Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-02-01

thousands that it preferred the gold
standard to any substitute for It, out
side of the northeastern states, howev-
er. there had been majority the other
way of about 100000, and it was this om-
inous majority in the south and west
which still kept certain public men
nomnally on the gold side in a state OF
tremor when any one spoke the word
gold aloud and without blushing. Sec
retary Gage believed that the adoption
of the gold standard In emphatic terms
by the United States would remove
doubt as to our credit thruout the world
and greatly stimulate business prosperi-
ty. In this he was at one with Mr.. Hen
ry c. Payne, the incoming postmaster
general, who has been from the begin
ming one of the bulwarks of sound mon
ey sentiment in the west. A terrible po-
litical blunder was the Characterization
put by the politicians upon the manly
words of Mr.. Gage, but events proved
that the politicians We're behind public
sentiment and that the secretary vas
only abreast Of it. The movement for
an elastic currency required even more
of the work of education than that Tor
the gold standard, but 1t has steadily
gone on until projects on the subject are
a least intelligently discussed as to
their details, instead of greeted with the
frantic shrek of wildcat and red
dog" with which sound money men
were at one time in.sulted when they
urged that the United States should
adopt some of the better features of a
system tried and tested in every other
civilized country.
For the remarkable progress made IN
these matters, Secretary Gage is entitled
to much of the credit. The work of ed
ucation carried on thruout the business
community by the executive committee
of the indianapolis monetary conven-
ton, by the Sound Money league. and
by similar organizations. has found an
official rallying point at the treasury de-
partment.
HIS TACT AND SKILL.
Every annual report of the secretary
of the treasury has emphasized the need
OF making the standard unassailable and
the paper currency flexible and suffi-
c!ent. The work has not been done, how
ever, in a manner to convey the impress
sion that the secretary was fanatic or
a man of one idea upon these points. On
the contrary. the secretary has pre-
scented his views with a tact and skill
which have gradually won over even
those least interested in his measures.
The recent frank avoWal OF ex-Speaker
Reed. at a New York banquet that it
would be necessary to take back the po-
i:tical harangues of the last twenty
years in order to substitute better
currency for the present form. Is an IL
lustration of the gradual infltration OF
sound ideas thru the work of Secretary
Gage into the minds of the least favora-
bly, disposed. Governor Shaw expressed
himself cordially at the second Indian
apolis convention in favor OF credi.
currency. He will only follow in the
path of his predecessor and the rlpening
public opinion of the country If he takes
UP the flag which Secretary Gage is
nbsut no lav down and aEa'ls himself ~
the long and earnest fight of his prede-
cessor.
The agitation of cabinet changes has
hastened the retirement of Secretary
Gage. 1t was last October when he Sig
nified to the president his desire to leave
Office within a reasonable time. The
president naturally protested against
losing him. but admitted that the secre-
tary had already made personal sacri-
fees at least equal to what could fairly
be asked of any man In public office. 1t
was then agreed that the president
should be given until March to find a
proper successor for Mr.. Gage. The fact
that the change was likely to occur be-
came known to few. and from their
minds filtered to the press, 1t was still
proposed up to few days ago that Mr..
Gage should hold his office until March.
but in view of the popular agitation of
the subject, he thought best to ask early
relief and to urge the president To seek
earnestly and without delay for his sue
oaccnr