New-York tribune., 1913-06-23
CURRENCY BILL
GLADDENS BRYAN
Continued from first page.

the power that wealth gives to those
who possess it,
Il feel sure that the Democrats Of
the Senate and House will rally TO the
support Of the bill, and | am sanguine
enough TO believe that It will receive a
cordial support from Republicans as
we'll"
Secretary Bryans statement is re-
gardcd as an obvious and rather un-
usual attempt by the premier of the
Cabinet To rally the Democratic rank
and file TO the support Of an admins
tration measure which, so far. has not
awakened enthusiasm.
The Sccretary's statement was un-
expected. but is presumed to have been
made with the approval Of the Presi-
dent The first intimation that Mr..
Bryan. forsaking temporarily the field
Of diplomacy. would openly throw his
personality into the currency fight
came yesterday.
The object Of the Secretary's state
ment is apparent TO those acquainted
with the temper of the Senate and
House regarding currency reform, and
the BRYAN utterance might have an
appreciable effect I'm the House. Rep
resentative Underwood and other
House leaders have been. and still are,
opposed 10 currency legislation at the
extra session Of Congress. Mr. Under
wood. however. has consented TO aid
the pilots Of the bill i'm the House. pro-
vided the country expresses approval
Of the currency bill as drawn.
Looking to Constituents.
Mr. Underwood has said that the fate
Of the currency bill might depend on
"the voice of tho constituents Of the
various House members. He has also
signifed his unwillingness TO jam
through a party caucus a measure
which the Democrats OF the House and
the country may not want. II the
country wants currency reform now,
and wants the particular kind Of re-
form embraced in the Wilson, Glass
hill. Mr. Underwood will surrender his
personal desires for a postponemcnt Of
action and will put his shoulder to the
wheel. II the country Is not enthusi
astic the House leader will not take
the blame for hurried currency legis-
lation.
Mr. Bryan's statement, therefore, is
evidently issued TO rally the Bryanites
throughout the United States. who will
give the bill an 70. H." perhaps. after
hearing the rallying cry of the once
peerless leader"
Mr. BRYAN quotes the Baltimore plat
form Of 1912 I'm his defence of the bill,
but he makes no answer 10 one of the
chief criticisms-that il fails to provide
for the retirement OF existing banknote
circulation.
AS previously pointed out in The
Tribune dispatches. the Democratic
platform of 1900, on which Bryan ran
for the Presidency strongly demanded
a recall of this national bank issue,
saying:
I'VE are opposed to this private cor
poration paper circulated as money but
without legal tender qualities. and de-
mand the retirement of the national
bank notes as fast as government pa
per or silver certificates can he sub
stituted for them"
The 1908 platform denounced the Re-
publican party FOR changing the basis
OF bank currency and inviting market
manipulation" and demanded cur
rancy issued and controlled by the
federal government on adequate secur-
ity to national and state banks.
Mr.. Bryan significantly refers to the
FEDERAL reser board as one appoint
ed by the President" which fact. he
says, gives the people control OF the
money issuing function and does rot
relinquish the governments sole au-
thority in this respect. Mr.. Bryan is
known TO have influenced the prepara-
ton of this section OF the bill, the
original Glass measure having pro-