Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-04
ADVOCATES OF FREE SILVER
Meeting at Providence Under Bimetallic
League Auspices.
Ex-Gov. Altxeld. Judge Tarvin and
Representative Lentx the
Principal Speakers.

League in the interests of bimetallism was
held in Providence r. l.. yesterday after
noon. The report OF the meeting says: The
session was held in a large open area, the
audience occupying the seats of the grand
stand surrounding II. The platform was
decorated with the national colors, to-
gether with those of Great Britain. Ire
land France and Cuba.
Judge James p Tarvin of Kentucky was
the first speaker. He said:
1T is we'll settled that the Chicago plat
form of 1895 will not be mutilated; that
the democratic national convention of 1909
will adopt that platform without any omis-
sion. and that independent bimetallism at
III to | will continue to receive the sup
port of the democratic organization of the
country. It becomes every day better
derstood that the only democrats in this
land are those who accept and believe in
and are ready to vote for the Chicago
platform of 1896 a whole. The efforts
of political bosses in New York city, Chi
eago and elsewhere to obstruct and to de-
feat those who declared for the laborer and
producer before the holders of capital and
organizers of trusts have miserably failed.
and there Is nothing left for them but to
choose between the pretense of party loyal
~ and an open transfer to repubicanism.
Decentralization of Silver
In 1873 silver was demonetized. and half
the money of the country was taken away
by legislation; one of the only two sources
OF supply on money was closed by legis-
lation. and that condition has practically
and virtually continued from then until
today. In that period of twenty-six years
We nave seen legislation concentrate
wealth, make tramps and criminals of men
and suicides and prostitutes of women
me demonstration of silver was a part
only or this legislation, but 1t was an i'm
portant and vital part. The protective
tarlH laws, the laws making
bonds payable in coin. the general incor-
porauon laws were also parts of this legs-
latlon, and all of it tended to concentrate
money. the fruit of labor, to enable the
favored few to accumulate and to monopo-
NE the fruits of the land without labor
OF their own, and because of the labor of
others.
Every man is entitled to the benefit of
ms own labor. and no man is entitled to
me penef1t of any other mans labor That
- t!le democracy of today, and that is the
meaning of the Chicago platform of 1895
We Will have again the platform made
by the people in 1896 and there will not
be dissenting voice when William J.
bryan Is placed on the platform to again
Lsao the common and obscure people of
TINS land in contest against the control
OF the government by those representing
the money power of the Union.
That platform will be added to There
VIII be appropriate declarations as to i'm
periaiism and trusts. and. as for me- l
would be glad to see declaration favor
ahle to the public ownership Of pubic
utilities, declaration favorable to the in
itative and referendum and a demand for
the election of United States senator's and
United States judges by the people"
Remarks of J. j. Lentz.
Representative John j. Lentz of Column
bus, Ohio was the next speaker His sar-
castle references 70 President Mckinley
his arratgnment of the Philippine war and
his eulogy of Aguinaldo as one of the
greatest men of the century were ap-
plauded
He spoke. in part, as follows:
From Ohio look to New England
with amaZefnent when we see the cringing
serviIity OF its masses to that p'utocratic
oligarChy. which is more arbitrary and
more Inconsistent than any monarchy in
Europe
You will pardon me for telling you that
the thinking people in the buckeye land
are more than surprised when they find in
this old New England country. which for
two centuries arrogated to itself the claim
OF being the educational center and the in
tellectuai hub of America, there are today
So many blind and servile followers of an
administration which cannot quote a single
thought. nor single sentence. either from
Washington. Jefferson, Jackson Lincoln
In support of its policy of Imperialism and
niltarism. in support of it's British finan-
cil policy it's British colonial policy and
Its attempted British alliance.
Has Hopes for New England.
''In Ohio we have never accepted the
doctrine, neither in the church nor in poll
tics. of total depravity. We still have faith
and hope. We still believe that truth is
mighty and will prevail We still believe
that the Independent and courageous man.
hood of New England under such organ
izations as the New England Bimetallic
League. will revive and perpetuate the
right and duty to think, as well as the
right of free speech.
We hope and believe that our combined
influence with some of the choice and
courageous manhood in the republican
party In New England in their efficient
work against imperialism. will ere long
bring to public attention the fact that the
same men who in favor of imperialism
and militarism are in substance the very
same men who were also identified with
and in league with the ptutocr;Ltic infiu-
enceS that have made this republic a trust
ridden republic. 80 weak and PROSTATE that
neither the President of the United States
nor the Attorney General of the United
States nor the republican majority of Con-
greSs could dare say word at the extra
session in 1897 in favor of the democratic
amendment to the Dingley bin, to make
null and void the tariff provisions in behalf
al any commodity the manufacture or pro-
duction of which might come under the
control of a trust.
Cheers for Alt4eld.
There was prolonged cheering when ex-
Governor John P. Altgeld of Illinois was
introduced He said III substance that for
years the people west of the AIeghanies
have looked with reverence toward New
England. The New England brains. ideas,
literature and standards have shaped the
destinies of the republic. 1t has looked for
years though their sons were to lower
the old New England standard and
though they were going to forget the ira
ditions of their fathers and bring every
thing down to low. Sordid basis. He said
however. that he was glad to learn that
this was a mistake and that a mighty host
has aris= n. which will keep alive the feel
ing Of liberty in old New England.
There a period in New England his
tory. he said. when the mills and factories
were running day and night and n market
was found for everything mad. Then the
cCple Were all employed at living wages
and Were prosperous The volume of money
in the world at that time was twice the
amount in existence today. because silver
was issued at its proper ratio and had its
proper place in the monetary plans.
The speaker argued that the renonetiza-
ton of silver would afford an opportunity
for the wase-earners to have more money
To spend and thus open up markets at
h, me which would utilize to the fullest ex-
tent the products of the country. He said
that not single respectable argument can
he found for the gold standard. The pres
ert monetary policy is bad and unjust. II
.