The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-22
THE GERMANS AND GOLD
\ MEMBER OF THE REICHSTAG
GIVES WORkINGMEN ADVICE.
All ToiIers i'm His Country Are for the
yellow NetaI-StIver Would
Mean Panic.

Theodore Barth, a member of the Ger
man Reichstag, spent yesterday in this city
as the guest of Herman Lieber. Mr. Barth
has been in the United States for about
eight weeks and intends remaining until
after the election in order that he may
study American politics in the practical
way possible during II great presidential
campaign. Mr.. Barth has attained some
eminence as d political economist in his
own country He is the proprietor of u
| newspaper and the author of several books
His articles published in German periodicals
are frequently reprinted in this country.
The election laws of the various States of
the Union are being studied with especial
interest by Nj. Barth.
Il am not here in any official capacity,
he said yesterday in speaking of his visit.
II am simply taking Il little intellectual
recreation for myself. / have been in this
country before, hut never during a presi-
Dental campaign, and / purposely selected
this time for coming in order that | might
witness the great struggle for principle
which is now going on.
I'VE have universal suffrage in m
in the elections for members of the
Reichstag, but in many of the states there
are property and other qualifications. But
there is the secret ballot. Our
system is not the Australian system and is
not secret in fact, though intended to be.
l introduced a bill in the Reichstag provid-
ing for the Introduction of the Australian
ballot system and it was approved by a
majority, but the government has not yet
consented to the bill and it is not yet a law.
The government is opposed to it under the
impression that it is too complicated. | am
more than ever convinced that it ought TO
become general in my country. There we
vote for but a single candidate at an cleo
ton and there would be none of the COM
AZ - slows thnt n VICE baro xvhnfn xrnrr IN We
as many as seven tickets and fifteen or
twenty candidates on each ticket. L under
any large number of mistakes. 1t ought to
be an easy system for the voters OF Ger
TALKS WITH ALTGELD.
Il am greatly interested in the present
campaign. l nave been here eight weeks
now and have had an opportunity to study
the political situation in both camps. 1
went directly to Chicago when L reached
this country and there heard candidate
Bryan make a speech and afterward had an
Introduction to him and some conversation.
l also met Governor Altgeld and found him
a very agreeable gentleman in manner. 1
tried to convince him that he was wrong
on the financial question. but did not sue
ceed. From Chicago / went to Canton and
spent an afternoon at Mr.. McKinley's
home and had the pleasure of hearing him
address a visiting delegation. l have spent
eight days since then in Kentucky, have
been in Tennessee, Georgia, Louisiana, Mis-
souri,, Nebraska. Iowa and in Chicago
again. / came from Chicago directly to
this city and leave this evening for the
East.
Il am interested in the campaign and its
and should hate to see the silver sentiment
and a, working majority of Congress be
elected on the silver side, that you would
ever have free silver. The panic which
would follow such an election would be
sufficient to cause such a revolution of
sentiment that no man, however radical,
free-cofnage bill in Congress.
But it does not appear to me that Bryan
will be elected. L found a strong following
for him in the South, and he will doubtless
receive the support of those States, with
the possible exception of Kentucky. That
a Southern State. Illinois | am certain win
cast its electoral vote for Mckinley, and
Iowa is certain. Nebraska is not SO sure
either way. There has been a great deal of
dissatisfaction among the farmers of that
State, They are not so fortunately sit
have felt the hard times more severely. and
/ see that hard times among farmers is
productive of Populists.
GERMAN WORKMEN WANT GOLD
Europe is interested in the election to a
greater extent than is generally supposed.
but not in the manner l have heard some
radical Populist speakers say. In all the
nations of Europe there are great pro-
gressive political parties which are fighting
year by year for Il nearer approach to the
democratic form of government. In Ger
many the Social Democratic party is of this
kind. 1t is made up of the ~workingmen and
the middle classes. These people are all
for the gold Standard and are even opposed
TO international bimetallism. They want
their dollars of the highest possible pur-
chasing power and are opposed to all forms
of dehased currency. These parties
throughout Europe are watching with great
interest the election in this country. They
feel that the vote of the people for free
coinage of silver. whether or not that policy
would ever go into effect, would BE- a serious
blow to their own struggles for larger
rights. They consider that it would be an
argument against self-goVernment."
Mr.. Barth has been frequently asked to
tax the stump during his stay here. but
has refused ali invitations even to make
informal addresses where he goes. He pre-
fers to remain a neutral but interested
spectator.