The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1896-04-09
SMITH AND CARLISLE DEBATED
Currency the Subject Which Enter
tanned Atlanta People.

| Atlanta, Ga, April 2.-Six thousand
people gathered tonight in the big tab
ernacle to hear the second of the series
Of joint debates on the currency be-
| tween Secretary of the Interior Hoke
Smith and ex-Speaker Charles +. Crisp.
| Both speakers We're greeted with salvos
| OF cheers on their appearance, that ac-
corded the secretary the heartier, per-
haps. because of the fact that Atlanta
Is his home and a pronounced Sound
money center. The speaking began at
o'clock, Secretary Smith having the
opening and speaking for an hour. He
said he opposed the free and unlimited
coinage Of silver at 16 10 /, for the
same reason that Benjamin II. Hill had
opposed It, and he read from that dis
tingulshed Georgian's speech on the sub
Ject, delivered in the United States SEN
ate. He declared also that he opposed
Tree coinage because he wanted to see
genuine bimetallism obtain in this coun-
Try. The advocates OF free coinage
when they called themselves bimetal-
hsts, masqueraded under n title they
did not deserve. He rapidly outlined
the history OF coinage to show that the
commercial value of gold and silver had
regulated the establishment Of a legal
ratio between metals
lie cited General Walker. Professor
Andrews, A. j. Balfour and others as
declaring from the experiment Of free
coinage without international agree
ment would be disastrous.
The secretary was cheered for a full
minute as he sat down.
Crisp was given a rouslng reception.
In beginning he said he wanted TO saw
that mis- Brother Smith" as he re-
ferred to the secretary. made as good
an argument as he had ever heard I'm
behalf of cause so intrinsically weak.
me trouble with Smith was that he
confounded bimetallic standard with
a bimetaliic circulation. 1t was not ne
cessary for the preservation of BIZ
metallic standard for the two metals
TO circulate together. He admitted that
IN liking the ratio in this country. Jeffer-
son had counselled the commercial RAJ
no. but at that time silver was admit
ted to free coinage the world over "If
you VIII give us free coinage" he de-
clared, and restore silver to liberty.
then wen talk with you about changing
the ratio"
This joint debate business NAV he
run to my friend Smith," he said. 'but
it's not fun for me. I'm candidate for
the senate and l am anxious to get
through with these joint debates and
gef down to the business of a candidate
MY friend Smith, however, is not a can |
didate Tor the senate. He says he has |
no desire to run, and have no idea that |
the people Of Georgia will force him to |
run"
Here Crisp read letter written bv |
secretary Smith in 1890 favoring the
free coinage of silver, enunciatinc its
declarations with careful emphasis.
lie also read what purported to be
extracts from two speeches delivered by
secretary Smith, one In 1894 in which
ne opposed the single gold standard
ana the other in Augusta two nights
ago. IN which he advocated the single
The decentralization of silver caused
he rail- In prices, Crisp contended. and
lie recited the reasons therefor. He
idiculed the claim that the single gold
ltandard Was in favor of laboring men.
MI this talk about cheap money was
rot, concocted by the men whose in
crest 1t was to keep money dear.
ne reiterated his statement that he
vas candidate for the senate and by
way OF warning read from an editorial
n the New York Financial Chronicle.
'rsing that money be furnished To
ound money candidates for the senate
n the south
Generous applause accompanled
'risps close, which grew into a roar
= Secretary Smith rose for his 20-min-
lie rejoinder.