New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-17
HORR AND HARVEY MEET.
FINANCIAL DEBATE BEGUN.
A SPIRITED DISCUSSION FOLLOWS THU
INTRODUCTORY STATEMENTS


FEATURES OF THE NOVEL
DEBATE AT THE ILL
NoIs CLUBHOUSE
IN CHICAGO.
Chicago July 16.-Two men met In little room
at the Illinois Club this afternoon and began
spirited contest Of National moment, one fight
ing for silver and the other for gold, with all the
intellectual powers facts and authorities at their
command One OF them was Roswell G. Horr.
once a Representative in Congress from Micht-
gan now a member Of the editorial staff OF the
New-York Tribune. and the other was W. H
Harvey. OF Chicago. author Of Coins Financial
School," Mr.. Horr championed the cause OF gold.
while Mr.. Harvey threw down the gauntlet for
silver.
The privilege Of being present at this moment-
Gus contest accorded to few.
There were seats for about two hundred per.
sons in the assembly room Of the clubhouse. but
only little over nalf that number were pres
ent Congressman J c. Sibey. Of Pennsylvania,
leader Of tho free-silver forces in the East, oc-
cupied a prominent seat. He will remain during
the debate unless business engagements prevent
A prominent advocate OF the gold standard was A.
b. Humphrey, secretary Of the National League
OF Republican Clubs Others present were w. w.
Meagher OF the Bimetallic League Lyman J.
Gage referee for Mr. Horr: Ferd W. Peck
and A. II. Revell. Of Chicago, L. G. Powers OF
st. Paul; Dr. s. A. Robinson. OF New-York. and
Charles H. Sergel, of Chicago The last three
acted as advisers to Mr. Horr. and sat by his side
taking copious notes, while Mr. Harvey spoke
Mr. Harvey consulted little with anybody. He
brought with him p great pile Of authorities for
the purpose Of substantiatins statements made
In his book to which he frequently referred.
A man with a watch sat at table near the
speakers and whenever had spoken eight
minutes he would tap loudly on a call-bell. This
gave the speaker warning that he had two min
utes more In which 10 close his statement BY
these stages Of ten minutes each the speakers
will proceed for eight days. using only the after"
moons and resting on Sundays.
OBJECTS AND CONDITIONS OF THE DEBATE.
DR.. Homer Thomas. president Of the Illinois
Club. called the assemblage to order. briefly set-
ting forth the objects Of the debate. He intro
duced H. G. Miller and ex-Judge William A.
Vincent. both OF Chicago. who. he said, would
be Judges and at the closr OF the controversy
would decide which had the best OF the novel
debate Mr. Miller then read the rules which
are 10 govern. II was. he said, the intention OK
the speakers to deliver altogether 10000 WORDS
OF these 5000 are to be Reserved for use AT the
end OF the discussion. This will give each
chance TO recapitulate his argument In z'oW
words. Three hundred words additional Will be
allowed each contestant az rejoinder 10 his adj
versarys closing argument. Mr.. Miller stateo
that the whole discussion was copyrighted. ana
that while the widest publicity would be given
II through the press. II Was the intention OF the
principals to preserve the debate as private prop
erty and issue 1t in book form
Mr. HoRRs OPENING STATEMENT
The debate was started by Mr. Horr. who re-
ferred 70 the author OF Coins Financial Schoor'
with some severity He said he never read q
book containing many misstatements. Me
Horr's opening statement was as follows'
Address OF Roswell G. Horr Copyright 1895, ~
Aze F. Hatch)
Judges and Gentlemen: II is agreed between Mr.
Harvey and myself that. previous 10 entering upon
tho general discussion. each Of us shall make
brief statement defining in general way tne
position he proposes 10 occupy In THIS ueoa'e' i"e
question which about to discuss Is one 'nas
Is not only receiving very great attention among
the people Of the United States. but 1t is one that
also receiving some attention from the natl9ns Ions ot
the Old World The question involves the kind ot
money that shall be used by the people o. ,;nS inS
viii afYect the great business interests OF this Ma
ton The question OF finance Is ssa,"res oS oY IL
apbou, which the ablest men Of the world nave
oerh h fondaton Of the discussion upon which We
are about small book PrSsns ans p ynsn M,
cis School, The real aim and object Of that book
is TO convince the people OF the nmea sra' say, nnn
,hs free and unlimited coinage Of silver upon me
old ratio Of G l. The wisdom OF sucn Ssuas as
armapve OF that issue will state in the outset
that from the beginning to the END Of the DP0H
sys my c SSnssn srs stated as facts and shall attempt
ire
author adopted BY the people Of this ,n; s0anes
would lead only TO business ia Save examined
book carefully in which acknowease 80 a,w arI
statements that considered worthy of See, errors
| crammed into so few pages
NOT AN OPPONENT OF BIMErALLlsM
am not here as an opponent OF bmetalNsm
| believe in the use OF gold and silver as money
| TO the fullest extent that can be done on sou"o
| business principles. My position on TINS ques'Io"
has been frequently stated within the as' NV
wears to be misunderstood by any one. oeheVe
| that both gold and silver are the natural money
OF the world: that IN all the largest transacsons on
SSonn,n than silver: that all the smaller business
| transactions OF the human family for many years
silver shye also believe that in all transactions OF
the nations Of The Tod seS IN fhe setement Of
| balances but only at their commercial value; !
believe that in the business IS o, our Ser Hs0m metal sn
except at its actual value only In cases wnere ono
metal NAV be used as token num,y y yai,s Is
| have always entertained the hope that the
| business men OF the world would yet come to-
| gether in an international convention. and agree
| Snon some basis whereby gold and silver can both
be used as the money OF fina, settlement amons nor,
in my ideas that. until some such arrangemen,t S,t
| ehoii ne made II would be simply suicide for thie
| Taton 70 adopt a system OF the free coinage or
| silver upon the old ratio. q ratio which all the
cv,lizei nations OF the world have long since dis
| carded | do not believe that any one Government
can fix the ratio upon any two metals ana name an :,
world or OF the country Itself. SO that the two
| metals vii be used side by side. Consequently. II
nmr Nation alone should attempt such action
| Il would simply place our country upon silver
| basis: and the attempt would end In silver mono
| metail,sm II we are compelled 20 decide between
gold monometa ard silver monometallism. then
am decidedly In favor OF adopting ne standard