The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-09
VICTORY FOR SOUND MONEY.

VICTORY FOR SOUND MONEY.
The election in oregon the other DAY
closed one OF the most interesting cam
paigns that the West has ever Known
The election was for the choice OF state
officers and two representatives in Con
gress. The Legislature elected VIII ave
the selection OF a United States senator
IN succeed Senator Mitchell, whose seat
has been vacant for nearly two years on
account of the failure Of the last Legis-
lature 10 reach "a decisive vote.
The contest is particularly Interesting
al this time. because II is the first OF
the congressional election since 1896, and
more particularly because the issue was
directly between free silver and the gold
standard. In 1892 the Democrats and
Populists effected a partial union, and 50
secured one OF the four electoral votes
for weaver. In 1896 the silver forces
again united, and were beaten by a
majority Of only 1900 in a total poll of
$1,000.
IN that year the Republicans, through
the influence of Senator Mitchell, adopted
n sort Of straddle on the money quess
ton, but this year they came out boldly
and u~nequiyocally in favor Of the main
tenance of the gold standard" and IN
opposition to the free coinage Of silver,
and to all other schemes looking TO the
debasement Of currency and 70 the re-
pudiation Of debts" Moreover, they "con-
demned the continued agitation forI free
silver as calculated to jeopardize the
prosperity Of the country and to shake
the confidence of the people in the main
tenance of a wise financial policy
Opposed to the Republicans was a com
bination of the Populists, Democrats, and
free silver Republicans. In a word, all
who were in favor Of free silver and OPP
posed to the gold standard united in a
desperate effort to defeat the advocates
OF the gold standard.
1t VS. a red-hot fight. The Republicans
depended, for the most part, upon local
speakers. but the fusionlsts imported ex-
President Gompers, of the Federation OF
Labor; Mrs. Lease, Of Kansas ana other
speakers Of that stripe.
The result, we say, has been looked
forward to with great interest as indi-
eating the drift Of popular sentiment. and
Il is a distinct defeat for the free silver
contingency. The Republicans have car
800. a. CT. - ,agrfxr "a on majority
on the general result, and country pre-
cincts. which in the Presidential election
gave a majority for Bryan, show large
Republican gains. The Legislature IS
overwhelmingly Republican, and will elect
a Republican senator, while Moody Gre
uublican) for Congress from the Second
District. will have a plurality Of 5000 and
Tongue Republican, from the First Dis
trict. is reelected by more than 200
plurality.
we do not regard this as a Republican
y,otorv 60 much as a victory for sound
money and a defeat for free silver. me
oregon people have opened their eyes TO
tho fact that none Of the terrible evils
which the free silver people predicted
would follow the defeat Of free silver in
1896 and the establishment OF the gold
standard have been realized, but on the
contrary that every one Of the free silver
theories. so far as they have been put
to the test. has failed. The farmers OF
the West have gotten good prices for
their stun and have p~rospered, In spite
Of the evil predictions Of the calamity
howlers. and it is significant that there
were large Republican gains in the coun-
try districts Of oregon in the late election
showing that the farmers are satisfied
with the situation.
The free silver wave has undoubtedly.
begun TO recede, and we believe that the
time is no. far distant when that issue
will be retired 20 the museum Of national
f%ollies. along with the greenback craze,
and other such relics of the past.