Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-22
Mr.. BLAND AT LAUREL
The Missouri Leader Pleads for Free
Coinage.
COST OF MAINTAINING GOLD RESERVE
Believes in the Government Paying
Out Silver.
THE UNDERLYING QUESTION

LAUREL, Md, August 22-The home OF
Senator Arthur P. German was the scene
last night of the first political meeting in
Maryland during the campaign. The orator
of the occasion was ex-Congressman Rich
ard P. Bland, who, until Bryan made his
famous speech at the Chicago convention.
was the leading candidate for the presi-
dency. While at the home of Senator Cor
man. Mr.. Bland was not there at the Sena-
tors invitation. He was there at the re-
quest and as the guest Of Auditor Ernest
P. Baldwin of the Treasury Department,
who is a warm personal friend of Mr..
Bland. their friendship dating back to the
time when Auditor Baldwin was a factor
in Missouri politics and a member Of the
Missouri state senate. Mr.. Baldwin is one
Of the few administration officials who
favor the free coinage of silver
Mr.. and Mrs. Bland went out to Laurel
from Washington at 4:53 o'clock, and We're
met at the depot by Auditor Baldwin. who
escorted them to his home, on Railroad
avenue. Between Z and 7:45 o'clock Mr.
and Mrs. Bland held public reception at
Mr. Baldwin's residence and shook hands
with several hundred persons. After the
reception Mr.. Bland was escorted by a
torchlight procession through the PRINCIPAL
streets of Laurel. He occupied an open
carriage In the procession with Mr.. Law
renee Gardner. the District national COM
mitteeman, and Mayor Phelps of Laurel.
Mrs Bland Was in another carriage with
MRS. Ernest +. Baldwin and her niece
Miss Thomas Of Missouri. All along the
route of the procession Mr.. Bland was
cheered The procession was headed bv the
Laurel Military Band.
Inc procession arrived at the Laurel
grove, the place of the meeting, at about
$40 and at S:2O the meeting was called to
order by President T. NJ. Baldwin of the
Laurel Democratic Club, under whose aus
pices the meeting was held. Mayor Ed
ward Phelps was chairman Of the meeting
There was large gathering running above
the thousand mark. The audience consist
ed OF farmers from Anne Arundel. Howard.
montgomery and Prince Georges. There
were also delegations present from the East
Washington Democratic Association and
other democratic organizations from the
District. large number Of the Lakeland
Bryan and Sewall Club attended
Mayor Edward Phelps introduced the dis
tlngulshed silver leader. amid great cheer
ing Most Of his audience appeared to be in
sympathy with his utterances.
MIR. Bland's Speech.
are you satisfied with the present condition
of affairs? Cries Of No, no!) If you are
not. how are these conditions to be
@-oN"' NOiASS Va 10y lice SllNeT 1eS
they are to be changed by free silver and
the ballot box. Everybody expects a
change. Even William c. Whitney and the
monopolists of this country expect a
change. This is the first time in the past
quarter of century that the lines have
es of the people of this country and those
who have been the benefciaries of class
legislation.
What we complain of today Is that IT
mas cost this government and the taxpay-
ers OF this nation from $3.50 0OO, 600 to $262
100000 In the past three years to maintain
the gold standard. When you count the in
terest on that amount the total will be
more than double that amount. 1t so hap
pens. and thank God. that our party has
broken loose from the Whitneys, the cor
porations and the trusts of this country.
We believe the laboring classes of this
country ought to take charge of this gov
eminent and control 1T in their interest
Our opponents are endeavoring to put US
on the defensive, but they cannot do it.
II the Republicans Won.
IF the republicans put Mr. Mckinley in
the executive chair, he will do exactly
what Mr.. Cleveland has done, and can do
nothing else. To maintain the gold stand
ard he will have to issue bonds as Mr..
Cleveland has done. Republicans are de-
nouncing Mr.. Cleveland. and will vote for
Mckinley, who canEot do anything more
than Mr.. Cleveland has DONE How can
Mr. Mckinley maintain the gold standard
In any other way than Mr.. Cleveland has
done? You have no law upon the statute
BOOK that requires that single cent shall
be paid in gold and gold only. Your in
terEal revenue taxes may be paid In gold
or silver certificates. or any form Of cur
rency. as well as your other taxes. The
gold people intend to make the customs
duties and other duties as well as taxes.
payable In gold. When they make us pay
taxes in gold and only gold, then the la
boring man will understand what taxation
means. The United States Senate is the
body which stands between the people and
these Wall street sharks. A bill to issue
bonds Of different denominations was
brought up in the last Congress. but failed
The Senate is for free coinage by ma
jority, and will prevent and bar out any
legislation upon the lines of the gold stand
ard.
In the election of Mr.. Bryan is the only
hope Of change. You could not have
a tariff bill passed. even If Mr.. Mckinley
should be elected, because the Senate
stands as barrier against it. You could
not pass any bill looking to the malnte-
nance of the gold standard because the
Senate would oppose. even if Mr.. Mckinley
occupied the executive chair .and desire /
1t. You might as well pass a decree that
Mr.. Cleveland should be President the next
four years as to elect Mr.. Mckinley. Mr..
Mckinley would have to rely upon the
laws, which Mr.. Cleveland has had to do,
namely, to sell bonds all the time in order
to keep up the gold reserve.
Il believe the temper Of the American
people is such that they will not be able
to pass any tariff or currency legislation
that does not include the restoration of sill
yer. (Applarse)
''In 1892 we voted for a change, but it
was simply the republicans in over again.
We intend now to have change.
"a voice-"L.t us have German democ-
racy.'o
Redeem in Silver.
IF the Treasury Department would per-
form its duty right ar conform to the law
when these European spectators demand
ed gold for expert, and the government had
silver in greater amount, they should turn
silver over to them, and thus stop The gold
drain.
THE geld people claim to be very mag
naninous. Do they propose, in maintain
Ing the gold standard, to make the rich
poorer and the poor richer, as they would
have you believe? Why, of course not.
with free coinage, we are told that all OF
our gold will go abroad. 1t has all gone
abroad elready. The only way you can get
gold today is by issuing bonds
I'VE are told that If we pay out silver
the same as gold we will go to a silver
besis. And yet Mr.. Sherman. after the law
Of 1878, v hich authorized the limited COIN
age Of silver. had passed, insisted that the
law enabled him to resume specie pay
ments. Mr.. Carlisle in his testimony before