Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-18
Speaker Clark Defends and
Representative Henry Con-
dennis the Measure.
PARTY LEADERS At ODDS
OVER vii SONS PROGRAM
Present Money System Chased as
Patchwork; Proposed Legislation
as Twisted Aldrich Plan

man OK tne House rules committee de-
clares that the administration bill Is
but a twisted version Of the Aldrich plan.
which will not operate to the benefit Of
the rural districts. These widely diverg-
emit opinions from two leaders Of the
party IN power are embodied in state
ments prepared for publication today.
They tell the story Of why there Is trou-
BILE In the democratic camp whenever the
word currency" Is mentioned.
Defending the bill. the Speaker says:
Public opinion 10 to the effect that we
have on Of the worst patchwork systems
OF finance known among men. Among
the multitudinous promises made in the
Baltimore platform was tho promise OF
he r sa ". - n' san -
vision downward.
But One Safe and Honest Rule.
There Is only one safe ana honest rule
Of political conduct, ana that ID after
winning victory at the polls to redeem
every promise authoritatively made in
order to achieve the victory. In that way,
and in that way only. can a political
partly deserve to retain power.
The drst great promise-to revise the
tariff downward-is now practically an
accomplished fact The redemption Of the
second great prornise-the giving to the
just beginning-thAt 10 to say. the cur
rency bill has not yet been presented to
the House. Having passed the first stage
that Is, action by the democratic men,
bership OF the House committee on bank
ences exist among democrats are being
threshed out In the caucus. the proper
place to thresh them out After caucus
action we will, as we have done on Inn
portant questions for three years. pre-
sent solid front and send the bill to
the Senate early In September. Abundant
opportunity for debate ana amendment
will be AFFORDED. Nobody has any DISPOSE
ton to railroad 1t through either the eau
Gus or the House.
Defers to Presidents Wishes.
Originally democrats were divided in
opinion a. to whether the currency ques-
ton should be disposed Of at this session
or should be postponed until the regular
session. but President Wilson In the ex-
ercise OF his constitutional function de-
livered his currency message urging &C.
ton. since which event the public expects
currency legislation at this session, and
business men OF all sorts and sizes, farfn-
err, miners, merchants, manufacturer,
bankers. etc.. desire that . bill shall Be
passed. thereby ending the uncertainty
"A person does not have to rate the
Glass-Owen bill AZ perfect to believe that
II IL q great Improvement on the present
patchwork system. What will be counted
as among the good features OF the bill
BY such great agricultural constitu-
encies as I represent 10 the fact that IL
makes provision In the savinss depart.
ment for loans on improved farming
lands, a brand-new thing for national
banks; another 10 the fact that II win
tend to keep the peoples money In the
places where It 70 owned, and not con-
centrate so much Of 1t in one place; still
another feature which rural folks will in
dorse is that It prohibits the loaning u
the bank deposits for purposes Of specu-
lation In stocks and bonds; but the best
feature OF it Is the government control
OF the national banking system. It is OBJ
Jected that it c0nfers too much power on
the federal reserve board, but power must
be lodged somewhere, In somebody, and It
is better to lodge 1t in government board
than In private hands.
e Sure Of Proper Selections.
"A President's fame viii depend laresIy
on the Justice, wisdom and patriotism
with which the federal reserve board uses
Its great powers and discharges its I'M
portant duties. Consequently, as any Pres
ident desires the good OF the people, and
the whole people, and IL Jealous OF his
own fame. he will appoint only men Of
ability. character and patriotism On the
federal reserve board, and then keep close
people may bo treated fmpartially, and
that our prosperity may increase.
1T Is q thing incredible that any Pred
den will ever be 30 base or regard his
own good name 80 lightly AZ to abuse the
stupendous trust committed to his keep
ing by the Glass-owsn currency bill"
Representative Henry's View.
Mr.. Henry slaps the bill vigorously
when he mentions Il a. nothing more or
less than . measure designed for IN asset
currency. He says:
Naturally We are making slow prog
ress on the currency bin. The Baltimore
platform declared against the Aldr1ch
bill-an asset currency measure. Friday
Mr.. Underwood freely admitted that
this bill undeniably provides for asset
currency. Practically every democratic
representative now freely admits that
Underwood correctly intsrprsts It.
And most assuredly. such being the
case. the democratic representatives are
ten. The voters recently repudiated the
Aldrich currency bill and have not yet
passed upon this one. They have not re-
versed the commands OF the Baltimore
platform and Instructed the repreeeptA.
tives to fastsn this huge asset system
upon the country. and that too. with IN
utter disregard for the rights OF the
farmers and waSe-eaEnArs In every state
In the Union. In 1908 the democrats In
the Senate and House, upon the passage
OF the Adrich-vreelAnd bill, voted against
II because 1t carried . plan for asset our
rency.
Urges Fairness to Farmers.
Those Of US now who are insisting that
II this country must 90 permanently to
the doctrine Of asset currency. Il should
be fair 20 the farmer ana allow him to
have money based upon hlD Assst3 upon
the same terms through which It IL &C.
corded to the banker and commercialist.
The farmer and wage-earners should not
be overlooked and will not be II they
will wake up and demand their rights.
The farmers rights should be protected
In such plain ana unequivocal language
in this bin that he who runs may read
and the wacfaring man, though o fool,
may not err therein.
'.rhs time Tor the farmer and wage
Garner to get beneficial monetary lexis-
lation 70 coaourrently With the pressure
and passage OF such laws At the Instance
"As one representative OF the people,
freely assert that am a. this hour q
competent to lssislate for the farmer
and wage-sarner az well az for the bank
er and Wage-eArner."