The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-07-31

to th9 prosperity which reigned prior to
the advent of the Democratic admins
tration with its poverty producing doc
trines -
"Instead Of hearing expressions OF alle-
glance to free silver ideas among the peo-
pie OF my section,o said Mr. Apsley, 81
heard, on the contrary many assertion OF
intention to vote against the Bryan ana
SeWall ticket and platform. A number
Of men cams to me personally and ex-
pressed themselves as unalterably ops
posed to the tioket 2"
The committee In circulating in great
quantities Mr.. MeCleary's speech against
silver, in which he deals with the rela-
tion of free silver to the interests Of the
laboring men as follows:
4 "Auy man who will examine daily
quotations of prices as reported In the
newspapers will soon dicover that they
change from day to day and sometimes
change very greatly in the course OF u
month. But every man who earns wages
is familiar with the fact that they
change slowly, an increase OF 10 per
cent in year being quite gain. Prices
change quickly; wages change slowly.
"Now let us grant what the advocates
of free silver olaim-uhat going 60 the
silver basis would double the prices of
commodies. Does any woTkingman be
lieve that wages would be doubled too?
Eyen If they should be, how much would
the wage Garner profit by the changer
No intelligent worklngnIan believes for
minute that his wages would ba in
creased by more than small per cent
that is, while his wages might be nomi-
nally increased somewhat, the prices OF
the things he has to buy would be In
creased very much more. Sosthe real pur-
chasing power of a days work would be
greatly diminished. All experience
shows that any debasement in the money
system of country raises prices faster
and farther than 1t does wages. This
might influence some employees to consld-
er the propriety of debasing oEr currency,
but it is precisely the reason why work
ingmen should oppose it.
$50 far as workingmen are concerned
the whole silver question is to be
summed up in one query. Do you want
your wages cut downP If so, vote for
the free coinage of sliver.''
MIR. W. Il. Gurley, former Washing
tonian, but now prominent attorney of
| Omaha, Neb., and an active worker in
| Republican politics In that state, is in
the city, and was at the congressional
headquarters today in consultation with
Secretary Mercor Of Nebraska.
'The Republicans will carry the state
at the next election" said Mr. Gurley
| to a Star reporter this morning. "We
are preparing for an effeclive campaign.
There is great Geal of hard work before
| us, to be sure, but l think that with good
organization and vigorous campaign
we will be able to overcome the efforts
of the free silver people. The free silver
| doctrine is an insidious one. 1t appeals
to the prejudice and misfortunes of men.
You will hear free silver man clinch
| his arguments with the expressions,
Well, things could not be much worse
than they are now, SO we will try this
| free silver business 1t is our duty to
show them that they cannot undertake
the risk of such an experiment, and that
things could be a good deal worse than
they are low, and will be if they try
free silver on this government.
The Republican campaign hand book
will be out in few weeka. The finish
ing touches are now being put on 1t, and
the last of the material will go to the
printer this week. 1t will be a volumin-
Gus document, repete with valuable in
formation for campaign workers. and Will
deal with the financial question and
the tariff in mprehensive manner.
Capt. Thos. II. Mckee, whom has been
assisting in the preparation Of the book,
win leave in a day or two for Chicago,
where he will be attached to the CAM
paign headquarters in that city.