Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-09-06
GAGE REPLIES 70 SCRURz.
Says the Election Of Bryan Would he
Menace TO the COuntry's Conn
mereial ana Industrial Interests,

Washington, Sept, 6. 90 Secretary
Gage has made the following reply 10
an open letter he has received from
Hon. Carl Schurz Of New York:
Washington, Sept, i.-Dear Slr:-I
have the honor TO acknowledge the
receipt Of yours Of the 2rd instant
IN which YOU utter some words VI
criticism upon the statements made by
me In a newspaper interview published
August Z6th, Ia which / expressed the
opinion that Mr. Bryan, II elected could,
by the exercise Of considerable per
verse ingenuity put the government
on silver basis ruin lbs credit and
brins incalculabie disaster upon the
business interests OF the country.
You deny that the dangers set forth
by me In that interview really exist,
and that no President win be able TO
do what declare might be- done. "un-
less the Republican party In control Of
the government M both the legislative
and executive branches, proves itself
utterly dishonest IN its professcd pur.
pose TO maintain the gold standard"
You say your denial Els not based
upon the reasoning OF those OF your
critics who seek 90 sf wv by figures
that a President desiring ever so much
10 put the country on silver basis
would lack the means of doing so.'
On the contrary, you admit, for
arguments sake all / say on that
point 1t would not seem, therefore
that there IS any particular difference
between us as to what Mr.. Bryan as
President could DO under the law OF
IN spite Of the law as 70 Is now. Ii
ought 20 have been apparent % you, as
II no doubt was, that 1 was speaking
Of possible case under circumstances
as they now exist, but you proceed Ia
point out how. "a the next session of
the Congress which will meet In De-
cember legislation could De had which
would completely forestal unfricndly
action toward the gold standard. even
II Mr.. Bryan were elected and should
stlll cherish the firm set purpose de-
clared by him On September 1. 1896. at
Knoxville. Tenn, when he said.
If there is any one who believes that
the gold standard is a good thing, or
that Il must Doe maintained / warn him
not % cast his vote for me. because !
promise him 10 VIII 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. dis.
quleting the business community. and
especially when fettered by one who is
In authority / am not az all skilled
I'm controversy, and have had no prac.
ticc In dialects, but 1 will indulge In a
Few words in the way Of rejoinder 10
your criticism,
In the first place. then, No more Reri-
Gus distress could overtake this coun-
try Tin this think you will agree with
mel than the breaking down Of the
g0ld standard and the adoption Of that
principle 81 money Tor which Mr.
Bryan contends, In 1896 you yourself
are quoted as having said.
''The mere apprehension Of a posi-
billty Of Mr.. Bryan's election and the
consequent placing OF our sountry up
on a silver basis has already released
untold millions OF our securities 10 be
thrown upon the market Scores OF
business orders are already recalled. a
large number OF manufacturing estab-
lishmeuts have already stopped or re-
strlcted their operations. enterprise IS
already discouraged. nearly paralyzed.
And n these are the effects Of mere
apprehension Of a possibility what
would be the effect OF the event itself?
There Is scarcely an imaginable finale
TO the destruction certain 90 be- wrought
by the business disturbance that Mr.
Bryan's election would cause"
! am unable 10 perceive why the
same consequences IN a minor degree
perhaps would not ensue now which
you so freely torcshadowed then.
Now, when consequences 50 great as