The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-07-27
M'LAUGHLINs SUNDAY SCHOOL.
1t Got to Be Hot Place for the
Prophets.

Kept BUSY Aesio SoOStAOnS
Young Men on the Back Seats.
The Populistic Sunday school conduct
ed at Mystic Hall, Sunday afternoon.
was dull at first and lively at last.
There were present sixteen men and
three women, when Mr.. W. 81. Nc.
Laugblin of Soarboro called the meeting
to order. Conspicuous in the audience
were Messrs. W. Fl. Sargent of Portland,
and Joseph Holden, of Otisfield, who sat
upon the front seats.
Mr.. Mclaughlin began by saying that
old Socrates had been accustomed as he
walked around among the Athenians. to
allow the inquiring onesEto ask questions
which he would answer. No better way
had been devised for intoxicating truth.
Tt was proposed to conduct all those
meetings on such lines. So Mr.. Nc
Laughlin proceeded to head questions
which had been propounded.
The first question was: Can the people
expect any trustworthy action from
party that, while continually railing at
banks and corporations. puts banker
and railway magnate on its national
ticket.
The other questions we're of similar
nature: and there did not ssem to be
great desire to discuss them.
So Mr. Mclaughlin, after ANNOUNCING
that Uncle Joe Holden the Otisfleld
astronomer, would give free lecture at
Y. NJ. G. A. hall this evening, on MS
theory of the earth's form, proceeded to
deliver anFaddress on the currency.
He described how the first settlers of
New England counterfeited the wampum
of the Indians and so drove it out Of use.
"Now this clamshell money was as good
as any that ever existed" said the speak
err. This was the first instance OF inter
ference in American monetary affairs by
powers from across the seas.
Mr.. Mclaughlin then entered upon
history of the currency from the Revolu-
tionary dawn, concluding by introducing
the subject OF the conduct Of the Maine
delegation at the Populist convention at
St. Louis. He thought their opposition
to Sewall had prevented his nomination,
and he should favor giving them recer-
tson on their return.
Mr.. Wr. Fl. Sargent then addressed
the meeting. He used to have prejudice
against discussion such matters on Sun
day; but since he had heard the ministers
discuss so many secular subjects in their
pulpits, he had concluded that Sunday
was proper day to discuss a subject Of
such vital interest to the people. He
then proceeded to discuss the 'absurdity
of the single Standard, dwelling at
length upon the alleged appreciation of
gold.
After MIR. Sargent had concluded one
IF the audience asked how Bryan was
going to stand on both the Democratic
and Populist platforms. and how the
Populists were going to vote for Bryan
without voting for Sewall. Mr.. Nc
Laughlin said the leaders would attend
to that.
Mr.. MoLaunghlin announced that next
Sunday, j. e. Campion and Governor
Bateman would be present. He hoped
the delegates to ST. Louis would be
present.
At this point an aged man. with
shrewd look. said he had been told Of til e
benefits of free coinage. He wanted to
know about savings bank accounts.
Wouldn't the man who had deposited a
dollar as good as gold, get back a silver
dollar worth 30 cents?
Mr.. Mclaughlin said he would turn
that question over to Mr.. Sargent
4 Mr.. Sargent said he would like to
know how the idea got abroad that
savings bank accounts would be scaled
down. The capitalists owned the news
papers, and the papers had given that
idea.
Mr.. Mclaughlin said il was right TO
It was time for the producers to have
chance.
A young man in the audience here
asked how it would be if producer
wanted to put dollar in the savings
bank.
This question seemed to fabbergast The
chairman, SO Mr.. Sargent took the floor
and proceeded to explain the differences
between fifteen years ago and now.
Then followed questions thick and
fact as to prices and wages, there seem-
ing to be a strong disposition on the
part of several young men in the audience
to scout Mr. Sargent's idea that free sill
yer would help men who sell their labor
and buy commodities.
But Mr.. Mclaughlin came to Mr.. Sar-
gents aid with stirring donunciation
Of the banks, and of those who live on
interest money. "These people who
neither toll nor spin want a dollar that
will buy as much as possible. - shouted
Mr. McLauRlhin.
"But don't the laboring man want a
dollar that will buy as much as pos
sible?" asked one Of the young men.
MIR. Sargent didn't come to Nc
Laughlin's aid this time, and the In tier
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