Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-10-14

AQQT0SS6S ny wv III AA4OAAA A'SA'
Gen. Watts and John o. Pendle-
ton.
Gen. c. c. Watts addressed two splen-
did meetings in Marshall county yester-
day. He was told that he would not
have more than twenty-five persons to
listen to him in Moundsville, where 1t
has always been difficult to hold a Dem
ocratic meeting, but the Court House
was completely filed, and the audience
was attentive and appreciative, and re-
manned until the close Hon. Will
Thompson, of Cabeu county who accom-
panied Gen. Watts, also made an ad-
dress. The two speakers arrived in
BenwoOd on the evening train, and the
reception at that place was tlattering.
1t had been arranged TO hold an out
door meeting in BenwOod, and plat
form was erected between Seventh and
Eighth streets. The rain which feh con-
stantly during the afternoon and even
ing. made the outdoor meeting impOs-
sible, but it did not affect the enthusiasm
of the Benwood Democrats. Many resi-
deaces and place of business were decor
ated with flags, bunting and lanterns
and exhibited portraits of the next Gov
ernor Of West Virginia. The Benwood
silver marching club was out early,
headed by the Sherrard brass band, and
created great enthusiasm while parad-
ing the streets in the rain. Nothing
could have given stronger evidence of
the popularity of Gen. Watts than the
marching of the club through the chilly,
drizzling rain, and muddy streets.
The club marched TO FOrty-eighth
street and return. The original pro-
gramme provided for a parade of the To-
cal clubs to the county line, but none
Of them turned out About forty mem
bersof the Young Mems Democratic club
went down in the street cars and join
ed in the procession. The old Metho-
fist Church, now headquarters of the
athletic club, on McMechen street, was
secured for the meeting and the Ben
wood club desires thanks returned for
the use OF the building. The church
was completely filled and the meeting
was success in every respect. Had
II been held in the open air. in favorable
weather, il would have been the largest
OF the campaign in Benwood
The meeting was presided over by
eX-Mayor Joseph MahOOd, who made a
short speech in Introducing the first
speaker of the evening, Hon. VIII
Thompson, of Huntington. Mr.. Thomp-
son was received with applause when he
arose TO speak. After a short introduce
tory, he at once launched into a discus
sion of the money question. and held
the undivided attention of his listeners
for full hour. In his introduction he
took occasion to pay tribute to the in
tegriJy and ability of the Democratic
gubernatOrial candidate
Mr.. Thompson took up a circular
which was distributed during the day
by the Republicans. and discussed it.
Ii is the same circular that the Republic
can Committee has been spreading
broadcast wherever Gen. Watts has
spoken. with the exception that it con-
ta.ns an additional slanderous state
ment, printed on the back of the cir
GUAR. The alleged interview in Wash
ingtOn. in which Gen. Watts is said to
have declared that the free silver senti-
ment was dying out in West Virginia,
has been branded as a lie many times.
The other charge is a lie rehashed 1t
is the RenShaw statement that Gen.
Watts was a gold man, which Gen.
Watts denied in an interview in the
Register during the State Convention.
Mr. Thompson was very vigorous in
his denunciaton of the disreputable
methods which the Republicans are re-
sorting to in their efforts to discredit
Gen. Watts silver record. and the audi
ence manifested its approval in the most
enthusiastic applause. The speaker
then showed from Gen. Watts public
statements, and his record, that he has
always been in accord with the Chicago
platform declaration on the money
question.
Mr.. ThOmpson's silver discussion was
a plain practical talk, and made a splen-
did impression. He showed that the
volume of money under the single gold
standard is insufficient for the transac-
ton of the business Of the country.
Many of the Republican arguments
were taken up and answered He dwe,t
at some length upon the characterization
act of 1873, and the subsequent appre-
citation in the gold dollar and deprecia-
ton in anything else.
He discussed the "53 cent dollar ar
gument of Senator Elkins, who assert
ed that gold has intrinsic value and the
silver in a dollar is worth only a little
more than half as much. The Senator
stopped there. The reason the gold bull
lion is worth a dollar is because it can
be taken to the mint and the govern
ment will stamp it. If silver IS treated
In the same way it will soon be on a
parity with gold al the ratio of 16 70 l.
He showed that prior to 1873 the ratio in
the United States was 16 TO /, in France
il was 1872 to l.
Mr.. Thompson answered the charge
thai the Democratic platform means
reputation in the most convincing
manner He read a resolution adopted
by Congress in 1878, and voted for by
Mckinley, which says that al the
bonds Of the United States issued under
me acts of Congress, are payable, prln-
c:Dal and interest, at the option OF the
government of the United States in sill
Yer dollars of the coinage OF the United
states. containing 41212 grains each OF
srandard silver. and that to restore 10
it's coinage such silver coins as a Legal
tender in payment of said bonds, princi-
~Ov"DTD