Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-10-22
rsyrH WARD REPUBLICANS.
The Speakers at Their Meeting Tuesday
Night Frequently Interrupted.

Night Frequently Interrupted.
Levi G. Bird, William S. Hilles and
William Michael Byrne addressed a
large Republican meeting in the Tenth
ward at Third and Harrison streetsTues-
day night. Near Chestnut and Jackson
streets, while on the way to the meet
ing place, Drummer John Yates of the
First Regiment Band was struck in
the head with brick. At the meet
ing the speakers were interrupted by
persons in the crowd. Robert Keenan,
of the Tenth ward presided. The Tenth,
Eleventh and Twelfth ward Republican
clubs we're represented.
Mr.. Bird was the first speaker. Boys
in the crowd began to annoy him and
he asked them to keep quiet; then
some older people began to be annoy
ing When Mr.. Bird referred to that
scoundrel Altgeld, ''someone exclaimed:
He is gentleman. A Single Taxer
also took part in the meeting and told
Mr.. Bird that Mark Hanna was the foe
of organized labor and had fought the
Seaman's Union, of which matter Mr..
Bird said he had not heard.
While Mr.. Bird was discussing free
silver, a listener remarked that the
workingman got silver dollars now and
never saw gold one. Mr.. Bird asked
him il he was willing to pay his debts in
53-cent dollars and he said he was
Another interrupter was invited by Mr..
Bird to come upon the platform and
argue the question there, but he refused
to do 80, whereupon Mr.. Bird used
some plain words and told the man he
was a coward. Thenceforth Mr.. Bird
was allowed to make his speech un-
molested. He showed the effect of free
coinage, which would depreciate cur
rency or II, on the other hand, silver
should advance to S1.29 an OUNCE, as
Bryan predicts, then the cheap dollars
promised by Bryan to the workingman
would not be. The speakers reminded
his hearers that they would have t.
work for all the dollars they received.
Mr.. Hilles, vino followed Mr.. Bird,
said he was willing to answer any
honest question that might be put tc
him.
For time he discussed the tariff
question and eaid that in 1894 the
people expressed themselves as tired o
the free trade tariff now in force, tina
they could not change the system ther
but will do SO at the coming election
When Mr.. Hilles took up the coinag'
question, persons In the crowd began
TO annoy him. He made an effort Z
answer the questions which were asked
He stated that Jefferson and jackson
had both stopped the coinage Of silve
dollars because they were unable t.
maintain the parity and they wer
Democrats of whom the nation wa
proud. When he referred to the stor.
Of Bryan's application for a position a
theatrical press agent, one OF the crow
shouted: 'tAbe Lincoln was raj
splitter. +" eyes, answered Mr.. Hilles
"and the example of Abraham Lincol
is one Of which every American shout
be proud, for he always strived {
benefit the American people. ~ Whe
Mr.. Hilles declared that Bryan neve
employed man in his life, one of tn
crowd shouted, Ibid your" "No.
answered Mr.. Hiles, "but am nc
running for President Police Sci
geant Shields and Officer Palmer re
moved one of the disturbers from th
!, crowd and Mr.. Hilles concluded hi
remarks in peace.
Mr.. Byrne made the closing speech
He said he did not propose TO answt
! any questions and he was given fai
= hearing. Speaking of free silver b
! declared that the government had =
! right to reduce the wages of the worl
! ingman one-half by making 53-cer
dollars. In the course of the meetin
it was visited by Candidates Higgir
and Houston.