Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-06-23

strange Inconsistency between man
and platform in this case. His iinan-
cial record discloses the following
facts:
1. He voted in November, 1877,
for the motion of Mr.. Bland, Of Mis-
souri,. to suspend the roles and pass
. bill authorizing the free coinage Of
the standard silver dollar.
2. In February, 1873, President
Hayes vetoed the amended Bland bill,
which provided for the coinage of
not less than $1,000 900 nor more
than e4.000.00 worth Of silver per
month into standard dollars. Mr..
Mckinley voted to pass this bill over
Mr.. Hayes veto.
8. In 1884. one OF BANDS free
coinage bills having been reported
adversely. there was offered q sub
stituts providing that the purchase
and coinage Of silver bullion should
be suspended on July 1, 1889. unless
concurring action CONCERNING silver
should be taken by European ma
lions and this country before that
date. Mr.. Mckinley voted against
the substitute. in company with
Bland and his associates and in op-
position to nearly all the representa-
tives of both parties from New Eng
land and the middle states.
4. In 1888, % chairman OF the re-
publican national conven tons COM
mittee on platform, Mr.. Mckinley
reported a resolution "condemning
the policy Of the democratic admin
istration (of Mr.. Cleveland) in its
efforts to demonetize silver" refer
ence here being made to the presi-
dents recommendations concerning
the bullion purchase and coinage act.
B. In 1890. Mr.. Mckinley being
chairman of the ways and means
committee. there was passed the sill
yer purchase law, the operation of
which brought on the panic of 1898.
Mr.. Mckinley, by virtue of his po-
sition and also BY reason of his eff
forts, was perhaps the most infiuen-
tial supporter Of the bill in the
house. He attacked Mr.. Cleveland
for having exerted his influence to
prevent silver legislation. and
pointed out that the republicans
we're about to pass q bill that would
take all the silver (product) prac-
tically Of the United States and make
1t available for the uses of the peo-
ple." He warmly supported the bill
upon the ground that it would in
crease from $4,000. 900 to $4,000, 900
per month the quantity Of silver pur-
chased for currency purposes. I'VE
cannot have free coinage now," said
he, except in the manner provided
in the BILL" He also said: II am
for the largest use of silver in the
currency Of the country. l would
not dishonor it. would give it
equal credit and value with gold.
would make no discrimination.
want the double standard"
6. In the following year, at To-
ledo. Mr.. Mckinley publicly de-
nounced Mr.. Cleveland. saying that
during his term he '.was dishonor.
log one OF our precious metals, dis
crediting silver, and enhancing the
price Of gold" and was striving ..to
contract the circulating medium and
demonetize one OF the coins of COM
merce, limit the volume of money
among the people, make money
scarce. and therefore dear"
z. In September, 1894, at Find
lay. Ohio, Mr.. Mckinley complained
that congress had ..given US no sill.
yer legislation whatever except to
strike down the Sherman (silver pur-
chase) law at its special session,
called for that purpose. 1.-THE party
that struck silver down." he con.
tinued. land gave it the severest
blow it ever had, cannot be relied
upon to give that metal honorable
treatment"