The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-09-09
BRYAN HALTED.
lie is Asked to stop nnd Explain These
Things.

Things.
New York Press: Mr.. w. ]. Bryan,
will you stop lnilnmlng the minds OF the
shiftless and the needless with tncen-
diary eNhortatlOns long enough TO tuke
up some of the questions which must be
answered before you can hope to receive
the ballots OF Intelligent voters who arc
able to distinguish between argument
md Oratury, between reason and inCIte-
ment? Here are some OF the things,
Mr.. Bryan. which you must explain:
II free coinage raises the value Of sill
yer to 81 % nm ounce, as you say you
"belleve" 1t will. how can any one IN the
United States except the owners OF bull
lion be benefited? II you could make,
as you say you think" you can make,
the metal IN n silver dollar worth 100
cents, how will Il be any easier for peo-
pie to obtain possession of silver dol
lar worth 100 cents than n dollar OF our
present currency worth 100 cents? Why
don't you explain this, Mr.. Bryan?
/ II costs the mine owner 10 cents an
ounce 10 produce his silver II Il were
made worth 81 90 Cents an ounce by
your free coinage scheme. the mine
owner would have profit OF 50 cents an
ounce on all his sIlver-a profit of 225
per cent How would the public get q
single cent OF that profit? Wouldn't
the public be compelled to give for q
dollar Just as much wheat, Just as much
corn, Just as much cotton. just as much
labor az It gives now? Why don't you
explain thIa, Mr., Bryan?
II the value OF silver did not advance
to 81 90 an ounce, in spite OF your "Opln-
"a ~.
received n silver dollar for one dollar
that was due him-one dollar measured
in values OF tn-day-bc defrauded Of the
difference between the mint denomlna-
ton on the dollar and the value OF the
silver In that dollar? Why don't you
explain this. Mr.. Bryan?
II the value of the metal In 4 silver
dollar should remain ut 60 cents. not
withstanding your promise" that It
Will 20 up 10 81 %. Is It not true that n
wage Garner who receives one OF these
silver dollars would only get So cents Of
purchasing power instead OF 100 cents Of
purchasing power which he now re-
crivcs? How do you explain this, Mr..
Bryan?
Then, taking either proposition.
where Is there any possibility of any
wagc-earner. bank deposltOr, pension
er or my one else who has money COM
Ing to him at the end OF n week, Il
month, q quarter, or year. getting
anything but the worst end OF the
bargain? How do you explain this, Mr..
Bryan?
And one thing more You were n
member OF the ways and means COM
mittec that framed the Wilson tariff
law. You favored even n heavier re-
duction OF duties than was made. You
urged even u more radical revision"
than was adopted. You indOrSe the
Chicago platform which demands an
extension of the free trade principle.
You have declared. before you were
nominated, that you would die for free
trade. This means, then. does 1t not.
that you favor closing more American
mills and factories: that you are will
ing 10 see more OF our HwaEe-earncrs
thrown out OF employment: that you
will permit more OF our money TO so
abroad TO pay, wages to foreign work
men and profits to foreign capital: that
you favor an increase of competing
imports produced by cheap labor
abroad. and that you will sacrifice
American labor, American capital.
American production, American honor
Everything to the profits which mine
owners would make out OF free coin
age? How do you explain this, Mr.
Bryan?
MIR. Bryan, you have not dared In
your public uttcranccs since you were
nominated for President ut Chicago to
discuss free trade and protection. Yet
you say you accept, indorsr and will
adhere to every word OF the Chicago
platform. That platform Ia free trade
az well as n free silver platform. VIII
you explain, then. why you fear 10
discuss protection?
Before this country can intrust to
your care, Mr. Bryan. even n village
postotllcc you must answer some OF
these questions, You mus, say not
only what you believe, but why you
believe IT. You must not only promise,
you mnst show how your promises can
be fulfilled. You must he opcn and
frank and honest In all your dcclara-
lions. Moreover, You must speak the
plain, bald, unmistaknblc truth. When
are You going 10 begin TO do this, MIR.
Bryan?