Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-12-26
Shaw Says a Good Word for Silver.

Shaw Says a Good Word for Silver.
1t is said that Secretary Shaw had
his annual report, lately submitted to
Congress, bound in an exquisite crea-
ton in morocco, with gilt flegree
work and gold edges. The volume
was tied with beautiful red ribbon in
the loveliest kind OF bow-knots. While
this is a wide departure from the
Jacksonian simplicity upon which the
boast has been our government waf
based, their may be something in
sugar-coating the boluses which tax
and tariff ridden people have to swal.
low.
By the way, Secretary Shaw does
not seem to be very deeply impressed
with the stability Of our financial sys.
TEN. He has announced that the
banks cannot rely upon the Treasury
for any more reserve funds, to ward of
threatened stringency of the money
market. and he advocates making gold
and silver exchangeable by law. He
thinks that any disposition to hoard
the finer metal would be removed by
removing all doubt of the status OIL
silver already coined. While no doubt
exists as to the ability of the govern
ment fulfilling it's promises, the doubt
which has attached to unexpressed
policies has caused more than one
crisis.
Should it be deemed wise to provide
for the exchangeability OF gold and
silver, suggests the Secretary, the
national bank notes might be made
payable in gold, and this would shift
to the banks the greater burden o.
furnishing gold for domestic use anG
export, and this in the event OF ar
unfavorable balance of trade, might be
of great advantage to the government
This partial rehabilitation of silver
may be regarded as a concession o.
some points claimed for the white
metal and just as vigorously denied by
the monometalists. It is a recogni
ton that fat idea may be accepted
and here we recur to the bolus idea
in broken doses.
Civil Government for the Northwest
Next September will mark the semi.
centennial anniversary of ths estab
lishment of what was then the north
west bounds Of American civilization
The act was by proclamation of Gov
Stevens, made Sept. "a. 1853. TIL.
suggestion of Gen. Hazard Stevens
his sou, now resident of Boston, bu
still with heart bound by business aut
social ties, as we'll As pride Of ancestry
with our early history, will doubles
meet with ready response in tn
hearts Of all old-settlers. The matte
should be brought to the attention o
tie Legislature soon to meet, for sucl
action as may seem appropriate.
Boston, MASS, Dec. Is, 1902.
Ed. STANDARD:
Let me suggest that you write up the
idea of suitably celebrating the semi
centennial anniversary Of the inaugura'
ton of civil government in your State
This event took place ON September "a
1853, when Governor Stevens on the
summit of the Rocky Mountains al
Cadotte' Pass, issued his first prnclama
tipn declaring that civil government was
established and extended over the Terri
tory of Washington. Itseems to me tina,
the Pioneer Society and all old settlers,
the Native Sons, the Historical Society
and many others interested in the early
history Of Washington would favor such
commemoratiOn. The Legislature
might be induced to create a commission
and make an appropriation this winter
and the affair be carried out with great
success. We old settlers have not re.
ceived too much attention from the
later corners Except in the way of taxa
tion) and this affords proper occasion
to secure some recognition for the mel
who opened the road for them.
Very truly yours,
HAZARD STEVENS.