The record-union., 1896-08-16
Two Monster Meetings Held at
the City Of Columbus.
One Addressed BY Senator Sherman and
Senator-EIect Foraker,
The Other by General Stewart L. WoOd0rd Of
New York.
The Disastrous Results Of Free Coinage Of Silver
Graphically Depicted.

COLUMBUS (O), Aug. 15.-The peo-
pie of Ohio opened the Presidential
campaign of their fellow-citizen, Will
lam Mckinley, at Columbus to-day with
much enthusiasm and no small degree
of ceremony, considering the tempera-
ture. Two thousand visitors came from
cities, towns and hamlets of Ohio to
lend their presence to what was gener-
ally thought to be the first important
meeting of the campaign. The visitors
and the clubs and delegations began to
arrive about { o'clock in the morning
and up to half-past = in the afternoon
All of the cities along Lake Erie. most
of the interior towns, and nearly every
hamlet and city on the banks of the
Chic were literally represented. West
Virginia and Pennsylvania were also
represented.
1t was expected by a great many, no
doubt, that Major Mckinley would be
present, but he is at work on his letter
of acceptance, and he wrote to Chair
man Kurtz of the Republican State
Central Committee that he did not think
II wise to depart from his determination
to make no political speeches outside of
Ce-AihOAAs 4hdJpl AICNillltS III dlSO
that the trio of distinguished speakers
secured for the occasion needed no re-
enforcement. 1t seemed to him that
campaign on the money issue was of
vast Importance, that the two men who
have made financial speeches a special
" should be asked to open the discus
sion. and that so brilliant a speaker on
all Republican issues as Foraker should
cooperate with them.
The selection of Sherman and Wood
ford at this time to discuss the currency
means that the Republicans have de-
'Termined TO open up a heavy fire all
along the lines of advocates of free sill
Yer.
1t was almost 2:30 o'clock when
Messrs. Sherman, Foraker Woodford
and Bushnell drove up to the big tent
on Broad street, which held more than
10000 people. The tent was brightly
decorated. When the speakers entered
there was loud cheering
Governor Bushnell presided, and after
some pleasant words of welcome intro
duced Senator Sherman. The greeting
which Senator Sherman received was
most cordial, and when a moment later
he commenced his speech with an eu-
logy of Major Mckinley the audience
cheered Justify. His speech, and all the
others as well, commanded the closest
attention of the audience. The silent,
intense interest the people took in the
speech was feature of to-day's meet
ing.
The feeling among Republicans to-
night is that the first great and effec-
tive battery has been opened on the en-
emy's lines, and the Chairman of the
committee says to-day's meeting is to
be followed up by county meetings all
over the State; that in twenty days
there viii be decided and palpable
change in the attitude of the silver men
in this State and that the progress of
their propaganda will be decisively
checked.
Senator Sherman occupied forty-five
minutes in reading his speech. He
said
Mir Chairman and Fellow Citizens:
A citizen of Ohio has been selected by
the Republican National Convention as
their candidate for President of the
United States, and we are here to ratify
and support his nomination. We take
pride in William Mckinley, not only for
the honor conferred upon Ohio by the
convention. but because we know him
to be fitted for that great Office. We know
that since his boyhood his life has been
pure and stainless; that as a soldier in
the Union army he was brave and loyal;
that as member of Congress for many
years he exhibited the highest mental
traits and rendered great services to his
country, and that as Governor of Ohio
he proved his capacity to perform diff
cult executive duties. And he had the
higher claim upon us that during all his
active life he has been a faithful and
able Republican. thoroughly in sym
pathy with the principles of the Repub
hcan party. That party does not rest
its claims to your confidence merely up
on the merits of its candidates. but upon
the soundness of its public policy, its
measures, and its aims.
1T so happens that in the coming
Presidential election there will be sub
mtted to your Judgment two questions
Both the silver and tariff are vital ques-
tions of domestic policy of equal i'm
portance but I propose on this occa-
sion to confine my remarks mainly to
what is known as the free coinage OF sill
yer at the ratio of sixteen parts of sill
yer to one of gold.
cold and silver coins are recognized
as the best standards of value as the
measure of every article OF desire of
everything that is bought or sold. These
two standards not only measure all
other things. but they measure each
other. Their relative value constantly
changes. Twenty-three years ago six
teen ounces of silver were worth more
than one ounce of gold. Now thirty-one
ounces of silver can be bought by one
ounce OF gold. This fluctGation of value
cannot be prevented by law. 1t is be-
yond the reach Of legislation. 1t is
caused by the changed demand for and
the increasing supply of these metals
from the mines.
.In 1892 silver and gold were made
the common standards of value in the
United States at the ratio of 10 TO i, but