Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-10-16
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
The situation at YeIm.

Ed. Standard:
The Peoples Party held one Of ;hcir
grand rallies at Smith prairie on the
9th inst. 1t was well attended, the
seats being all full and many had to
stand, and they were nearly all people
living IN the vicinity Of Smith prairie
The first speaker was DIR. Mitchell.
He showed clearly how the act of 1873
had paralyzed all the industries OF the
United States and how it had struck
down labor. He said he was no
speaker but would try and produce
facts that would show the policy of
the gold standard, and the attention
the people gave him was sure evidence
that his remarks were very convincing.
Tn" next speaker was J. c. CONNIE.
He went back to the act OF 1873 and
carried the subject up TO the present
time. He also showed how the fall of
silver had ruined thousands of bust
ness enterprises and produced more
misery and crimes than were ever
known before. He also showed that
they were not satisfied after kicking
silver out and surrendering the reins
of this government over to the money
power composed of money sharks of
this country and England, but they
put the exemption clause on green
backs and so deprecated that money
for the sole purpose OF putting cor
ner on gold and making money dear
He also showed how the money of the
constitution, silver and gold, under
free coinage. would revive business
and set the wheels Of industry moving
Mr.. Conine requested any and all to
ask questions il they wanted to, and
he would try and answer them; but
they seemed well satisfied and | am
sure his remarks were far reaching
The third speaker was from Olym-
pia, Mr.. Troy, and Unjust say his argu-
ments were to the point and unrav-
eled the goldbug theories in a way that
was surprising. Take it all in all the
public had great treat and will re-
spond to it on the Sd day of November
by showing under all goldbug doctrines
and giving the silver party an over
whelming majority.
The gold element held one of their
best rallies on Smith prairie on Oct.
Sth, and if it mad not been for the
silver party that went there to see
them straddle from the silver plank
in 1894 to gold plank in 1896, and
those imported, the speakers would
have had an empty house, and want
to say right here that when the Peo.
pies party held their rally the goldbug
element did not come. They seem to
be afraid to face the truth.
The first speaker was DIR. Mead and
have nothing to say against that
gentleman, for | believe he would vote
right il he knew how. He disregarded
the issues in this campaign, but told
some stories and finally ran down by
saying he had talked with two men
during his canvass in this campaign,
one of them he said was Is or 70 years
old, the other between so and 90 years
years of age. The first man had
signed the Bryan club roll and seemed
to be repenting, the other said he was
in favor OF free coinage at l6 to |, for
he could go to bank with one dollar
in gold and get l6 in silver. No doubt
that old man had been reading about
the actions OF some at the national
capital when they deposit nothing and
draw out thousands. What amused
me was the age Of the men, but | sup
pose the doctor is like the man heard
of once. He said he never struck but
over man in his life and that man was
one hundred years old. But think
the doctor has certainly talked with
more than two men since he got his
nomination, but / suppose ne don't
want to tell what they said.
Mr.. Rea was the next speaker. lie
commenced by telling stories They
seem to produce more stories than
facts. 1t seemed to me that gentle
man was on the wrong side. believe
if he had been on the other side he
could OF made good showing. He
extended an invitation to any in the
audience to ask questions and he
would try to answer them, but when
he was handed An extract from Nc
McKinley's speech in 1891 when he
advocated free silver and was asked to
read it, he declined. Others asked
him questions and he failed to answer
them satisfactorily. There was one
remark he made in speaking of Bryan's
election and silver Congress. He
said in substance that if they were
elected they would never dare to pass
the free coinage act. The people he
said would not tolerate it-and yet
they talk of revolutionistsl
Hopkins did not speak on the issues
of the day. He only said he would
like to suck the public teat a while
longer.
Mr.. Garfield seems to be a nice
young man. There is one thing can
vouch for, he is q good story teller.
They imported their singing, they
imported their pictures, they imported
their cheering, and they imported
their chairman. They are great i'm
porters, and it certainly seems like
Hanna's band wagon is not far off and
the people will respond to them on
the Sd of November by showing them
all under. l don't see how they can
advocate high protective tariff and be
such great importers.
yes. Mr.. Editor, nearly forgot
one OF the speakers at that goldbug
rally, and that was p. B. Van Trump
of Yelm. He told how the Demo-
cratic party had run of and left him
away out here in the woods, and you
could almost sec the tears running
down his cheeks. The poor old man
got lest in the wilderness chasing
goldbug. II.