The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-08-30

He CandidIy Tells His Constituent
That He Is Opposed to the Free and Tn
limited Coinage of Silver at the Rate
of sixteen to One-He Says This Countr,
Alone Cannot RehabiIitate siIver-H
Gives Reasons for His Position.
From a standpoint of a vigorous op
ponent to the free and unlimited coin
ege of silver at the ratio of 16 TO i none
could have made a more powerful
speech than did Hon. Chester I Long
last might
For three hours, or nearly that he
spoke to a great audience in the Audi
torium and nine-tenthS Of the time was
occupied in exposing the so-called fall
lacy of free coinage.
Some did not agree with him, but none
could call him a coward of a straddler
He plainly presented his attitude with
reference to the all absorbing ques-
ton. He did not seek 10 advance the
tariff as the main issue In this cam
paign- He boldly acknowledged by the
time he gave TO the question that money
and Its kind and character is the issue.
1t was s o'clock when the meeting was
called to order by Congressional Com
nitteeman W. A Mgnick who, after a
few remarks, introduced Mr. +. +.
Beach, grand councillor of the United
Commercial Travellers OF countl No.
g9, this city.
\ parade was to be feature OF the
event, but the showers and threatening
storm so far prevented it that there
We're only a few people IN line, headed
by the Second Regiment band. The
threatening storm, however, kept no
one from the Auditorium, apparently,
for the immense building was filed to
fts utmost capacity. If the night had
been fine overflow meetings would have
TO be held
Mr.. Beach in introducing Mr.. Long,
explained how and why he became OPP
posed to the free coinage idea Of the
Democratic party. He was talking to
jerry Simpson some time ago and Mr..
Simpson told him that he did not ex-
pect that under free coinage silver
would go to SL29 per onuce, that it
could not advance more than 10 or Is
cents, and that so far as he was con-
cerned he did not care TO see it adj
vance as the people wanted cheap mon
ey and if silver went to S129 per ounce
1t would be as dear as gold.
After addressing the audience Chester
Long paid a high tribute TO the Travel
ing men and thought they were better
equipped to give accurate Information
about the political situation than any
other calls Of people. He considered
them a great factor in his election two
years ago.
He spoke about the rnixed-up condi-
uaf !,
mlere would be a great re-aiignment
all along the district, state and nation.
He was glad of It and expressed him.
self as being ready for its results.
He was pleased at the prospect. He
said that the main opposition to him
heretofore was because he was a law
yer Now he thought the Populists
would not hold that against him as
n1efr can dfdate for president was law
yer and a railroad lawyer at that. In
addition the vice-presidential candidate |
of the Populists of Kansas was presi- |
dent Of the First National bank Of
Bath, Me, and the owner of uncounted
millions In the state he said that
John w. Leedy was the Populist stand
ard bearer and that his first acquain-
tance with Leedy was when that gen.
tleman was the missionary of the Mis-
farmers of Barber county 10 vote bonds |
to that road.
He explained, then, why the Popu- |
lists of Kansas could not vote for Tom |
Watson and went on TO show how a |
trade was made in the state which de- |
pr1ved the Populists of Kansas of their |
duly elected nominee for vice-president.
without further remarks he proceed |
ed to discuss the subject Of free COIN
age. He said the word free was very
seductive and went on TO illustrate by
free lunches, free trade and free din
ners
He asked If there was any man in |
the audience who had bullion to sell
and there being no response he asked
them what good free coinage of some
thlng they did not have would do them.
Continuing he said:
The opposition insists that the money
question overshadows all others as the
great issue N this campaign, and that
what Is required 20 bring prosperity TO
this country is not a return to the con-
dftions that existed between 1850 and
1890. but that we should open our minis
10 the free and unlimited coinage of
silver at the ratio OF is TO 1, without
waiting for the action or consent of any
other nation, and they have challenged
me Republican party to a contest on
this issue
The Republican party. during all IT'S
existence, has been uniformly brave.
ready TO defend any position that # has
taken willing to combat error wherevar
Il may be found. ard it accepts tho cba1-
lenge and boldly announces that j. e nr4
In favor OF the free and unlimItesi coin
age OF silver at the ratio OF l6 tn ! NV
this country alone, and declares a will
70 wage the battle on that line
n this district AS the candidate OF
hat party, believing in fits principles. 7 |
I'M willing TO submit that question To
'he people OF this district for their de-
,ision.
I'VE now have the free and unlimited
'otnage of gold and the free and lin
ted coinage of silver. One dollar IS as
rood as any other dollar and ali are a .
rood as gold. This condition has ex-
sted since 1879. and the question TO de-
erTnlne is whether with the free and
innmted coinage Of silver all our mon
Y would continue TO be as good as
,old, or whether we would have a de-
'reciated currency.
What Is meant by Is to1e II means
hat at the mint, Is ounces of silver are
reated as equal TO one ounce OF gold
n other words, that Is ounces OF silver
re rs valuable as one ounce OF s,nld
NJ in No. Inc =, a., /