Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-09-21

were coined during that period, but
S105. GOO in silver money Of all de-
nominations. VIII Mr.. Dayton tell you,
as your Congressman. that only SS,OOO,-
000 In silver was coined?
During that period, We had also the
old Spanish mi,led dollar, and the silver
money of all foreign countries, and they
were legal tender. During all that time
the minis were open for coinage, with
the exception OF few years when coin
age was suspended by Jefferson, because
silver was at a premium, and American
silver money was being bought up in
Europe for speculative purposes. We
did not coin more than sos, 0O0.O O0 be-
cause we did not have the silver in this
cOuntry-it had not yet been discovered
Republican speakers tell Us that sill
yer was demOnetized in 1853. Why, my
friends, the treasury reports show that
We coined $45 900 900 between 1858 and
1873. Why was silver stricken down?
Mr.. Dayton did not answer that ques-
ton. and / ask MIR. Mason to answer it.
Didn't IL fight the war of the Rey0iu-
ton. the wars of 1912, 1915. and of 1861?
Didn't il maintain its parity alongside of
gold? When. they cut down One-half OF
your currency, did they lower your
taxes, and raise the price of your crops?
THE ACT OF 1873.
I ask Mr. Mason to tell me in whose
interest, and for what purpose, that
money was stricken down. Is there a
farmer here who is satisfied with the
present conditions? Because denOunce-
ments are hurled at the Democratic par
~, are YOU going TO close your eyes 10
the fact that your house is on fire? Did
Mr. Dayton offer any plan of relief?
Gen. Watts read extracts from speech
s. Of Sherman and Blaine, showing that
both were for free silver in 1878. Why
did silver bullion depreciate in value?
Blaine says demOneJization was tho
main cause for the rapid decline in sill
yer. Did you have too much money
when il was struck down?
In 1865 We had a war debt of $780,,
100000. On that debt we have paid over
Si,OOO0O0000 in principal and interest,
and twO-fifths of the debt remains, and
that tWO-fifths to-day, in the hands of
=.
entire original debt. Why, what We have
paid on that war debt amounts to moth
ing \ class of SPECTATORS grew up
during the war and fa,tened in purse
over the misfOr;unes Of their govern
ment. laying the foundations for the CO.
lOsSal fortunes which have been amassed
in America.
The large proportion Of the government
bonds We're made payable on their face
in lawful money of the United States,
which was then greenbacks, gold and
silver. The bonds were bought by spec
u,atCrs for 20 cents on the dollar. Then
they sent their paid lobbyists to Wash
ingJon, and had the bonds refunded,
making them payable in coin. Their
neXt step was 10 strike down one Of the
money metals. silver, making the bonds
payable in god only.
Gel Watts had started upon another
argumen,. when he was interrupted with
a call of time"
MASON REPLIES.
Nh Mason began by saying that ne did
not think he would speak a full hour.
Watts said gold and silver are the mon
les of the constitution. He did not deny
that proposition. The question is not,
shall we have both gold and silver, but
shall we have all free. We cannot make
money out of anything else.
The people are interested in seeing
that every dollar is a gold dollar. The
Republican party never gave any bad
dollars. They are all good, absolutely
dol nv frs n
would be worth only the value of the
bullion in it, No crime was committed
in 1873. Cen Watts knows that we
have over two billion dollars. We have
per capita of S23, the largest per capita
ever had in this country. Gen. Watts
spoke of the Bland act. WhVhis party
does not want the Bland act Now | am
a compromising man. If Bryan, or Gen.
Watts will accept the Bland act, we will
accept it. we will compromise and quit.
Gen. Watts-"Tell the people what the
Bland act was, Mr.. Mason
Mr.. Mason-"You won't accept the
Bland bill. Your party won't accept it,
Mr. Watts-"You are very much mis-
taken. Mr. Mason. Now, let us under
stand each other mean the Bland act
not the B,and-Alison act
Mr.. Mason Well. l don't remember
about the Bland bill
WattS-"I don't want 10 suggest that
YOU 90 to school again, Mr. Mason. You
are too old 10 learn. mean the Bland
Allison bill. providing for the free and
unlimited coinage of silver at 10 TO l, for
which Major Mckinney voted. We VIII
accept that bill
Mr.. Mason dropped the discussion of
this Doint at once. and reviewed the his
tory of financial legislation in tails coun-
try. He said the proposition to give 100
cents for cents worth OF silver, was
made in the interests of the silver par
ons. Mr.. Mason advocated the maln1en-
aDce OF ratio between the TWO metals,
dependent upon their commercial Vaiue'
MORE CROSS QUESTIONS.
The only question is can the govern
ment coin silver at the ratio OF 10 TO l,
and keep il on parity with gold II II
could be done, he (Masonl was tor IL;
IF if could not. he was against it. 'reII
mo hy what kind OF hCcus-pocus you
can make 50 cents worth OF silver worth
a dollar
Gen Watts-"You tell these people
what made il SO cents.
EI9san-"Suppose We admit that the
Congress Of 1873 was ali wrong, and
Wa,ts-"Then you give away your
lIason-"But I don't admit it, Gen
eral. You cam put 90 cents worth OF
silver in a silver dollar, and 100 cents
-. - rnlh In q gold dollar. ana