Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-23
VERY WARN DEBATE
CAMERON AND DEMOCRATIC ELEC-
TOR srRAyER MEET.
A Big Political Discussion mt Nc
GaheysviIIe, Rockingham County
An Exciting Episode - Bourke
Cockran's speech-Cries of Traitor.

HARRISCNBCRG, VA, August 4
Special -The campaign in Rockingham
county was opened this afternoon at NC
Gaheysville by q joint discussion between
Ex-Governor William L. Cameron and MI
Henry Y. strayer. Democratic elector Tor
the Seventh District. II was Cameron
appointment. but q division Of time was
readily conceded al Mr. StrayeTs request
There was a large crowd in attendance
which was about evenly divided between
Democrats and Republicans. So Tar as
known there was but one Democrat pres
ent who will not support Bryan ana
Sewan. The discussion was confined eN-
clusively TO tho silver question. MT.
Strayer argued that the present hard
times for farmers and lack OF employ
ment for laboring men were due directly
to the existing financial system, and that
the remedy was tho free and unlimited
coinage OF silver at Is 10 !. That was the
Democratic remedy. lie demanded that
Governor Cameron should state his RENE
dy for the existing depression. His OPEN
ing remarks constituted a convincing ar
gument for a restoration Of the ancient
rights OF silver as a money OF final re-
dcmption.
CAMERON's REPLY.
Governor Cameron made a fiat-footed
argument for the gold standard. lie ad-
mitted that the price OF wheat had fallen
along with silver, but said there was no
more connection between the two than
between the rising OF the sun and the SET
ting OF the moon. He Characterized the
. nj q ffFr
the Democracy Of Jones and Stewart. II
was taking the name OF Jefferson in vain
to connect IT with any such declaration
Of folly. He traced the history OF imam
cial legislation from the foundation Of the
government, and claimed that the value OF
coin was determined wholly by the COM
mercial value OF the metal IT contained.
sTRAYER'S REJoINDER.
Mr.. strayer's rejoinder was most effec-
tive. and ne ELECTED round upon round OF
applause. From official documents he
demonstrated the inaccuracy OF any or
Governor Cameron's statements, ana
charged him again and again with failure
to suggest a remedy for the financial Ills.
He asserted that never before 1873 had
gold dollar been coined at the mills, and
yet II was claimed we were on a gold
basis all the while.
CoCKRAN'S SPEECH.
He charged that Cameron represented
the same people who in New York had
put up Bourke Cochran, who talked about
professional farmers" and 'irreconciled
slaveowners who didn't want to pay
wages al ALL"
This precipitated an exciting episode.
Governor Cameron came forward and hot
Is repudiated Bourke Cockran's insult 10
the southern people. The mention or
Cockran's name brought cries Of Traitor
Traitorr from all parts OF the hall.
Dir. Strayer replied: Yes, you repudiate
Cochran. but you represent the very same
people he does. The only way to repu-
date them is TO leave them"
Turn your back, he said, on the bankers
and brokers o. Wall street, the inventors
OF money trusts, the Jugglers OF bond
issues, and the wreckers OF railroads.
Cameron closed in rejoinder OF fifteen
minutes. He alluded TO Bryan as bolter
and Populist, and In his closing sentence
said he would support the nominee OF the
Indianapolis convention.
The Democrats are delighted with the
aggressive manner IN which Mr.. Strayer
maintained his side OF the controversy,
and while admring Governor Camerou's
culture and elOquence. IL was apparent
that he made little or no impression. The
Republicans apparently had expected him
to declare for Mckinley, and their disap-
pointment was very noticeable.