The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-11-02
A P0PUL|ST MEETING.
Electric Hall Filled to Hear Caldwell
Edwards, the Candidate for
Congress.
The Gallatin Valley Farmer Elk
pounds the Doctrines OF
His Party.
Moro Circulating Medium, Less Corporate
Influence, and tho Governments Power
to Make Money Discussed.

There were nearly one thousand people in
Electric hall last night when Robert Tee
pies called tho peoples party meeting TO
order, and introduced X. e.. Davies, oandi-
date for district judge. "a presiding officer.
Mr.. Davies said the peoples party move
ment was only four months old. II was a
child born with teeth and it would tear the
mask from the faces of the old parties. and
either win the presidency or hold the bal
ance of power.
John Shober. candidate for the leRisla-
turs, was introduced as a calamity bowler
and q tenderfoot." Mr.. Shober said.
among other things, that he was willing to
have the silver taken from the mines and
coined at the rate OF sixteen to one. That
was plain enough for any school child to
understand. The old parties didn't want
the people to understand the matter. Har-
rison, he said. had been nominated BY the
gold bugs of Wall street, the money power
OF Europe and the ofiice-holders; Cleveland
by the gold bugs of Wall street, the money
W. of Europe and the e1-ofice-holders;
that was the only difference. In
cidentally MIR. Shober referred to
the Ignorant, muzzled and subsidized
press.' acne of which was advocating the
peoples party cause. Further on MIR. Sho-
Der said the best way to protect labor was
to regulate immigration, as this country
had nearly as many people no " as it could
sake care of. The peoples party, he said
at another point, was accused of being a
democratic baby north and q republican
baby south. In five years it would be a
-5a-< (Nrppiay dawn tn the nrANlnnt .i
matter Mr.. Shober said the remainder of
the people didn't have as much capital to
make ont of it as Maginnis and Clark. II
am satisfied" he said, shat when you have
analysed the two old parties You will find
that one ia as ready to steal as the other.
Applause. If there were any experts in
this business the republicans had the best
experts" Laughter.
Caldwell Edwards, of Gallatin county,
candidate for congress was the next
speaker. After some preliminary remarks
on the science of government, he said the
organization of a new political party was
not a heresy. a treason or a felony. 1t was
the logical sequence of government, and
the only assurance of the perpetuity OF re-
publican institutions. When such a great
popular uprising as the present ono was
seen, ID was evident that the grea. mass of
people were dissatisfied with the conditions
that surrounded them. After nearly thirty
years of profound peace and industrial
prosperity the universal discomfort was
voiced in the. cry of bard times." When
the delegates who met in st. Louis asked
themselves the cause of this. they came to
the conclusion that it was found in the
blind adherence to political parties. They
found that what was thought to be patriot
ism was only blind subservlence to n party
machine. They decided that it was due to
the legislation which gave over to the few
the earnings of the many. They under
stood that they had to meet and combat
the wealth of the world that had been
wrunR from the people by special ~legisla-
lion. The great laboring masses of the
United States were impotsnt to make their
demands known until the last few months,
when came the great uprising. What the
farmer and the laborer wanted was an in
crease in the circulating medium. He
asked if any man who was in Montana from
1866 to 1873 any delegate being
sent out here after the demonetization of
silver, with any authority to adjust the
debts Of the people to the changed condi-
tions: no one told the farmer, or the me-
chanic or the merchant that he might dis
copnt bis bills and pay 60 cents on the dol
lar. If anything of the kind had been
done he had never heard of it. Applause.
Now. when it Is proposed to .isaue money
commensurate with the business of the
country, the cry went up that it was de-
grading civilization and debauching hon.
esty. The peoples party demanded that a
sufficient volume of money be issued until
the channel of trade refuse TO receive any
more. This would take from the money
kings the power to throttle industry. APP
plause. The 800, 600 tramps of the coun-
try were the natural and logical outcome of
special laws, and their ranks were being
swelled every day.
Law and law alone can make money"
continued Mr.. Edwards. "When the gold
bugs talk of silver coinage they say it is only
an attempt by the mine owners to get
eighty cents of the metal coined into a dol
lar with which to pay the lsborer for his
dollars worth of work. Here is a silver
dollar" holding up a coin. There never
was a day since 1892 when you couldn't put
the eagle on one side, an the stars and
stripes on the other, and make it buy as
much as a dollar of gold. [Applause.
Punch a whole in it and 1T Ia no longer u
dollar; it is bullion. Here are two half
dollars" holding up the coins. They have
less by 28L grains than the dollar, yet they
will buy as much. The law makes it money.
Applause. Take a piecd OF Eastwood bark
and put the stamp Of the government on il.
and it will buy wheat. [Applause. The
reason there Ia not enough money in circu-
ton is because there are a few people whose
business it Is to make it sea, ce. Applause.
Make 1t plentiful aud it will be taken ons
of the banks and the bonds and invested III
such industries that the great army of
ssamps NAV be disbanded and go to work.
IApplause.
The power of corporations. the transpor-
tation question, and governmental control
of the railroads were also touched upon by
MI. Edwards. he said the people had
bought Alaska, but if any Of the people
thought they could go and take a seal on
that account. and make a coat of its skin,
they would soon be In Jail. The people
have a national park" he continued. II
live within a few miles OF it, and though
have never been there, / am proud of it.
One of my neignbors undertook last sum
ner to carry some passengers through
there. They were stopped and had to be
hauled out by the contractors. Then We
got an explanation of how that 5000 got
to be found in Russell Harrison's pocket
one morning last summer when he walked
up." daughter and applause.)
Chairman Davis announced that Miss
Ella Knowles would speak ut the Audi
forum Friday night. Miss Knowles name
was received with great cheering. This will
be Hiss knowles's fifty sixth speech during
this campaign.