Evening star., 1896-07-28
Free Coinage Not Making Inroads
Among Eastern Workingmen.
Vice CHAIRMAN APSLEY'S VIEWS
Predictions That Nebraska Will Be
Safely Republican.
ENCOURAGEMEN IN ILLINOIS

Vice Chairman Apsley of the republican
congressional COMMITTEES, has returned from
brief visit to his home in Massachusetts,
and was at his desk today. He spent only
one day at his home, but i'll that time talk
ed to many politicians and received reports
from various sections of New England.
'.All of this talk of free silver making in
roads in the laboring classes of New Eng
land is nonsense said MIR. Apsley to a
Star reporter today The voters were mis-
led in the campaign of four years ago by
the democratic doctrine advanced at that
time. and they are anxious now to return
to the prosperity which reigned prior to the
advent of the democratic administration
with its poverty-producing doctrines.
Instead of hearing expressions of al
legiance to free silver ideas a.uong the peo-
pie of my section" said Mr.. Apsley. Il
he ard, on the contrary, many assertions of
intention to vote against The Bryan and
Sewall ticket and platform. A number of
men came to me personally and expressed
themselves as unalterably opposed to the
ticket
Effect on WOrkingmen.
Tie committee Is circulating in great
quantities Mr.. McCleary's speech against
silver, in which he deals with the relation
of free silver to the interests Of the labor
ing men follows:
ANY man who will examine daily quo
tatfons of prices as reported in the news
papers will soon discover that they change
from day to day, and sometimes change
very greatly in the course of a month.
But every man who earns wages is IA
miliar with the fact that they change
slowly, an increase of 10 per cent in
year being quite a gain Prices change
quickly: wages change slowly.
Now let US grant what the advocates
silver basis would double the prices of
commodities" Does any workingman be-
Eeve that wages would be doubled too?
Even If they should be. how much would
the wage Garner profit by the change? No
Intelligent workingman believes for min
ute that his wages would be Increased by
more thar small per cent-that is. while
his wages might be nominally increased
somewhat. the prices of the things he has
TO buy would be increased very much r,ore.
So the real purchasing power of a days
work would be greatly diminished. All
experience shows that any debasement in
the money system of country raises
prices faster and farther than 1t does
wages. This might influence some en-
ployers to consider the propriety of de-
basing our currency, but it is precisely the
reason why workingmen should oppose 1t.
so far worlkingmen concerned
the whole silver question Is to be summed
up in one query. Do you want your wages
cut down? If so, vote for the free coinage
of silver
Republican Prediction ms to Nebraska
Mr.. W. F. Gurley, a former Washington
Ian, but now a prominent attorney of
Omaha, Neb.. and an active worker In re-
publican politics In that state, is in the
city, and was at congressional headquar-
ters today in consultation with Secretary
Mercer of Nebraska.
The republicans will carry the state at
the next election" said Mr.. Gurley to
Star reporter this morning. We are pre-
pairing for effective campaign. There is
a great deal of hard work before u.s. to be
sure, but think that with a good organ
ization and vigorous campaign We will
be able to overcome the efforts of the free
silver people. The free silver doctrine Is
an insdious one. 1t appeals to the preju-
diceS and the miSfortunes of men You
will hea- free silver man clinch his ar
gument with the expression Well, things
could not be much worse than they are
now, will try this free silver busi-
ness. 1t is duty to show them that
they cannot undertake the risk of such an
experiment. and that things could be a
good deal worse than they are now. and
will be if they try free silver on this gov
ernment-"
Encouraging Reports From Illinois.
Representative George W. Smith of Illi-
nois was at congressional headquarters to-
day. and brought some very encouraging
reports from section of the country from
which good news Is exceedingly welcome.
Mr.. Smith represents a district in the
lower portion of the state where free sill
yer sentiment has prevailed to some ex-
tent He said the republicans are rallying
to the defense of the national ticket, and
going to vote the ticket as .hey did in
the last congressional campaign Mr..
Smith admits that question was raisel in
the minds of the republicans at first by the
fear that the declaration of the St Louis
convention upon the financial issue was a
departure from republican principles. but
that they are convinced after looking into
the matter that such Is not the case.
One of the forms of campaign documents
offered to the republican committee is a
little "Sticker poster about one inch wide
by three inches long. gummed on the hack.
to be easily affixed TO any object. 1t reads
follows:
The republican party stands for honest
money and the chance to earn it by honest
toll WILLIAM MCKINLEY"
1t is the idea Of the originator Of this
poster to have millions of copies posted in
conspicuous place in every voting precinct
In the land, to attract the attention Of the
pasSer-by.
War ON the POpulists.
The republican congressional committee
1t is understood. will wage relentless war
upon the populists in this campaign, as it
did in the last one. In the last congress
sional campaign the republican cry was.
Wherever you see a populist head, crack
class
Il think that is good policy" said a repub-
hcen Congressman, who was visiting con-
gressional headquarters today. I'VE can't
the only thing to do is to expose their hum
bugs. show their fallacies. and hold up their
wild and untenable doctrines to the scorn
OF every intelligent man. 1 have several
thousand populist voters in my district,
and go at them hammer and tonss on this
line, as rule.
You have no idea how sensitive those
people are. If. in the course of a speech 7
do not refer to them. and pass them by
with silent contempt, 1t makes them furious
AS rule these populists are plain. honest
people, who are sincere in a great many
of their IDEAS As for their leaders. have
no respect for them at ALL but the rank and
file of the party really believe in their party,
its policy and aims"
Campaign Hand Book.
The republican campaign hand book will
be out in a few weeks. The finishing touches
are now being put upon It, and the last of
the material will go to the printer this week.
1t Will De voluminous document. replete
with valuable information for campaign
workers. and will deal with the financial
question and the tariff in a comprehensive
manner. Capt. Thos H. Mckee. who has
been assisting in the preparation of the