult to follow
the tortuous road of Mr.. Bryan's ut
terances. Four years ago tried per-
sistently to understand his utterances
about the standard of value, but gave
it ND at last in despair. To construe
our ability to absorb foreign loan,
as evidence of bad times, is decidedly
Bryanesuue. We could not loan money
to foreign governments If we were not
| in prosperous condition. When Mr..
BRYAN undertakes to prove the con-
| trary it may give him pleasure, but II
will not convince any one.
O. Do you think that this country
! has prospered during the last foul
years as result of Republican poll
cies2
A. Yes the country has prospere6
.during the last four years The best,
lin my opinion, that can be legitim
ately said of the policy of any party il
! that it does not stand in the way Of
normal business development which
j would mean prosperity. That can bt
said of the Republican party. During
the last four years free play has beer
/ given to industry. frugality and to the
| natural productiveness of the country
There has been no attempt at inter
ference by tampering with the stand
ard of value, which would have mean
destruction of prosperity. f."
@. Do you think Bryan is sfae
solid, wise enough man to be presi
dent2
A. 81 answer this with mos
emphatic NO.
/ @. How do you think German
Americans, as class, will vote In tn
presidential election this fall2
A. "They will vote according to tn
dictates of their conscience. 1 hav
too much confidence in the good sens
of my countrymen to be doubtful as t.
the outcome.