The San Francisco call., 1896-08-15
McK|NLAY TALKS
TO NAPA VOTERS
Logical Discussion of the
Issues Now Before the
People.
FREE COINAGE FAVORED
By International Agreement Can
Silver Become a Stable
Standard.
CAUSE OF THE "HARD TIMES"
Prosperity Will Return When the
Factories of the Land Are
Reopened.
CAUSE OF THE "HARD TIMES.

sic, red fire and stir on the streets OF
Napa last night. The occasion was the
opening of the political campaign here by
the Republicans. A meeting was held in
the handsomely decorated Maple Hall
Rink. It was presided over by 7. B.
Hutchinson, president OF the Mckinley
and Hobart Club of this city. and on the
platform fifty or more vice-presidents,
with mem mbers of the band and the Repub-
lican glee club, were seated Every seat
in the large hall was occupied and the
standing room was taken. After couple
of songs by the glee club Mr.. Hutchinson
in three-minute speech introduced d. E..
McKinlay of Santa Rosa.
Mr.. McKinlay opened with plain state
ment of the political situation and an as
surance that no attempt would be made
to gain votes by belittling or abusing the
opposition. Two great economic propo-
sitions confronted the people, he said.
One related to the tariff and the other to
finance. The financial question was first
taken up and it was treated in a manner
calculated to enlighten any mind inter-
ested in the subject. The history of gold
and silver and their service as money to
traced from the year 1900 down to the
present time, and the fact was made plain
that the commercial value of the metal
had all to do with a proper fixing of the
ratio; that legislation could raise the
price but not increase the value.
The greenbaok was cited, and the time
recalled when 81 in gold would bring 81 S5
of such money. The further fact was
oh of hat
was called the Gresham law the cheaper
would always drive the dearer money out
of the country. The speaker maintained
that the same force employed to demon
etlze silver would have 10 be applied to re-
monetize ito raise it from 68 cents an
ounce (the present price) to 81 &c. the
price paid under 16 to l ratio.
Mr.. McKinlay recited the history of de-
monetization of silver in France, Germany
and the Latin Union count tries, and re-
viewed the conditions that led to such
revision of monetary systems. He, of
course, referred to s'the crime of '73," and
showed that money legislation of that
period was not the contamination of
great and wicked conspiracy; that silver
was not stricken down in the night, but
that the bill which left the silver dollar
out in eDumerating the coins TO be minted
was under consideration three years; that
ii was the subject of a great number of
speeches, and its discussion covered hum
dreds of pages of the Congressional Record.
He explained the term 16 to /, and said
that to return to the bimetallism of 1873
the Nation must return to the conditions
that prevailed previous to 1878, when
silver was worth 129 cents an ounce. The
dollars OF Mexico and the United States
were contrasted, and the difference in
their purchasing power explained in the
fact that gold stood behind the American
dollar and made 1T worth double that of
Mexican dollar, Notwithstanding its
lighter weight in actual silver.
The speaker said he was a free silver
man, but wanted free silver on perma-
nent and enduring basis, and that was by
International agreement. He spoke of
the growing bimetallic sentiment in the
Parliament of Great Britain and the
favorable prospect of reaching bimeta-
lism under an administration as friendly
to silver as was the Republican party.
The tariff question was ably discussed
and the truth made plain that this issue,
which the Democracy is SO anxious TO
evade, is really the most important one
before the American people o-day. By
and through protection, he declared, pros
perity would again come to this country,
and the wheels which had been standing
still and the machinery which had been
rusting the past three years would move
again to the touch of contented and we'll
paid labor.
A grand tribute was paid to the party's
standard bearer, William Mckinley OF
Ohio, and favorable mention was made of
Congressman Barham's candidacy. Both
names were heartily applauded.
The imam on the fence was talked to
like brother, and when Mr.. Mckinley took
his seat it was found that he had talked
for two hours and held his audience to a
man through ali that time. The speech
was often interrupted by applause.
AT the close of the meeting large num-
Der of names were added to the Mckinley
and Hobart Club roll, and Mckinley but
tons by the score were pinned to the coats
OF voters whose hearts beat in unison with
the shout for Protection, prosperity and
just as good money for the poor as for the
rich"