Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-07-04
BRYAN AND MASON.
An interesting Discussion az Water
loo ChautahQua.

loo Chattanooga.
Watsfi6o, Ia; June 26.-Hon. w. e.
Mason of Chicaeo, and w. j. Bryan OF
Nebraska, met in Joint debate on the
silver question, at the opening OF the
C%hautaudur here yesterday. Governor
Boies presided on the part OF the silver
ties and introduced Mr.. BRYAN. Ihe
governors appearance on the platform
was the signal for round after round OF
the widest applause. His address of
Introduction was brief. He only said
that he considered the question of What
shall be the future financial policy OF
nation the foremost before the people.
Bryan ook the free silver side or the
question and opened the b a lie
said it was almost the universal claim
Of geld bugs hat fnanciers and capi-
talists are the only persons competent
to express opinions on the great none
tary question. He asked Mason II, In
his judgment, thie was true: and II IL
was true what was the uss 10 talk of the
matter to othe.s.
Bryan argued that a man ought 10
look at the money question from the
standpoint OF his own interests, just as
the brotectionists ask him to o AT the
tariff Question. He said; Il believe bl-
metallism is Tor the best interest OF the
great mass of the people and am con-
fdent that, If they understand the queS-
ton. they will vote for their own inter
ests." He declared that Mason would
not, ana dare not, defend the single gold
standard as the best thing for the
try, and argued that the asc ~ two met
ais made the money less changeable and
less %iuctuating. He declared an honest
dollar as one that would neither rise
tug fall. Some times" said he, the
gold decreases and sometimes the silver
but seldom both together. Hence the
Advantages OF b~inetailism." Arguing
that the debtor and creditor stand equal
AS TO their rights In choosing the money
Of payment. he presented the theory
that II would be better for society 10
give the option to the debtors. The re-
suit would be the inclination of the two
metals toward each other. He said; III
the creditor has an option he will desire
the dearer metal. and " all the creditors
desire the dearer metal. they Increase
the demand for that metal. and II be-
ome dearer still. and the cheaper
metal becomes cheaper still"
After Bryan had talked thirty min
tites Mr.. Mason was introduced by
Judge Tollerton for a thirty-minute
round. He launched oft by declaring
that the state OF Illinois would indorse
the honest single gold standard next
November by 20, 900 majority, and said:
az am In favor of the single gold stand
ard and am here to defend It," In reply
to Bryan's question, he said: MY hon
orable opponent asks me To state wheth-
or the capitalists. bankers, etc, are the
only persons competent TO express an
opinion on this question. / answer no.
The democratic district. in Illinois
known as the Eighteenth, submitted the
question whether we should have a mr.
ty cent dollar or a dollar dollar, and 1t
was a democratic district, and the issue
was as nicely drawn as any issue was
ever drawn in any campaign, and we
submitted 1t to the farmer, to the me-
chanic. to the blacksmith. and to the
merchant, and We wiped out democracy
and free silver in that district, and will
do IL again" Defining an onest dollar,
he said: II say II is an honest dollar
because 1t viii buy all it calls for In any
ma ton OF the world; but II the govern
ment of the United States a not
stamped IL, 1t would not be worth but 80
cents anywhere in the world. Here Is
this Mexican dollar. with more silver
than ours, but Al cents promise and SO
cents performance. Is IL an honest dol
lar? No. This dollar from Mexico with
more silver I'm 1t than ours Is worth more
than ours In intrinsic value. but
because they have flooded their
country with unlimited coinage of silver
they have reduced II SO that his little
piece of silver with the AmsriAan Eagie
buy two Mexican dollars II tan say;
Il am not worth anything intrinsically,
but financially I can say that / know
that my redeemer liveth.'"
The debate lasted two hours and a
half and both speakers were heartily
greeted and loudly %applauded.