The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1896-09-25
THE FACTS in THE CASE.


the holiday trade is the largest ever
known; all wcolen, cotton and silk ma
chinery is fully employed. There were
fewer failures in 1892 than in all the
years preceding it since 1886. On Dec.
so, 1893, the same agency said: The
year, beginning with the largest trade
ever known, has closed with sudden
sinking of trade, the worst for fifty
years. The failures of 1893 far surpass
those of any previous year. Bradstreets
of the same date said: The year 1898
shows heavier net losses than for the
past eighty years. There is more than
,o00, GOO wage earners in enforced idle
ness more than one year ago.
After fastening the responsibility for
the great and sudden depression where
| it belonged, Mr.. Craven turned his at
tention to the financial question. He
claimed the subject was so vast that if
alfthesfacts needful to know were boiled
down to the smallest possible compass
it would yet take about eight hours to
deliver them in set speech. He could
therefore do no more than. fool around
the fringes of the question in the short
time allotted him. He said he only
wished that those who wanted free silver
could have it; and those who did not
want it could be free. illustrating the
thought by witty story about the man
who was wounded in his substitute.
The question, said Mr.. Craven, called
for the deepest reading, study and
thought. When the great question came
up whether or not the black man should
be bond or free, it was a question of
the heart. Anyone who had human
his vote for abolition of slavery, but the
financial issue is a question of the head
and not the heart. Mr.. Craven then IL
lustrated the present worth of the silver
dollar as bullion, and declared by un-
questionable proof that the fiat value
could never be more than its bullion
worth. Here the first interruption
arose. ''Better have fifty-cent
dollar than no dollar at all,'' Wild
Iy shrieked out Populist. Mr..
Craven drew himself up to his full
height and launched the following an.
swer like thunderbolt; "My friend,
you will have no dollar at all, you will
not even have soup if your vote pre-
walls" A second interruption provoked
the following: ''You go off and get the
work do less talking and you'll have
more work" The saIlies provoked the
most tremendous applause.
Mr.. Craven then followed with some
interesting figures. During 1896 there
has already been coined as many silver
dollars as for a period in our history COW
ering 81 years. From 1898 to 1873 there
was coined $l47 900 900 in silver, while
from 1874 to 1893 there was coined $525-
000,0O0. From 1853 to 1873 there was
coined bat $5,524. 900, and since 1873
more than $434, ,OO0.O 900. The speaker
than showed how 53-cent dollars would
affect for i'll every wage-earner, every
small depositor in savings banks; a
stated salary would mean less money
for the Garner of that salary. Under
free coinage, prices would rise rapidly,
with no corresponding increase in wages.
If the government stamps silver and a
!, gold dollar equal in value at ratio of 16
to l, it is flying in the face of all reason,
and all history, particularly American
: history, to urge that that value can be
maintained. Quoting Senator Jones,
who was appointed by congress in 1875
chairman of monetary commission to
investigate coinage laws, he showed that
gold went out of circulation when there
was difference in gold's favor of but z
cents in value.
Mr.. Craven concluded with a brilliant
peroration upon the worth of the grand
old party and it's immortal heroes, con-
Guiding with an adaptation of Bryan's
famous t'cross of gold and crown of
thorns" gem of speech, in this wise
"You shall not press down upon Ameri-
can industry this crown of thorns; you
shall not cruelty American labor by this
cross of repudiation.''
Mr.. Grove, president of the Mckinley
| club, then announced regular meeting
J of the club for this evening, when he
: would appoint the committees.
If thou wouldst beer drink, drink thou
only Hop ld.-shakespeare. s24-1w
For Sale.
A lot of Merino sheep, (bucks) also
stock hogs and milk cows, belonging to
: tbo asFata 1f g HSrsar For nforr, q