Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-10-03
WASHINGTON VOTERS
Listen to a Splendid Argument Last Night
by James Brettcll.

Listen to a Splendid argument AsaSN MS ~
by James Brettcll.
The Democrats of washington dis
trict held a mass meeting on Marke;
street. Just above Seventh street. Not
withstanding the short notice and the
fact that it was not generally known
that a meeting would be held, five or
six hundred voters gathered together 10
listen TO silver truths propounded by
the eloquent and fOrcible steel worker
from Mingo. Mr.. N. Tighe, President
Of the Trades Assembly, acted as chair
man of the meeting, and in neat
speech introduced Mr. Brettell 10 the
audience.
Mr. Brettell made no attempt at
fiowery oratory, but his speech was
plaip practical, unanswerable argument
in favor of bimetal,ism. He referred
10 the present condition that surround
ed the people and followed this up with
an inquiry as 10 the cause.
Ha clearly demonstrated the fallacy
Of the Republican claim that the de-
preston was due to the effects of the
Wilson tariff bill by an apt Illustration
of the price Of steel in England cOmpar-
ed with the price in America, showing
that the price of steel per ton in Eng
land two years ago was $50 and So in
the United States.
He clinched this point by calling his
hearers attention to the fact that it had
been proven by the large steel contracts
which had been given by bid 10 Carne-
gle by Japan that the American manu-
facturer could compete with England,
Germany and other nations Of Europe.
Mr.. Brettell referred TO Bourke Cock
rams statement that the people Of
Wheeling were more prosperous now
than before 1873. He said that while
labor had accumulated great wealth
since then II was not in the possession
Ct the masses of the people.
Drifting on to the currency question
he briefly reviewed the history of the
country. He stated that we had bad
panics under low tariffs and under high
tariffs, but never in a period when mon
ey was plentiful. He cited as an exam
pie Of this the period from 1861 10 1865,
during the issuance Of greenb2cks to
fight and carry on the war.
He declared that Wall street had frs
COnspired against the credit OF the gov
eminent by compelling the government
during Grants administration to pay
its bonds in coin instead of greenbacks.
That was not sufficient. In 1870 they
secured the passage of law refunding
the public debt.
That was not sufficient. In 1878 they
demcnetzed silver and now declare
that our bonds shall be paid in gold.
Mr.. Brettell then read a circular issued
by the National Bankers Convention in
New York of May, 1898, instruccing
each banker TO make stringency felt
in the money markets and cause a
further issue Of bonds as a basis for
national bank circulation.
These bankers also advised each one
present and their patrons TO advocate
and induce Congressman to repeal the
purchasing clause of the Sherman act.
He recalled to his audience the nOn-ful-
fument of promises that Cleveland and
Sherman, who were acting in league
with these people, had made, and said
as soon as this bill was repealed that the
clouds would drift away and that We
would again be prosperous.
Mr.. Brettell closed with a strong
argument in favor of free coinage. an
swering every objection which had been
urged against the idea and showing
wherein it would benefit labor.