The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-10-22
SILVER KINGS IN POLITICS.
Explanation of Bryan's Earlier Speeches.
Paid for Every Speech By the silve,

Jkthc "" 4
The New York World publishes afH-
davits from leading citizens Of Western
states testifying that when William ].
Bryan was lecturing on free silver under
the auspices OF the Blnetalic League,
he received 500 per lecture, though the
lectures were free to the public. The
World summarizes the facts as follows.
When the American Binictalllc(silver)
League, composed OF silver mine owners
and others interested in the free coinage
of silver, was formed IN Chicago last
January and later in the month ut a
second meeting in Washington. def
mite programme was laid out Cor the sill
Yer campaign of the present year.
The league was composed OF Republic
cans and Democrats, but. all its menu
bers put silver above all else and formed
propaganda 10 secure n President OF
the United States.
Members OF the league subsidized
newspapers, hired halls for public meet
inGs and employed speakers. Mr..
Bryan was then editor OF theomaha
| World-Herald, rccelt Ing about $35
| week. and he also had a.small law
practice from which he realized an UNI
| certain income. He was very glad,
| therefore, to obtain engagements to
| speak on free silver at 500 a uight. even
when the speech required journey OF
p thousand miles and two or three days
loss OF time. $50
The! Silver League or some individual
Silver maSnate usually paid for the hall,
Eso that no charge Of admission was
| made, the purpose of the mine owners
| being solely 10 work UP sentiment In
favor Of free silver ll'a
Thos. G. Merrill, of Montana. the au-
| thor of the famous mine owners circular
WHO Is now called the "Burchard of the
Bryan Campaign" was treasurer OF this
national league. Senator Stewort, OF
Nevada, the owner of silver mines In
New Mexico and In Nevada, was a men,
Der. Senator Butler. the Popullst OF
North Carolina, was another. r. C.
Chambers, manager of the great On
tario silver mine, OF which W. R. Hearst
| Is vice-presidcnt, was Its vlce-pres!uent.
| Gov. Osborne, of Wyoming, was also in
| terested In 1t.
Mr.. Bryan's talent as a public speaker
and his natural eloquence carly attract
ed the attention OF the silver league,
| and some Of its members contributed
literally to his speaking engagements.
The league, as an organization. never
regularly employed him. Mr.. Bryan
nus HllIlsclI Salu SO puDlICly, ana MS per-
sonal veraclty and probity are not ques-
| toned. The league usually worked In
secret. IT'S methods were often mystic
rlous. A paper was usually handed
round in town by the wealthy mine
, owners or members of the silver
league, inviting silver orator to visit
the city and promising payment for his
services. A member OF the league rent
ed n hall and the public was invited 10
come free OF charge. In this way the
free silver campaign was conducted
under the gulsc of popular movement.
The people who heard the lecture did not
know 1t was paid for. and even the lee
turer did not always know from whom
came the money whichgpald him.
1t was customary TO appoint n COM
mittee OF prominent citizens to receive
and welcome Mr.. Bryan, so that his
speech might seem to be altogether pop
ular and bipartisan. But Mr.. Bryan
was well aware of the Bimetalllc
Leagues work. although he may not
have known that he was himself one of
Its benenciaries. In the Introduction to
the speech which he delivered at Phoe-
nix, Arlz., last February--iive months
before his nomination for !Presldent--he
said that he had come to Arizona under
the auspices Of the Dimetallic League.
He did not say that lie was In the pay,
OF the league. although some of his hear
ers understood him to mean that.
In Cheyenne, Wy0.. on the other hand,
the bill was paid directly by Gov. Os-
borne. an ardent and wealthy silver
man. .5s,- ~. ts,ra.7e