Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-09-29
DIR. II. S. HOLT
OF Weston, Electrlhes Lewis County Au-
aience In a tree Silver speech.


dience IN a free Silver Speech.
To the Editor of the Register.
WESTON, w. Va, September 26.-Never
in the history of Lewis county politics has
there ever been such an ovation as was
Witnessed tonight in the Court House
where DR.. NJ. 5. Holt appeared before
more than five hundred people, OF whom
not fewer than seventy-fve were ladies.
People came in from the country on
horseb back and wagons and before the hour
Tor the speaking had arrived standing
room was at a premium.
All the chairs in the adjacent law OF
fees and private dwellings were brought
in requisition to seat belated merchants,
clerks and those coming from distance
The committee had announced that Dr.
Holt would speak at the Court House only
few days ago, and hence the eager crowd
to hear him.
1t would be superhuous TO tell who DR..
Holt is. There has not been a Republican
State convention held in West Virginia
for twenty years in whose deliberations
he has not played an active part. and
welded q controlling influence. In Lewis
county politics he has been for years the
acknowledged leader. 1t is VIGOROUSLY
true that he has always looked forward
with the fondest hopes when Major Nc
Kinley would be President of the United
States and West Virginia would be Re
publican State under Republican intlu
ences.
Hence DR.. Hollis advocacy of the silver
cause and open opposition TO the mono
metallic standard has aroused an unusual
interest in the political elements of this
section of the State.
During the long years of DIR. Hollis ac-
kuoweldged leadership Of tne Republican
party IN Lewis county, as well as when
ae was the able editor Of the Weston Re
publican. as since. he bore the respect of
Democrats for his open frankness and
splendid sense. Everybody said and knew
DR.. Holt was big Drained and broad
gagged man.
The Republicans looked upon no one so
unsrring in Judgment and the Democrats
feared him more than all other politicians
combined.
He has always been recognized as brill
liant conversationalist, q most fertile and
classic writer. but no one suspected until
tonight that he was capable Of making q
great speech.
From the start he waded In with a con-
ddence that showed he was master of the
situation. Right here the writer desires
10 offer the prediction that Or. Holt has
before him a bright future on the hastings.
DR.. Holt dealt with the money question
exclusively. He showed clearly that I'M
Ger the burden of the English gold stand
tf,r bun IA fNar II
dollar of the constitution a two hundred
cent dollar. for the benefit of a merciless
monied class; that has filed the CONNER
ciaI world with unrest and our country
with tramps and paupers. until the people
are beginning 10 know that the pros
peritv of nation IS 10 be measured, not
/ bv the accumulation Of wealth in the
hands Of the few, but by the absence of
poverty from the homes Of the many.
Zee argued that the restoration Of silver
would return 20 the nation its wonted pros
pcrity. silver. he said. from the earliest
dawn Of history. has been the money of
the uecrle and side by side with gold has
been the great factor of the worlds civil
izatiou: he showed that the once prosper
ous farmer has been forced 10 mortgage
his home. is now but the white slave OF
the money sharks avarice and greed. He
analysed Major McKinley's record on the
/ money question while in Congress in such
fair way that it might have made even
Dovener blush.
He reviewed the history of Cleveland In
most caust,c terms. and pointed out how
Mckinley had repudiated his former views
and joined the policy of Cleveland, Car
Isle and others. All in all it was great
speech and was greeted throughout with
wild applause.
After DIT Holt had held the audience for
two hours, Attorney J. E. Galford made a
scholarly and eloquent address.