Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-04-01
DEBATE
Between HOke Smith
and Ex-Speaker Crisp
GREAT rnnoNos OF rnorLn us-
AuLn TO SECURE SEATS TO
nEAn THEM SPEAK
GOLD AND SILVER
TINE canAr FINANCIAL ISSUE or
rHr DAY DISCUSSED.
L1-speaiscr crl.p opened the ne
bate win mn Abie Argument
GOLD AND SILVER
Tnn GREAT FINANCIAL ISSUE or
rHn DAY DISCUSSED.
E<-spcaiscr Crisp Opened the De-
bate with mn Able Argument
In Favor OF Free silver.

Augnstn, March si.--No political
event has no stirred this city IA the
financial debate between Secretary
Hoke Smith for sound money and OK
SpeHkvr Crisp for free coinage, which
occurred here tonight, Smith and criap
held Informal rcociptiona ut the NrlinH-
ton hotel an the afternoon The debate
took place IN the Grand opera house,
which aenta 1900. Az early ~ $3.50 pco-
pie began 20 gather, waiting to get IN,
many bringing large palmetto fans, the
thermometer registering eighty deHrcea.
Tho building wnn unable 10 uccumino-
date the mass that desired admittnnce,
many having to remain on the outside.
The governor, many prominent state Of
ficiaia and Con representative men Of
the city and state. were seated on tho
stage, The opera house wns profnsply
decorated, After short Introduction
Mr.. Dauehefty Of the county executive
committee introduced MI Crisp. who
Hpoko Az follows:
'Alr. Smith ana myself. both Demo-
crata, expect earnestly and loyalty 10
stand by the Democratic n -ineo, hut
just now the policy OF tho i.cmocrntlr
party ~ to be formed ana AL Smith
ana diner on one important question.
We diifor about money. There are ccr-
tain principles relating 20 mony which
NJ the outset I wiah Understood. Bear
In mind that the valuesor money II
regulated by the demand and Hupply
ana you viii have taken the first ater
IN determining this great hnnncial
question. There are two conditions
but frat let me call your attention
10 the condition OF the financial world
u 10 1919. throughout Europe there
were two metals coined at dlnercnt
rltlns AT about ~ to !, There ~ no
such thing as international many;
no money VIII clrcrlate In All oountrlcn.
MINT a. Al Ntt1gt IN-f InF u
ernmertH ~ Europe had the ratio OF 10
TO !, and the United States formed that
ratio ms their basis OF colnlng the two
metnla.
you observe my friend Smith when
be comes 10 address you and nee n he
does not make the error Of confounding
the standard with the currency. III
mciallism ~ described by every writer
ma being condition when both metals
can be coined legally at a mint by u
ratio fNcd by law with an equal nur-
chasing and debt paying power. Up to
the year 1873 this law was In force:
aliNor and gold wer. thus llnkod To-
gethor md were the mennure OF COM
moditlea, Any other condition but this
is injurious to the people, ana only
benefits those who have monoy to lend.
When France coined the two metals nt
tho ratio OF Is LIZ 20 ] und the United
States at a ratio OF 10 90 l. all the gold
came 20 America. Cold goes whore Il
dan get the most for Itself Up to 1873
there was no great DIVERGENCE. Some
times one would be worth a llttle moro
than the other, IN 1873 tho United
States dempnetiyed silvcr why II was
done no single gold advocate " old or
truthful enough % rocollect Thcte are
none Of them who viii boldly toll you
why. The real renaon WINS 10 decrease
the amount Of money and to incrcnH0
tho value OF The money which WIS lett.
tApplause) No man IN tho face OF all
these thlnps cnn no before the country
md say that he advocates the single
standard OF gold md hope TO gain the
support OF majority OF tho people Of
tho United States Great appiause)
= "Thcrr nrc some people who 10
through the country saying that the
trouble s. that the financial question
IL being neitaaed by silver cranlla ana
I have never seen "a wrong inflicted on
the mnHa OF the people, hut that those
who inlet Il arc opposed 10 having Il
agitatcd, (Arplaure) Immediately nf-
ter the demonitlzntlon ~ oliver IN tsT5
prlceg decreased. How could thcy hoip
III The money wnn dcrfcnacd and the
commodliien Increased. IN 1870 the
galliaon Law WIS rnaaed and gave us
a little help IN afresting falling prices,
In 1890 The Sherman law was passed
aud helped prices u little more.
"The government hns the option
OF paying its obligations ~ either coin
and Il q 20 stated In the grocniackH
and the f;hcrinnn noten They ear pny
them MI IN silver. Then who wanta thr
gold? we do not need A. fiut III tell
you who wants a. Wall street wanta
, d. q