davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-03

Mistakes of geography and politics are
not the only ones that English papers
make concerning American affairs. The
Westminster Gazette of recent date con-
tanned the following:
One of the most curious colonies that
have ever been established on the Amer
lean continent is we learn from the Lon
don American, about to settle in North
Dakota. 1t is a colony of drunkards-
Twenty-one drunkards and their families
are about to move from Indiana TO take
up their abode on the virgin soil of North
Dakota. They say they will establish "a
model drunkard colony. Already they
have purchased two thousand acres OF
land and each family will receive an al
1otment of about fifty acres. The colony
will be watched with much interest. 1t be-
gins operations this month. Very likely
all the coionists will want to start saloons
and then the question arises, who will be
ready to till the soil!
If the able London editor had taken a
little pains TO investigate he would have
found that it is a colony of Dunkers. or
Dunkards. not drunkards. who recently re-
moved from this State to North Dakota
They are very moral and abstemious
people.
The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-03
ONE-DAY CONVENTION.
Altgeld Says the silver Men VIII Try
to Rush the Proceedings.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, July 2.-If the free
silver leaders have their way the Chicago
convention will be in session but one day.
They intend to make a vigorous effort to
carry this idea into effect, and that is one
reason why they are so determined to have
a free-silver man for temporary chairman.
They want man who will expedite bus-
ness in a manner that will meet their ap-
prevail. Governor Altgeld returned to
Springfield from Chicago to-day and il was
he who said the free-si,ver men wanted
cne-day convention. The Governor expects
to return to Chicago Sunday and will re-
main until after the convention.
In conversation with a reporter Governor
Altgeld said the advance guard of free-sil-
yer men at Chicago were of one mind. and
that was that short convention was i'm
perative to the good of the cause. I'VE
will have control of the convention he
said, land it is we think to our best in
terests TO wind up the business of the con-
vention in one day. The Single-gold-stand-
ard men WILL of course, fight for delay.
the sporting men would say. They have
no hope of controlling the convention but
1t is their desire to procrastinate. They
want to divert the platform from straight
l6-to-1 silver basis to some sort of a mud
died compromise. Were TO let the con-
vention remain in session several DAYS they
ard Oil interests have an influence that is
far reaching ard powerful. But the free
silver men are in the majority and will
run the convention. They will never per-
NIT the small minority to dictate terms"
AS to the position of temporary or per-
manent chairman, the Governor said he
did not want either. 1T was what might
be called clever politics., he continued
for the gold-bug papers to boom me for
the honor. They knew ii would tend to
arouse a spirit Of jealousy among the
Democracy. 1t would give them chance
to say l was hogging everything and Civ
ing no one else a chance. i don't want to
be chairman for two reasons. A man who
presides over a body of this kind. If he
is honest and fair. Is merely fgurehead.
If he were dishonest, he might abuse his
power to the advantage or disadvantage OF
one side or the other. Then ii will require
a good deal of hard work to preside proper
ly over the convention. i think can be of
more service to the party on the floor.
Ny whole desire is to see silver win. /
want to see a free-silyer ticket with free
silver platform. For myself, want moth
ing"
Governor Altgeld said he had no idea
who would be temporary or permanent
chairman of the convention. beyond that
both positions would be filed by men ac-
ceptable to the free-silver Democrats. in
regard TO the presidential nominee. he said
he had no preference 1t was too soon as
yet to. nX on man. There were not
enough delegates in Chicago to determine
on any one. The chief object now was to
see to it that the rights of the majority
were not interfered with by Wall-street
gold.
The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-03

Since 1878 the government has pur-
chased. coined and used as money a far
greater amount of silver than IL ever did
during the period of free coinage prior to
1873. Under the BLAND act. passed in 1878, it
purchased and coined s3.Ooo,OO0 of silver a
month, and under the Sherman act, passed
in 1890. it purchased four ana one-half mill
lion ounces of silver month. The total
number of silver dollars coined up to Feb
ruary. 1s73 was S031, ,23s The total num-
ber at present is 523, ,2S9, 800. 1t thus appears
that notwithstanding the efforts of the
government to maintain the market price
steadily declined and constantly fiuctuated.
The worst feature in the case is the fiuc-
tuation. All authorities agree that money
standard of value should be fixed and un-
fiuctuating. Whatever other qualities it
possesses 1T should be as nearly absolutely
stable as possible. The evils of fiuctuat-
ing currency are admitted by all, and they
are equally great whether the currency be
paper or metallic. Under free-silver COIN
age the American people would have to
endure not only the evils of a deprecated
currency but those of fluctuating curren-
cy as well. There are men still living who
can remember when the paper currency
with which business was transacted fiuc-
tuated from one to three or four per cent
day. But paper money in the days of
wildcat banking never fiuctuated much
more than has the market price of silver
during the last twenty years. If the coun-
try had been on free-silver basis during
the period named the value of the silver
dollar would have been Sc cents at one
time during 1876 and 70 cents at another
time. From 1877 to 1887 II would have fallen
from 9S to 79 cents. During the year 1893
1T would have passed at one time for Co
cents and at another time for 81 cents
With free-silver coinage the money value
of the silver dollar would Immediately be-
come identical with its bullion value in
gold and would undergo the same fiuctua-
tions. This is the kind of a standard and
measure of value which the Democratic
party is asking the American people to
adopt.
The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-03

There need be no mystery regarding the
spread of the silver agitation. 1t had a run
with Coins" book which was put out
under the same auspices :n February. 1896.
but 1t failed TO take root because il was
so generally exposed The same organiza-
ton. known the Bimetailic League. or
some similar name. was not disheartened
by the failure of COINS" book. The back
bone OF the league is the owners OF silver
mines and others who may win wealth
through free and unlimited coinage of sill
YER. They men of wealth. and. like the
former bonanza mine owners. who In years
past have made and spent millions. are of
a speculative turn. II they can force the
free coinage OF their silver bullion those
who are worth thousands will be worth
tens of thousands. those worth hundreds of
thousands will be worth millions. and mil
lionaires will become multi-millionaires.
Not in modern times was there ever a bet
ter scheme devised TO make the rich very
rich than this proposition to coin the silver
bullion of the rich and double it's value to
pay debts. In the history of modern times
no so bare-faced job has ever been pro-
posed TO Congress. The mine owners, be-
ing rich men, have raised a fund to spread
their heresies. They have headquarters in
Washington. For months they have had
agents in all the States of the West pick
ing up names to which to send silver-coin-
age literature. In this State. for the most
part, those agents have been members of
local Democratic committees. prominent
Populisrs, and now and then a disgruntled
Republican. Either to-these agents or to
names furnished them have been sent the
franked speeches OK the silverites. To one
postoff1ce. and not large one, four bags
of these speeches were sent, addressed TO
a Democratic agent. By thorough organi-
zation. through paid agents in part, these
speeches made by Democrats whose only
hope is in free silver, and by silver Sena-
tors representing millionaire mine owners,
were put into the hands Of thousands of
men within few days before the breaking
out of the excitement. The agents followed
up the distribution with demagogicl ap-
peals, and the result is the silver furor
which gave life to the dead Democracy Of
Indiana, which was made manifest in the
Democratic State convention in overriding
the party leaders.
But for the silver-mine owners there
would be no silver excitement now in this
| and other States. 1t is furor created by
the expenditure of money in the hope that
a thousand dollars will be made for every
one spent in hoodwinking the people. In
Illinois Governor Altgeld. who is consumed
with hatred Of President Cleveland, has
found In the silver movement an opportu-
nifty to strike what he imagines is a dead
ly blow at his adversary. Scores of con-
scienceless politicians who seek Office as
the one ambition of life or as the one
means of securing subsistence have joined
the movement. Still. the siver-mine own
ers. with their money, are the main in
spiration OF the present silver movement.
For that reason 1t will be transitory.
The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-03
is To 1 OR BUST.
concluded from First Pnse.)

on the fact that he is the only Democrat
who can wrest Ohio from Mckinley. He
can surely control the Ohio delegation, and
he thinks he can control about one hundred
votes more. 1t is his idea that he can ham
die enough delegates to prevent the silver
people having a two-thirds majority with
out him, and therein lies his strength He
is unalterably opposed to Bland, because
he is sure Bland cannot be elected, and for
that reason he is throwing cold water on
Atgelds plan for silver conference to
pick out candidate.
If Mclean could pick candidate, except
himself he would probably take Teller. and
right here it may be remarked that there is
a deal of Teller talk here to-day; more of
it than seems easily accountable. The
Teller talk grows with the idea that it is
going to be hard work to put up winning
combination with Bland or Boies. He has
advocates in the South, notably in the
Georgia delegation, where it is pointed out
that Teller would bring elements OF
strength to the ticket that no other would
do. A leading Georgia delegate said to me
tonight: 1.-The South is safe for any free
silver candidate who may be named. What
we want is man who will carry the doubt
full States-like Illinois, Indiana and Michi-
gan, and we believe Teller could do that
more than any other man who has been
suggested"
Teller has handicapped his chances how
ever. by writing letter in which he is un-
derstood to have declared his intention to
support any good free-silver man nomi-
mated in Chicago. This has given his
friends here great deal of concern. Du-
bois, Stewart and Mclean all expressed
their establishment when they heard the
report. If Teller and men like him will
support any free-silver man named here,
then one of the most powerful elements
for Teller's selection is demolished.
The gold men are feeling better to-day.
Word has come from Whitney which strs
them into a little more life. There will be
sound-money meeting in the Auditorium
Saturday evening addressed by Whitney
and Hill, and altogether there are signs of
vitality. They do not hope to win, but
they do expect 10 make such fight as to
keep life in the saving remnant Of the
party. The present programme is TO con-
test every inch of ground The gold men
have the national committee by narrow
margin OF two or three votes, and they
propose to select for temporary chairman
some gold man like Villas. Hill or Wallace,
of Washington, and force the silver men
to reverse the programme in convention IL
they see fit.
Altgeld is credited tonight with a
dramatic purpose Buck" Hinrichsen, his
chief fugleman, says the convention must
ccnfine its platform. to a single declara-
ton for free silver at 16 to /. not another
word, not another suggestion. The con.
vention must not be in session more than
one day. 1t must adopt its platform. name
its candidate, trample on the money power,
and adjourn.
This" says Altgeld through Hinrichsen,
will electrify the world" L. G.
The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-03

The Democratic Shibboleth. as Inter-
preted by the Pitchfork senator.

CHICAGO. July 2.-"If." said Senator
Tillman. to-day. ''the gold people attempt
to swing to any man. or IL any man at
tempts to secure their support. it will be
found that this support is a vertiable shirt
of Nessus and IT will prove the undoing OF
any man who dons it,
Mr. Tiliman seemed somewhat interested
in Mr.. Whitneys movements, speaking or
him as the great moral persuader." but
predicted that he would find when IL was
too late that his mission would be useless.
The South Carolina Senator said that no
compromise was to be thought OF for n
minute He confessed that he was utterly
at sea as TO who the nominee would be.
saying that ii was the first convention he
had ever attended where the question OF
principle received more attention than the
question of candidates. Yet / have faith
that we shall find the right man and L
know we shall get the right PLATFORM, he
said. THE shibboleth is still l6 TO or
bust-but the other fellows are going 10 do
the busting.
The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-03

One OF the most interesting features OF
amount of foreign capital awaiting invest
ment. Mr.. Julian Ralph, one of the most
intelligent American correspondents abroad,
and careful observer, quoted a London
financial authority few days ago as say
ing that nearly the whole surplus of the
past year. exceeding $500 OOO, 900. was still
lying idle because of lack of confidence
among investors. Recent reports of the
Bank Of England show that it has $3.50, ,OC0, =
600 more deposits to-day than it had year
ago. and the amount is still growing. AS
long as these large deposits remain in the
banks they are not earning anything for
their owners. The latter would be glad to
invest in American securities or send their
money to this country to be loaned out at a
low rate of interest if they felt sure in re-
gard to the future They are waiting to
see the final result of the free-silver agita-
ton. The New York Financier, a nom
partisan journal of high financial author
ity. says:
There is no disputing the fact that the
natural flow of English money for invest
ment would still be toward this country
were the owners satisfied that the gold
standard would not be disturbed, but the
constant agitation by the silver agitators
has almost stopped foreign investment in
American securities. A free-silver defeat
next November. therefore. means a buying
movement by foreign investors such as this
country has not experienced for years, and
in ii lies the only hope of preventing an
enormous gold export movement which will
drain a large proportion of specie now in
circulation.
The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-03
the free-siiver agitation. Capt Leathers is
prerident Of the Confederate Society Of


the free-siiver agitation Capt Leathers Is
precedent of the Confederate Society Of
Kentucky He says: $50
You know that the writer Is dyed-in-
the-wool Democrat, a Southern man oy
birth. and for four long years cast his for
tunes with the South in our great civil war.
But 1t seems to me nov that every patriotic
country-loving man must take his stand
with the sound-money people of this eoun-
try, regardless of past party affiliations
l think the greatest calamity that can be
visited upon this country would be the free
and unlimited coinage of silver at ratio
OF Is TO j. or any other ratio. ' IL
We would restore confidence at home and
abroad end give new. yigor 10 cur depressed
industries and start the Nation on the high
road to prosperity again We must demand
that every dollar of money in this ountry
OF every kind and .of all kinds shall be
worth 100 cents on the dollar in gold To
do this. men of all parties and every party
must now turn their backs upon their past
party Affiliations and stand by that party
and that platform which shall stand for
this. For my part. my own vote and in
fiuence shall be for that party In the next
election that stands for sound money and
national credit. =s~f3-
The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-03

II is not the gold standard that has
brought a paralysis OF business. but the
menace and danger of departing from the
gold standard. Let 1t be definitely settled
and assured that we have planted our
financial system on gold standard and
mean to keep IL there. and there would be
a great influx Of foreign capital into the
country. The deficiency OF capital and the
scarcity OF money. whether real or imagin-
ary, would be quickly supplied by enor-
uai outflow We should haye a great inflow
OF the yellow metal. This is just what hap
pened after the resumption Of specie pay
zaents Ia lszs when s7s.lls.sn in gold entered
The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-03

He Is Not An Favor Of Gag Rule, and
Wants Everybody tn Have a Show.


CHICAGO. July 2--Neither Senator David
B. Hill nor Governor Altgeld will be tenn
porary chairman of the Democratic nation
al convention. Governor Altgeld this morn
ing settled that question by declaring that
the agitation In favor Of his name was a
gold bug scheme to discredit the silver
movement. and the silver leaders settled
the question as far as Senator Hill is con-
cerned. by almost unanimously declaring
that the temporary organization must GER
tainly be controlled by the majority of the
convention or else delay, If not bring dis
aster to the silver plans. in permanent or
ganization. The suggestion of Altgeld that
the convention can be made a one-day af-
fair and should be so made by the COR
trolling element, was not received with
much favor this morning either by the
weil-known leaders who ara here. or by
the friends of the many candidates.
Senator Blackburn. Of Kentucky. who ar
rived last night and who was very busy
The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-03

The Democrats who go to Chicago from
this city TO represent the sound-noney in
terest are prominent men In business and in
the professions. and hitherto have been the
leaders OF the party. There are but two or
three prominent men in the city who go
to represent Governor Matthews Doubt
less IL he were for sound money, as he
was last January. he would have the sup
port OF the larger part of them. 1t is un-
fortunate fer the Governor that he has
placed himself where he cannot command
the ability and real influence of his party
40 this Vicinity.
The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-03

The Charlottesville Journal tells OF a
strange sight which "a good Methodist
preacher of that city says he saw few
nights ago:
AT midnight he was awakened by his son
and called to the window TO view re-
markable spectacle. The moon. then
about half full was well up toward the
less The peculiar appearance of the
moon at once attracted his attention and
almost startled him. From 1t extended an
immense tail, not dissimlar TO that OF a
comet in some respects. and reaching more
than half way across the heavens. In
color Ii was a rich purple and seemed to
run from the moon in a sort of spiral OF
curling twisting rings. These played and
varied much after the manner OF northern
lights and held the spectators awed and
spellbound.
Under some circumstances this story
might excite suspicion. but 1t Will be no.
ticed the Charlottesville paper Is particular
to say 1t was the moon that was half full
The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-03
Hoean-Fwat is this 1s to1?

Grogan-It Is law they are tryin' to
pass maxim sixteen hours to wan days
worruk.-Journal, Tuesday.
Two of the street-cleaning gang were
talking politics yesterday, and one said to
the other:
"Moike, phat is this bloody sixtheene to
wan Dye hears Moike Burns talken SO
mooch about?''
"Thet means thet we are TO have sixthane
hoors fer wan days wurruk'
"Ah, te hill wild un, Moike." - News.
Thursday.
H'mi Hal
The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-03

the country IN 1850 in excess Of exports. and
ssI.4sS.lz7 in excess of exports in 1851 IN
der this restoration of the gold standard
and national influx of gold the country en-
tered upon one of its eras OF greatest pros
perity, as 1t would again II the money
question were permanently settled on a god
basis. The country needs the gold cure.
The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-03
LUCKY" BALDWIN LUCKY.


SAN FRANCISCO. July a-NIiss Lillian
Ashley Of Boston. whose case against e.
j. ducky) Baldwin. the prominent capital-
ist and horseman. for seduction under
promise of marriage. has been on trial In
the Superior Court here for several weeks.
created sensation in the court room this
morning by walking over TO Baldwin. draw
bystander knocked the weapon aside IN
Time to save Baldwin's life and the only
INJURY was a slight grazing of the scaln
Inc woman was removed 10 the city prison-
~ - believed her mind Is unbalanced
The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-03

A party that traces its political ancestry
TO the writer of the Declaration OF Inde-
pendence has fallen pretty low when it
seriously discusses John r. Mclean as a
candidate for President.
The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-03

The enemies of Senator Hill. of New
York. have unearthed a letter which he
wrote in December. 1892. in which he de-
clared that he was a silver coinage man.
1t was written when the Senator was at
war with the Cleveland element He then
declared that il was the mission of the
Democratic party TO restore the silver dol
lar safely and wisely" But the Senator
will say that international bimetallism is
the only way TO effect that purpose.
The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-03
A citizen of Rushville who visited Mcxic'

A citizen of Rushville who visited Mexico
City with his wife about three years ago
writes to the Rushville Republican:
AT that time as now. Mexico was on a
silver basis. and the free and unlimited
coinage Of silver prevailed in that country.
A Mexican dollar was then worth 65 cents
in our money; now II is worth only 53&4
cents. owing 10 the decline in the price of
silver bullion. IT passing along The streets
and in our shopping excursions about the
city We saw that the merchants had the
price of each article marked so much in
gold and so much in their silver. For in
stance, a suit of clothes would be marked
paying our hotel bill the account was made
out for SO much il paid in gold and so much
IL paid in silver.
The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-03

The receipts OF revenue under the Wilson
German tariff law during the month of
June were 100000. This is less than the
receipts for any month OF June in twenty
years. except last year. In June, 1890. the
receipts were ss7.5is.s ssl. Truly. the present
tariff Is one for deficit only.
The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-03

''Is de boss IMP asked the man with the
three days whiskers and the reversed col
lar
'.Haint in to you." said the office boy.
''Wot's lie reason he amt in to me-?
He amt in to you because l am on to
you," answered the boy, and went back to
his pcrusaI of ''Rednose Rube, the Nichol-
son Detective"
The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-03

II Altgeld says that Bland is the man.
Bland il will be, and he is inclined TO
Bland because he denounced and voted
against the resolution which the House
passed indorsing the Presidents course in
tstrppressing the Debs inx,lrrection
The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-03
A FLucruArrxG STANDARD.

The following table from the last report
of the Director of the Mint. shows the fiuc-
tuations in the bullion valEe of the silver
dollar as measured bv the market price of
silver from 1874 10 1924. The figures give
the highest and lowest prices during each
The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-03

1t Is hoped that Mr.. John r. Mclean, of
the Cincinnati Enquirer. has ascertained
that the free-silver delegates at the Chi
cago convention cannot be bought at a
low figure. .
The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-03

In the headlines of the newspapers all
over the country one reads: '.Altgeld is in
full control of the destinies OF the Democ-
racy." IL is so: and he carries club on
his shoulder and a knife in his hand.