The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-02
A SILVER DEBATE AT MOBILE.
w. j. bryan AND II. II. CLARKE
THE SPEAKERS.

The Former Advocates the 10 10
Free Coinage FaIIacy fin a Weak
Argumcnt-Mr. CIarISe's speech on
the Opposite side of tke Question
Much the Stronger of the Two.
Free Coinage at IG to L "A Burden
no Country Can Carry Alone.
Mobile. Ala. July 1.-At the invitation of
the Central Trades Council of this city,
Hon. W. J. Bryan OF Nebraska and Hon.
r.. II. Clarke Of this city tonight debated
the free coinage OF silver at the ratio of Is
to l. in the Mobile theater, which was
filled with one of the largest audiences
that has ever gathered In its walls. Before
the speakers were introduced NJ. t. Juge.
president Of the Central Trades Council,
said there was nothing partisan in the
meeting at ALL and that the presence OF
any gentlemen on the stage was not to
be taken as an evidence that he was either
for or against the free and unlimited coin-
age Of silver.
Mayor c. L. Lavett introduced the first
speaker, Mr.. Bryan. After making a few
Introductory remarks. the speaker went
right to the heart Of his subject and cited
to his hearers that the debtor should have
the choice OF the metals in which to pay.
as the greater part are debtors and they
demand silver; the very fact that they ara
in quest Of the silver to Pay their debts
will appreciate that metal; but II the
creditor Is 10 have the choice of the metals
he will take gold. and then that metal Will
be appreciated. He said that
there was not enough gold in
the world to conduct the business
of the world and that there was
bound to be some silver used. He quoted
from Carlisle, Sherman and Blaine as to
the interest Of the idle holders Of idle can
ital destroying half of the money Of the
world so that by this action they might
enhance the value of the other half. Ha
also uoted from a speech made by Carlisle
in 1878 In which he spoke of the evils that
would befall the country II silver was de-
stroyed as money. He said that he did
not agree in the proposition to coin silver
at the ratio Of 80 TO l. as 1t would make
the dollar twice as large as It now was
and that by this operation the amount OF
silver In circulation Of this country would
be curtailed just one-half and the metallic
money of the world reduced one-quarter.
and this would enhance the value OF the
remaining three-fourths. He said that the
bimetallists propose to create a demand for
silver by law and then, he said, by way OF
illustration of this assertion that If a man
in town would give % cents a dozen for
eggs, that all the eggs in that town would
be worth 25 cents. He might not get all
the eggs but his action would set the
price on eggs and make them all worth %
cents. If the government can take all the
silver at 1.29 per ounce Il would be worth
that price. France maintained the free
coinage of silver at the ratio OF 1914 to / and
hae s.af E.ff L..
France at that time as there are in the
United States. Mexico cannot maintain
the free coinage of silver because Mexico
is small country and she is not as large
as the United States.
Mr.. Clarke was introduced to the au-
dience by Mayor Lavretta and spoke in
substance as follows: "As far as l was
concerned, II was understood that this dis
cussion should deal with the question as
to whether the free and unlimited coin-
age of silver at the ratio of Is to is for the
benefit of the laboring man of the United
States and after the workingman has lis
tened to the nicely-worded sentences OF
my opponent does he know any more
about the matter than he did at the start1
There are many of you who can make
a TRADE at Carlisle, and there are about
half dozen who can throw mud at him
mot more than a half dozen since KEN
lucky spoke the other day. Uaughte-.l
IL Is true that Kentucky nominated free
coinage men, but she did II on a platform
indorsing Cleveland and also sound money.
If any man undertakes TO buy eggs at 30
cents per dozen that are only worth 25
cents all the world over, he will have a
pretty trade, and finally he will have to
quit buying eggs because his money will
give out. My opponent, in saying thar
Mexico cannot carry the free coinage oe
silver successfully, admits thatit is a bur-
den for any country to carry and that
because the country is a little larger IL
will be better able to bear the burden.
Congressman Bankhead said the other
night when he spoke here that all the men
who opposed the repeal of the 10 per cent.
bank tax were in favor of the free coinags
of silver" and then, turning to Mr.. Bryan,
Mr. Clarke asked: Did you vote for the
repeal of the 10 per cent. tax on stats
banks2"
II did not" replied Mr. Bryan.
"Then." said Mr.. Clarke 'I leave you
to settle that little difference with Mr.
Bankhead when you get to birmingham"
He announced himself in favor of both
gold and silver as money, If they can be
kept as money metals in the business
of the country. The difference Is thsi
lie favors silver monometallism, while
favor the limited use of silver along
with the unlimited use of gold.
In reference to the criticisms of Secre-
tary Carlisle by Mr.. Bryan he said that
Secretary Carlisle was right but that he
and not the free and unlimited use of sill
yer as money. and said that there hal
been no contraction of the currency OF
the country, but that on
the other hand, there was more money
I'm circulation in the country to-day than
there had ever been in the history OF The
United States. He cited the financial pol
ley Of the coutry from 1892 to 1S93 and said
that we never in the history Of one or the
other of the metals had heen overvalued,
it had had the effect to drive the other
metal out of circulation.
He cited the condition of Mexico, China,
Japan and India, and the condition of the
laboring man in those countries as the evi-
denees of the first free and unlimited COIN
age of silver upon the laborer.
The speaker then asked Mr.. Bryan as
to what he understood by the free and un-
limited coinage Of silver. Whether he is
in favor of taking the bullion to the mints
and getting silver dollars for them at
once or whether he is in favor of taking
the bullion to the mints and getting in re-
turn paper receipts.
Mr. Bryan: IF the bullion can be coined
foot anottgb than 7 vii talrn tho cf1,,ar