The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-09
a POLITICAL SENSATION
JUDGE TAYLOR FLOORS A FREE SILL
VERITE IN MUNCIE MEETING.
Quotation from Senator Turpie's
Speech Had to Be Swallowed by
q Man who Denied 1t.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the indianapolis Journal
MUNCIE, Ind, Oct. S--Judge Robert S.
Taylor, of Fort Wayne, addressed big
Republican meeting in this city last night,
and as the result of an interesting incident
not down on the programme the audience
was wildly enthusiastic. The reference of
the speaker to the money question was
cause for the scene unlocked for. In the
course of his arguments in favor of our
present policy. the gold standard, the speak
er announced that Senator Turpie in his
speech before the state Democratic conven-
ton at Indianapolis last June, stated that
the silver dollar did not depend for its cur
rent value upon the credit of the govern
ment, but circulated by virtue of it's inherent
value. M. w. Lee. a local Democratic ora
tor, arose and stated that Senator Turpie
had never expressed any such sentiment
The speaker said that he CHANGED to have
Turpie's speech in his baggage at the hotel
and If some one would go and
get it he would be glad to sub
nit that part of it to the audi
ence. County Auditor Robert Monroe and
ex-County Treasurer Taylor Immediately
volunteered to perform that service and
started for the hotel on the run fearful that
Lee might make his escape. In the mean
time the speaker continued his argument on
other points.
When the speech was brought in 1t was
found to be printed in a copy of the In
dianapolis Sentinel of June %, $685. the day
following the Democratic state convention
which contained the proceedings of the con-
vention, including Senator Turpies speech.
The speaker read a considerable extract
from it, including the following:
IT is thus shown, under the official state.
ment Of the present secretary of the treas
ury, that standard silver dollars of the
United States are in themselves money of
ull1lma ate payment and that they are not
Or but thaf tbe any by h
legal tender by reason of their own spe-
ciflc worth and value. This is the position
we have ta' II from the very beginning of
the discussion on the coinage question, and
we yet adhere to 1t and maintain It, There
has been much bald, disjointed chat about
the ability or inability of our government
to carry silver. We never have carried and
are not now carrying any silver. Standard
silver coin does not need to be carried. 1t
lives, moves and ctrculates upon its benefi-
cent errand of exchange by reason of it's
own strength and merit"
The reading of this extract was greeted
with loud and prolonged cheering, the audi
ence evidently considering that the case had
gone against Mr.. Lee. In the midst of this
Mr.. Lee arose to attempt to defend his posi-
ton. For some time the audience refused
to stop the cheering until Judge Taylor in
sisted that Lee be heard. Mr. Lee then pro-
ceeded to argue that the language read from
the senator's speech was not equivalent to
statement that the silver dollar circulated
upon its inherent value. Judge Taylor fol-
lowed by pointing out what was the obvi-
GUS and necessary import of the senator's
language. Senator Turpie says we never
carried and are not now carrying any silver.
What does carrying silver mean? It means
sustaining its value; keeping it at par with
gold. 1t does not mean carrying it bodily
as If it were freight; 1t means holding up its
value. The senator says standard silver
coin does not need to be carried; that is it
does not need the aid of the government to
maintain its value. He says ii lives, moves
and circulates upon its benefcient errand
of exchange by reason of it's own strength
aid merit; that means its own value; its
inherent value; its intrinsic value; a. value
which it has independently and apart from
any support it may receive from the gov
eminent. That is the plain import of the
words. That is what Senator Turpie meant
unless he was intending to deceive his hear
ers by a trick of words.
The episode was immensely enjoyed by
the audience who testified their hearty in
dorsement Of the ground taken by the
speaker in tumultuous rounds of applause.