The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-17
The Beginning Of a Unique Discussion Of
The Currency.
OPINIONS IN CHUNKS OF 1000 WORDS.
Ex-Congressman Horr Will Defend Gold
and COINS Financial school" Harvey
VIII support ~ilver-The Rules
to Govern the Discussion.

W anu AAA' AiNiA U-hAiht A'A ~Ft'f FtNH
all the Intellectual powers. facts. and au-
thoritles at their command.
one of them was Roswell Il. horr
once member OF Congress from MiciR
igan, now an editorial writer FOR the
New York Tribune, and the other was
W. n. Harvey. OF Chicago. author or
COINS Financial school"
Mr.. Horr championed the cause OF gold.
while Mr.. Harvey threw down the gaunt-
let for silver. The privil sc Of being pres
ent at this unusual contest was accorded
to few. There were seats for about 2O
persons I'm the clubhouse. put little
over half that number were present. Con-
gresham J. e.. Sibiey, Of Pennsylvania,
a leader Of the free-sllver forces IN the
East, occupied prominent seat. lie VIII
remain during the debate, unless bust
ness engagements prevent
\ prominent advocate OF the gold stand
ard was A. b. Humphrey. secretary or
the National League OF Republican Clubs.
soMF or THOSE ATTENDING
Others present were W. w Moagher,
Of the Bmetallic League; Lyman }. Gage,
referee for Mr.. Horr. Ferd W. Peck ana
\. IL. Reyel, OF Chicago L. G. Powers.
OF ST. Paul; Dr. $. A. Robinson. OF New
York, and Charles II. Sergel. OF Chicago.
The last three acted as advisers TO Air.
Horr, and sat by his side taking copious
notes while Mr.. Harvey spoke.
Mr.. Harvey consulted little with any
body lie brought with him a great Pile
OF authorities Tor the purpose or substan-
tiating statements made I'm his book, to
which he frequently referred.
4 man with a watch sat at "A table
near the speakers. and whenever any one
had spoken eight minutes ne would tap
flI4Ilg "a q This tI
CT warning that he had two minutes more
TO conclude his statement.
~ these stages Of ten minutes eacn
the speakers VIII proceed for eight Gays.
using only the afternoons. ana r,sting
Sundays.
DR.. Howard Thomas, president of the
Illinois Club. called the assemblage to
order, briefly setting forth the object of
the debate. He introduced Hon. III. G..
Miller and eX-Judge William A. Vincent,
both of Chicago. who he said, would be
judges and at the conclusion OF the con-
troversy decide which had the best OF the
novel debate.
Mr. Miller then read the rules which
are to govern. 1t was. he said the in
tentiOn OF the speakers TO deliver alto
gether 1000 words OF these. 5000 are
10 De reserved for use at the end OF the
discussion. This Will give each a chance
10 recapitulate his argument in 800
words. Three hundred words additional
Will be allowed each contestant as a re-
Joinder TO his adversary's closing argu-
ment. Mr. Miller stated that the whole
discussion was copyrighted. and that
while IT would be given the widest pub
hcty through the press. il was the IN
tention OF the principals TO preserve the
debate as private proerty and issue IL
in book form.
The debate was started by Mr.. Horr.
who referred 10 the author OF Coins
Financial school, with some severity lie
said he never read a book containing so
many misstatements
Mr.. Harvey, Ia his opening statement.
contended himself with a presentation
Of his plan OF campaign. ana told what
he would prove.
Mr.. liorr wanted 10 know why the
names Of prominent citizens had been
used i'm Mr.. Haryey's book. and words
put into their mouths that they had
never used.
To which Mr.. Harvey replied his book
was simply an aliegory. and the fact
that little boy was put I'm as teacher
ought 20 be enough 10 prove 20 any sem
slble person that this was so.
The~ the speakers Viunged AT once
into the thick Of the fight The argument
at all times was very spirited. and both
speakers several times had hard work
to preserve their tempors.
I'm his opening statement Mr.. Harvey
said Il am here 10 defend the facts
and principles IN Coins Financial
School l am aware that that book
f. an aid I'm clearly presenting the views.
Many scientific works are largely on
illustrations. and our newspapers nnd
that Illustrations make plain many ideas
that could not otherwise be clearly ex-
pressed. And yet l am here TO defend
orally the same principles. expect -
make good IN this debate the following
propositions:
soMF or HIS PROPOSITIONS.
a. That silver and gold are the money
Of the Constitution; that the silver dol
lar was the unit OF value In our coinage
system IN this country from 1872 10 1873,
just as the yard-stick was the measure
OF length. that gold was measured In
this unit and concurrent coin given to
II, that silver and gold combined con-
stituted the legal standard OF value In
this country til 1873.
-. That the act Of 1873 was surrepti-
tiously passed. ii
'8. That during the period OF 1872 TO
1913 the mints were open 10 the un-
limited coinage OF both metals into pri-
mary or redemption money. and that
both were treated as such. That during
that period people had a right TO have
either metal coined into full legal ten
der money. and that the option was with
the debtor 10 pay IN coins OF either
metal.
-. That this bimetallic and unlimited
demand for both metals TO be coined
into money increased the demand for
those metals. and 50 long as this law
authorizing anyone 10 coin 81 IA grains
Of silver and q 2-l0 grains OF gold into
a dollar was in force. there was no one
willing 10 sell either for less than a
dollar.
% That the options 10 pay IN either
metal caused the cheaper Of the two
metals To be used, and transferred from
the dearer 10 the cheaper metal and re-
stored It's relative commercial value. We
favor both silver and gold. We are
called silver men because we are de-
Tending the metal that has been demone-
tized.
IS. That Il is the interest Of the United
States 10 act independently in the matter
OF the reconciliation of silver at the
ratio Of gold at 10 to |. without waiting
for the action Of any other nation.
-. That monometalization consists In
tho use OF the dearer OF .he two metals
as primary or redemption money. That
Is sn experiment on
trial for the first time In the history OF
,h. x.~.rlI apl h.r.n ufifh the ,,..fcl