Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-04-14


was made the occasion for the assemblage
! of a large crowd in the hall of the Bimet-
allie Club last night. The meeting was
called to order about eight o'clock by the
President of the club, Mr.. NJ. F. Tighe.
who named Hon. w. C. Handlan as chair
man. Mr.. Handlan introduced as the
speaker Of the evening Hon. Ross j. Alex
ander. who made an excellent address,
holding the undivided attention of the au-
dience for about an hour and a half.
Mr.. Alexander referred to the nature of
the celebration, and paid a glowing tribute
to jefferson, as a man, patriot. and a
statesman. He dwelt also upon the car
dinal points in his political credible
equality of all human beings, the people
the only source of power, and no heredit-
airy offices or titles: no taxation beyond
actual needs, nor costly splendor of adj
ministratlon: freedom Of thought and dis
cussion: a sound currency. gold and sill
yer, supplemented by treasury notes, and
graduated tax upon wealth. He was a
democrats of democrats" He was OPP
posed to the credit system. On this sub
ject he wrote:
II own it to be my opinion that good
will come from the destruction Of our
credit As it is impossible to prevent
credit. the best way to cure it's i'll effects
would be TO give an instantaneous re-
covery TO the creditor. This would be re-
ducng purchases on credit to purchases
for ready money A man would then
see a prison painted on everything he
wished. but had not the ready money 10
pay for It."
jefferson also said: THE banking in
terests are more dangerous to our liber-
ties than standing armies" This is but
an example of his far-seeing statesman
ship. On this same subject he wrote in
1875: eve are undone, if legislation Is
still permitted, which makes our money.
much or little. real or imaginary as the
NAMED interests shall choose to make It..
Mr.. Alexander showed that the principles
enunciated by Thomas Jefferson in his
day are the principles Of the Democratic
party to-day.
Further on in his address he contrasted
Cleveland with Mckinley and praised the
former for everything but his views upon
the currency question. The fight for sill
yer is going on. and is bound to triumph
in the end. He showed how elections
were conducted in some of the States In
the interest of the Republican candidates.
In Ohio there were 10000 more votes cast
than the census returns provided for. and
they did not all vote. He then showed
how change of % 259 votes would have
placed Bryan in the Presidential chair.
A change Of 800 would have given him
the eight electoral votes of California:
qOM the Il votes Of Indiana; III the other
II votes of Kentucky: 1.059 the 4 votes of
Oregon: 2.S3j the 3 votes of North Dakota;
and 5.7H the votes Of West Virginia,
making IS electoral votes in all. Then
there were States which were ordinarily
Democratic. which cast their votes for
Mckinley. Connecticut. Delaware Mary
land. New Jersey and New York. with a
total of ca electoral votes. If the election
were held to-day how would It go? There
would not be a man who would be willing
to wager upon Mckinley.
It has been announced in Washington
that nothing can be- done now until the
tariff bill IS passed by Congress. It is a
peculiar way to bring prosperity. by tax
ing the people S11OOOOOOO more. The coun
try will realize that the single gold
standard is responsible for the business
depression. and the hope for relief lies in
bimetallism.
Mr. Alexander dwelt upon the money
power and the legislation in its interests.
He showed how the national banks made
an actual investment of $4,000 600. and are
drawing interest annually upon 500 600
0oO worth of government bonds He
81 ,,,Ir.
TO issue n single dollar Of paper money.
1t has been said that if only the govern
ment issued paper money, it could be eX-
changed for gold and the treasury deple-
ted. Why not enact such n law as they
have in France, that every debt is payable
at the option of the debtor in gold silver.
or paper money? The purchasing
clause" saved the country from ruin after
silver was demonetized in 1873. But for
the balance of trade In favor of the United
States of s325. 200. 900 last year. present
conditions here would be much worse.
The national banks made an immense
fortune from the government. They say
the silver barons were also benefcaries.
This is not true. Under the Sherman law
silver was bought for It's market value.
and on 5000 100000 worth the government
made a profit of $132OOOOOO off the silver
mine owners.
Mr. Alexander showed how the people
last year voted against their own in
terests. In this State the gold Democrats
announced that they would support the
State ticket but the returns showed that
Bryan received more votes than Watts.
Foreman. the present Internal Revenue
Commissioner. was gold Democrat. vet
they saw he is TO be removed TO make n
Mace for Hon. N 3. Scott. The Presi- !
DENTAL candidate of the Mckinley Aid !
Society asked for nothing in return for
his services to the Republicans but the
privilege of naming the postmaster Of
Springfield and he was refused.
In concluding the speaker Taid tho
strength of Democracy lies in the middle
classes. and that a majority Of the white
voters Of the nation are Democrats.
MIR. Alexander was frequently inter-
rupted by applause. and when he con-
cIuded he was given an unanimous vote OF
thanks for his excellent address.
AT BELLAIRE.
The BelIaire Democrats held n largely
attended and enthusiastic meeting for
the purpose of concentrating the birth
dav of jefferson. at the City Hall. The
meeting was presided over by Marion
Huffman. The speakers were George Ar
mold Of Belaire. and the Rev. II. s. Boyd.
The hall in which the meeting was held
was handsomely decorated.
.ooo $40.