Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-16
THE SILVER DEBATE
Creighton Theater Packed to Hear Hon. W.
]. Bryan and E, ROsewater,
ARGUE FOR AND AGAINST FREE COINAGE
Audience Evidently About Equally Divided
in Its sympathies.
0RAT0RY PUNCTUREO BY HARD FACTS
Mr.. Bryan Gets Answers to His Numerous
Questions,
FREE SILVER FALlAClES EXPOSED
WnEc-ISar rning and Producing Glasses
Always the Worst Sufferers from
fss. -
FREE SILVER FALLAClES EXPOSED
Wngc-EnrninEn and Producing Classes
Always the worst Sufferers from
the Effects OF IL Dcbuscd ol
Dcpreciutcd Currency.

The great silver debate between e. Rose
water and w. J. Bryan took place at the
Creighton theater last night according to the
arranged program before such an audience
as has been rarely assembled in Omaha.
Long before the hour set for opening the
debate the street in front of the theater was
thronged, and when Judge Gregory called the
| assemblage to order not a vacant seat was
visible Even the upper gallery was packed
to the extreme rear and the foyer was lined
with those who were unable to find better
than standing room. 1t was crowd of peo-
pie who had evidently thought much on the
subject of the evening, as was indicated by
the manner in which the points made by the
speakers were grasped and applauded. In
sentiment the listeners were apparently very
evenly divided and the successive arguments
for and against the free and unlimited COIN
age of silver were greeted with successive
signs Of almost equal approval.
The stage was filled with leading repre-
sentatives of the commercial official and pro-
fessional circles of Omaha, among whom
were Henry w. Yates, C. L. Jaynes, ]. B.
sheean, H. H, Baldrige, Euclid Martin.
Judge G. w. Ambrose, Judge George b.
Latte, Judge w. S. Strawn DR.. j. j. Savile,
Judge Covell Sam Gosney, ]. l. Woodward,
S. r. Rush. Julius Meyer, Thomas Swobe.
e. w. Simeral, Patrick o. Hawes, w. G. Ed
wards, Louis Burmeister, A. p. Turkey, /. o.
Rhoades, w. G. Martin, j. ]. Points, Judge
Eleazer Wakeley, j. j. O'Connor, Judge E.
NJ. Stenberg, E. j. Cornish, r. w. Richard
son, w. S. Wedges, John N. Westberg, H. X.
Burket, Henry f. Wyman, George w. Hol-
brook, e. E. Howell, John Evans. j. II. Van
Dusen, w. l. KIerstead, w. j. Conne,
George Heimrod, p. w. Birkhauser, George
Mercer, p j. Dunn, Judge Il. r. Dufie, G.
E. Starr M: H. Redfeld, Willis Todd, r. b.
law A nlr rhan
Hascall, J. w. Carr, Louis Heimrod Anton
Kment, ]. r. Buchanan, Judge George w.
Doane, Paul VanderVoort, Judge S. l. Cor
CHARLES dSn w N weeT Nsso f. ThSmas %aer fpetTe eabsR
DIR. j. b. Blythn, w. r. Bennett, George
Kelley, c. S. Brownee, E. H. Wood, Sol
Prince, ]. A Munroe, Judge Irving +. naA-
ter, Luther Drake, Captain Fl. p. Palmer.
l.. Kenneday, Clifford Smith and w. Farnam
Smith.
Among those who occupied seats in the
boxes were: Mr.. and Mrs. j. II. Dumont,
DR.. and Mrs. Charles Rosewater, Mr. George
w. Linnger, Mr.. Frank Haller Mr. and Mrs.
Andrew Rosewater, Judges Powell, Slabaugh.
Dickinson, Baker, Fawcett and Keysor, w.
T. Canada, and G. M. Hitchcock.
OPENED PROMPTLY ON TIME.
The speakers arrived a few minutes after
s o'clock, and were literally applauded as
they took their seats at the right and left
respectively of Judge Gregory, who acted
as chairman of the debate. Mr. Rosewater
was accompanied by John G. Wharton as his
representative, while John Q. CASTOR acted
in like capacity for Mr. Bryan. Judge
Gregory stated the question to be debated
and the limits of time which would be al
lowd each speaker. He then introduced Mr..
Bryan, who, as the supporter of the al
frmative. was to open the debate.
Mr.. Bryan greeted with a hearty
round of applause as he stepped to the front
&C the stage He said: eve have met to-
night to discuss what I esteem to be the
moss important question ever presented to
the American people. The sole object
have in view Is to enable those who study
this question to come to proper understand
ing of it." He then read the full text OF
the question under consideration and in ex-
PLANTATION of it's import said: Il shall not
be satisfied II my opponent simply answers
my arguments. 1t will not do for him to
merely negative the statements | make and
question the principles ! advocate. He must,
on his part, present financial scheme that
is better than the one for which | SHAH
speak. There can be no doubt but t9at
change in our financial policy is badly
needed Something must be done. The
question Is, What is it? If 1t Is not the
restoration of silver then 1t is for Mr. Rose
water TO tell us what 1t is
THE CRIME OF 1879
The "crme of '73' was one of the first
matters taken up by the free silver apostle.
He said however after telling how silver
had been stricken down In the dark In that =
year and gold substituted in its place, that
IL was far more important to discuss the
restoration of the white metal than to
spend time considering the manner In which
1t had been demonetized. He said he wanted
some evidences, If Mr.. Rosewater possessed
any, of the public discussion Of the demon-
etizatlon of silver at the time The crime
was committed. He then read from various
publications statements concerning the quiet
way in which that act had been accom-
plished He spoke of the reward offered
by "Con" Harvey for any one who could
find in any publication notice of the demon
etlzation of silver by congress. He insisted
that Mr. Rosewater had not earned the
800 reward because 1t was not shown In
the press dispatches alluding to the passage
of the bill that bill to eodify the mint
laws was intended to demonetze silver and
to susupend the further coinage OF the silver
dollar He said that If the proprietor OF
The Bee did not know that such was the
real purpose Of the law he was not entitled
to the reward offered, and If he did know
such to be the case and failed to so inform
the people he wanted to know what motive
had actuated him In withholding such in
formation from the public.
Mr. Bryan stated that he wanted his op-
poEent to define an honest dollar. He con-
sidered 1t to be dollar whose purchasing
power was the same yesterday, today and
forever. He said there had never yet been
dollar that had been absolutely honest,
and such a dollar was not expected at this
time. All the silver advocates hoped for
was the nearest possible approach to the
dollar that was absolutely stabale
He argued that there were two classes OF
people who preferred the gold standard; first.
those who knew II was dishonest and pre-
ferred IL because II was dishonest; and, sec
ondly. those who were ignorant Of the real
meaning Of the term. He wanted a dollar
that would neither rise nor fall In value He
said that because people differed In interests
they differed In their opinions on the finan-
cial question and admitted IL would be
long time before a final solution Of the ques-
tion might be expected.
SEEKS AN ADMISSION.
He asked Mr.. RoseWater to admit that In
the last twenty three years there had been
steady decrease In the prices Of American
goods. II his opponent refused to admit this
fact he said he would bring forth documen-
Il. LII