New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-03
PRESIDENT URGED TO
SPEAK FOR CURRENCY
Friends Want Him to Tell the
People Why He Insists on
Passage of His Bill.
WILSON STILL OPTIMISTIC
May Put Cabinet officers on the
Stump-Small Bankers Tell
Senators of Amend
ments They Desire.
From The Tribune Bureau.

From the tribune BUREAU
Washington, oct. ALARMED over the
ominous signs OF serious opposition to
the administration currency bill, friends
of the President are suggesting that ne
make four or five speeches setting forth
the urgency of currency reform. the ad-
dresses TO be made in New York, Chicago
ST. Louis and one or two other big cities
The President, on the other hand, stii
processes to be optimistic over the out
come of his efforts TO rush the currency
bill through Congress. although there Is
reason to believe that his hopes have been
somewhat ruffled during the last week.
II is still believed that President wilson
Will encounter powerful opposition TO his
programme unless he enlists a strohs
public sentiment.
Those who are urging the President 10
take the stump" argue that he has not
YET made it plain to the public just WI!
ne is so insistent on the enactment or cur
rency legislation at this time. They point
out that the public knows that the admin
sstration is making vigorous effort 10
pass currency legislation, but has no ioea
what il is all about or what relation II
hears TO the tariff bill IL is argued by
them that four or five speeches covering
the situation thoroughly would serve to
awaken a sentiment which the recai-
citrant Senators do not now fear.
May Send Cabinet officers.
IL President Wilson does not go before
the people," Secretaries Bryan and Nc
Adoo may be delegated to perform the
task. together with several members OF
Congress who reflect the administration
polcy. Secretary McAdoo would prob
ably be sent TO New York. and possibly
10 Philadelphia or Pittsburgh, while Sec
rotary Bryan would be sent to Chicago
and St Louis. This is only a tentative
plan OF the administration advisers, but
st stands a good chance Of mater1ailzine
81 opposition continues TO develop III
alarming proportions.
President Wilson informed callers to-
day that he had no particular fear put
looked 10 the Democrats in Congress 10
keep the pledges laid down in the Balti-
more platform, which he regards as pre-
Guiding the adoption OF the single central
reserve association advocated by Senator
O'Gorman.
Representatives Of small banking inter
ests in the Middle West and South APP
peared before the Senate Banking and
Currency Committee to-day to critcise
the administration bill. Generally. the
small bankers Endorsed the purposes OF
the bill as framed. but in several cases
amendments proposing changes that
would offer advantages to smaller banks
were suggested.
Objections of Bankers.
The principal objection expressed was 10
the provision which would deprive the
bankers of charges for collection of out
of town checks. These collections. the
bankers said, represented considerable
profit and should not be taken from the
banks. Another general objection was
entered to the scheme proposing twelve
regional reserve banks. The bankers
recommended a smaller number, or even
a single bank. to concentrate the reserves
OF the country
Among the delegations which appeared
to-day were a party of Indiana bankers
including ]. L. McCulloch, Of Marion;
John Frenzel, of Indianapolis; Charles
worden. OF Fort Wayne; Francis Reitz'
of Evansville. and Thomas Paxton, OF
Princeton, and a delegation from the
Southwest including J. w. Bolton, OF
Alexandria. La; F. W. Foote, of Hat
tiesburg. Miss; Oscar Newton. of jack
son. Miss: Edwin Memories, OF Meriden,
Miss, and George w. Rogers, of Little
Rock. Ark and II. l.. Mohelentah' OF the
Wisconsin State Bankers Association.
The Indiana bankers were presented TO
the President, but did not discuss cur
rency with him.