Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-10-19
WOULD BRYAN Be HARMLESS?
Mr.. Bliss Says Could Not Prevent His
Disturbance Of Business.
PERIOD or WAITING AT LEAST
Best Industry Could Do Would
he to Live from Hand to Mouth
while Policy Was
Developed.

NEW YORK, Oct. lS.-tSpecial)-A brief
statement OF the disturbing effect OF the
election Of Mr. Bryan upon business ac-
tivity has been made by the Hon. Cor
nelus ~ Bliss, who was secretary of the
interior under President Mckinley and was
for several years treasurer Of the repub-
lican national committee. 1t was rather
as a business man than as a public man.
however. that Mr.. Bliss was talking As
one OF the largest merchants of New York
his opinion on business subjects always
carries weight which attaches to that OF
only a few other leading merchants In re-
sponse to the general question whether the
election of Mr.. Bryan with a republican
senate would involve any real risk to the
business interests Of the country, Mr.. Bliss
spoke as follows:
THE talk which is being heard in some
quarters. that Bryan could practically do
no harm II he is elected president, while
the senate remains republican, will not
bear careful examination from the stand
point Of the practical business man. Would
those who indulging in this talk stand
ready to make loans for new railway con-
struction and the extension of mills and
factories after the announcement Of
Bryan's election? Would they not feel that
a WdltlnR
until the Bryan policies were developed be-
fore industry could do more than live from
hand to mouth? Would the banker find any
demand for the money in his hands? Would
the manufacturer find grounds for adding
to his plant? Would the railways find en-
couragement to increase their trackage or
equipment?
Dryan's Probable Action.
What could Bryan do to impair busi-
ness security is probably the question
which would be asked by those whose re-
sentiment against President Roosevelt
makes them eager to deliver a body blow
at the republican party. The most super
ficial examination OF the subject would
show that he could do much. In the first
place. 1t would be his duty, as he inter
prets it, to send vigorous messages to con-
gress urging radical reduction of the tariff
the destruction of the Industrial combina-
tons and the issue of government paper
to take the place of the banknotes author
lied by existing law. Even II the country
regarded these attacks with indifference
because of the flrmness of the senate, there
would be plenty of other clubs to which
Mr.. Bryan could lay his hand for attacks
upon business. II thoughtless words from
|
the markets year or so ago could more
guarded words be expected from an at.
torney general appointed by Mr.. Bryan? II
persistent prosecution of large enterprises
has been carried far enough TO cause un.
easinese under the present administration
would It not be carried infinitely further
under a Bryan Department of Justice
Could not judges even be found who. en-.
couraged by the wave of radicalism sweep
ing over the country, would impose or at.
| firm confiscatory fines and excessive pen.
altles?
Gold Would Go Abroad
Most serious Of al, perhaps. would be
| the effect upon the country II attacks upor
business the flight Of geld abroad and gen.
eral uneasiness invoked a crisis I'm the
money market. With what face then could
business men appeal to Washington for
help? II they asked for the issue OF energ.
ency notes under the Aldrich-VreeIend bill
would not BryaE's secretary Of the treas.
ury reply with set jaws that the democratic
platform declared that If any emergeDcy
currency was TO issue such currency
should be issued and controlled bv the
federal government II asked to denosiI
public funds in the banks to relieve string.
ency would he not reply that democratic
principles forbade deposits in pet banks
and that the market must take care OF
itself. IT, firally. the fight of gold csused
a drain upon the treasury reserve. wouIc
| the business men of the country he abI,
10 persuade Bryan secretary that bond,
| should be issued to restore it? Would be
not reply that he was bound by the plat.
7 FORM Of 1886, which condemned such actor
| "hen taken by Mr.. Cleveland, the last
/ democratic president?
Nou'u not democratic secretary of the
treasury indeed, be compelled to saw I,
! those who appealed to him for helm ir
maintaining the gold standard and nationa
ana private credit in time of stress tbat
no democratic platform in the past twelv,
years had been predicated upon anv sucl
action on bis part, and that he was mo-
ulsioseu 10 take 1t for the benefit of mor
S ''u interests which had contributed moth
Ing or had contributed orIv in grt.,
! OF revenge, to put him In r,over9"