The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-12-18
T|LLMAN'S FINANCIAL SPEECH.
"PITCHFORK'' SENATOR GIVES
VIEWS ON SITUATION.
His Speech Was Characteristic And
Pointed as Usual-Wants Good
nbacks"-Discusses COrtel.
yOu's Action.

washington, Oec. ia Cnarac-
teristic speech was today delivered in
the senate by Senator Tillman. Mr..
Tillman spoke on his resolutions di-
recting an investigation Of the recent
bond issues and clearing house certi-
ficates, but he took occasion to COM
ment on good many matters con-
cerning the financial affairs Of the
country.
II must confess I have not studied
finance very much from the books"
began Mr.. Tillman apologetically,
my own labors in that direction
having been confined to my own ex.
penses.'
Mr.. Tilllman said he did not know
whether the criticism of the CHAIR
man Of the house committee on
banking and currency, Mr.. Fowler,
had caused the secretary of the
treasury to halt in the issuance of
bonds, but a change Of plan seemed
to have been made and he had not
| been able to learn how much of the
proposed bond issue had been put
out He expressed the opinion that
the secretary had violated the spirit
of the law IL he had not violated the
| law itself.
If we are not In the midst of
panic, we are in the midst Of a chill.
produced by the danger Of a panic"
declared Mr.. Tillman.
The treasury, he said, has dump
ed" its money in Wall street. and the
country has praised the patriotism Of
j. P. Morgan 'in aiding the country
t" get grip on itself and not &c:
everybody go crazy and prec;pitate
further loss and horrors on the
country
Speaking Of a published interview
with the president by Mayor Dahl
man of Omaha, in which the presi-
dent is alleged to have said that if he
was responsible for the panic he was
glad of it, as it had brought to view
the rotten conditions of the country's
finances, he said:
| Il fear that Mr.. Dahlman is in i'm
minent danger of joining the Ana
Mas club. Perhaps somebody here
will use the telephone and find out
about that"
he said that he would not worry
about the panic, but he found SO
many facts connecting the treasury
department. even the senate and the
mouse or representatives, with Wall
street that he was obliged to reccy-
n'Ze them, and especially as the far
mer, the cotton planter and the
manufacturer were affected. He said
he wanted to know "who struck Ri1-
ly Patterson
he spoke OF the manner i'm which
the financial stringency had operat-
ed.
And" he added, "the president
says he is proud of it, 1 can not be-
lieve he said it, He has said many
things lacking discretion but I do
not believe he is so callous as to feel
any pleasure in the condition of nara
ivsis which confronts us. believe
ne is a patriot though he has per-
maps shown it badly at times"
The senator held aloft q ba,kip.,
house certificate, and in loud voice
called upon the senate to lock at it.
Here is a specimen" he declared.
Looks like what YOU call Confador.
ale -plaster-and vet
they are issued by national banks.
Look at it am going to have it en-
graved If it can be done without de>
stroying it and put in The Congress
sional Record. Eut I don't prOuoss
to have it destroyed and lose dollar
just to enlighten YOU on The cur
rency."
He wanted only good grcenbacks
and in rasping tones. speaking of the
| neceSslty or money, he said:
you will have to go to the bone
yard if you can't get &C."
| AS between the "shin- -p;asters" in
the form of clearing house certi,l-
Gates and greenbacks. he said he
would prefer greenbackS based on
railroad and other stocks ana bonds.
although they were. in his opinion.
filed with water.
He was, he said, daily in receipt VI
letters from people who think they
know all about the currency and
have schemes for currency reform.
But l don't even read them" he
said.
1T had been alleged" he said.
"fhat fho hOndc ,oon,<I,, ;.,,,o1 ~