The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-04
Free Silver Sentiment Breaks
Out in Canton
A Club of 600 Members is
Formed There.
LARGELY REPUBLICAN
Among the Members Are Many
OF
McKinIey's Friends and Neigh
bOrs Including Col. Holloway.

Canton, O., Aug. "A Free Silver Re
publican club has been organized in
Major McKinley's home town, the mem
bership of which includes many of his
near neighbors and intimate friends.
who admire him socially, but who can
not accept the gold standard as a mon
ey basis.
The uprising for silver in this section
of the state is most remarkable, and it
really took some nerve to attempt to
form a silver organization, as it was
not a certainty whether the silver men
would care to declare themselves open
ly. It has been known that many Re
pubIicans favored free silver, but
whether they would face the major and
alinfuence openly was aquestion.
Last nights meeting settled it. 1t was
an impromptu affair, had been adver-
tised but a few hours, but the attend
ance was astonishing to even the most
enthusiastic silver man. The assem-
bly, room at the City hall was not near
ly adequate to hold the people. At
least 1900 tried to crowd into the han.
and many could not gain admittance at
all It was essentially a silver meeting,
and all party lines were obliterated.
The meeting was addressed by Law
yer Pippitt, who has been a Republi-
can for years, and has always voted for
Mckinley. Allen Cook, POpulist.
made an address, and A. S. Van Bus
kirk, who has voted the Prohibitionist
ticket for years, made a stirring speech
for Bryan and free silver.
1t was decided to name the club the
Bryan Free Silver Club and papers
names of nearly 900 voters, represent
ing all parties, being secured Many
had not the opportunity to sign, ard it
is conceded that the club will have a
membership of /, 600 During the meet
ing the president and secretary We're
authorized to send a message of con
graduation and promise to support
William J. Bryan. The club viii be
permanently Offered at the next meet
ing. 1t was announced by gentlemen
from various wards that ward clubs
had already been formed with rapidly
increasing mem bership. One club an
nOunced a pole raising with appropriate
exercises August 8. A feature of the
meeting was an address by Col N HoI-
1oway, a prominent citizen, who has
grown gray in the service of the Re
publican party. AS each committee
was appointed one man was chosen
from each party represented at the
meeting, all committees being compos-
ed of four members. Colonel Halloway
was named on one of the committees,
and he expressed a desire to make a
statement. He first spoke highly of
Major Mckinley as a neighbor. and
then said he could not support him.
I have voted the Republican ticket
for 50 years." said Colonel Holloway,
but I am not going to vote it this year.
I want to say to you that I am here for
the purpose of offering my services to
assist in the election of Mr.. Bryan, and
the triumph of the silver cause. When
1 can be of any service be assured that
you have but to command me-"
Colonel Holloway, for a number of
years, has been a member of the same
G. A. r. post to which Major Mckinley
belongs, and they are warm personal
friends. He lives within a stones
throw of Major McKinIey's home.
At the conclusion of the meeting
Colonel Holloway was buttonhoIed by
some Republican friends, who were
There was a whisper a day or two ago
that he was not for Mckinley, but it
was promptly denied by local McKfn-
ley organs and many people looked
upon it as a canard. To his Republican
friends who tried to dissuade him last
night Colonel Holloway said: Gen
tlemen, this movement is right and
you can't stop it with buster or pur-
chasing power. I confidently expect
Ohio to record herself in favor of the
Chicago platform by a plurality of at
least 5O,0OO.'