Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-05-18
ILLINOIS KEYNOTE
For the Men Who Would REFLECT
up. Altgeld Governor.
LEA1ER LAYS DOWN A PLATFORM

Straight Out for Free Silver, by Interna-
tional Agreement If Possible, but With
ont Delay-Believesi in q Is 1-2-to-l Ratio
Tor the Metals-A. p. A. Council Makes q
Statement Relative to Presidential Can
didlates-Political Notes.
CHICAGO, May 1S.-Despite a severe
rain storm the Auditorium was filled when
Governor Altgeld delivered his address
upon the silver question. He prefaced
his remarks with the assertion that the
hard times which lately have afflicted the
country were due entirely to the great re-
duction in the volume of the money of the
world incident to destroying silver as a
money metal He declared himself hearth
ly in favor of an international agreement
on the silver question If it could be
reached, but said that he thought this
country was large enough to stand alone.
The address was confined entirely to the
silver question, and was agreetcd with
much applause by the audience
His Audience Was With Him.
In its demonstrations the audience was
typically silverite. Governor Altgeld's
discourse was punctured with queries
from men whom the silver question moved
to CALCULATIONS. How about bondhold-
ers." who pay taxes?" "Give it to the
rich, Governor" Tell about 1873, John -
These, with other we'll meant indorse-
ments and suggestions, were again and
again shouted. The governor at great
length reviewed the history of finance,
ranics and their cause, the greenback issue
during the war, the characterization of sill
yer in 1873, the beginning Of the move
inent in favor of single standard, tho
ratio between gold and silver and its
changes, and quoted the opinions of finan-
ciers in America and Europe on the rela-
tive values Of the two metals and the
causes Of stringency in the money market.
The Governors Platform Stated.
The governor finally got to a statement
of his own position on the question which
Is as follows: II favor the immediate re-
storatiOn Of the free coinage Of both gold
and silver according to the old standard,
and believe if this Is achieved the ratio
question will be solved. But say to all
men let us defeat this gold standard and
make it possible for our country to again
prosper, and il you can suggest something
better than the old standard do So There
are men who want an international agree
ment and l am in hearty accord with
them If we can ge: it. But this mighty ma
ton cannot forever sit in the dumps and
wait for other nations which are Just as
badly off to come and pull us out We
must relieve our people whether the other
nations come or not.
As to the Ratio To he Adopted.
Il believe that if an international agree.
ment is ever made 1t will bc on "A basis of
151a to 1, as that was the ratio which for
mcrly existed in nearly all countries of the
world, and which worked so satisfactorily
for 200 years" Speaking of the effect of
the alleged destruction Of half the worlds
money Governor Altgcld said: IF the
world now has only half the money it for
merly had then it must follow that either
the worlds work must be done for hall
the former price or else Oni half 50 much
work can be done. In either case the men
who do the work will be ruined. for in one
case they must work for half pay and in
the other there will be two men for each
job. And us the debts, interests, taxes
and other fixed charges have not been
lowered, and will absorb nearly all the
earnings, l will ask is there any hope for
our agricultural classes, for our manufac-
turers, for our great producing classes of
various kindss"
Tackles the Production of Silver.
Referring to the claim that silver has
fallen simply in obedience to the law of
supply and demand, he said: 1.-The claim
made that there is an over-production of