Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-09-07
TOWNE and SILVER.
Why He Is Chief Orator of the
Bryan Campaign.
FREE SILVER TEE SECRET ISSUE.
Cry Of "Imperiaiisn" Only n Mask Be-
hind which silver Is to Sneak Inflow
Bryan, II Elected, Could Establish Silver
Standard without Congressional Aid.

Bryan, II Elected, Could Establish Silver
Standard without Congressional Aid.
Charles A. Towne is to be the star
orator of the Bryanite campaign-al-
ways excepting the peerless one
from Nebraska himself. Mr.. Towne
used to be Republican. He aposta-
tized because he went daft on free
silver. He was first one of that small
group of queer ihybrids calling them
selves "Sllver Republicans"-men who
used Republican livery in which to
serve the silver devil. Now he Is a
rampant Bryanite, and conspicuous
figure in the Democratic campaign.
Why? Because Mr.. Towne knows
that, should Bryan be elected, 1t would
give the Democrats the next house OF
representatives, and two years later
control of the United States senate;
that then a free silver law would be
enacted, and his pet fad be put in op
Grafton.
Consequently, when we find Mr..
Towne tearing passion to tatters In
depicting the imaginary dangers to
the republic from an act of territorial
expansion, we are perfectly justified
in the belief that he is simply cloaking
the real purpose he, Bryan and the
Democratic party have at heart of Sc
curing by indirection what they failed
to secure in 1896.
There has been a radical change Of
attitude consequent upon the adoption
of this policy of political deceit. Dem
ocratic orators are assuring the voters
that, even were Bryan elected presi-
dent, he could not change the money
standard because the senate Is Re-
publican" A change in voters that
would elect Bryan would give the
| Democrats control OF the senate on
March A, 1908, just half way through
the next presidential term.
But were Mr.. Bryan president, he
could put his theories into partial OPP
Grafton without any enactment by
congress. 1t would be clearly within
| his power to do so. He could direct
the secretary of the treasury to pay
in silver all OF the public debt which,
by its terms, is payable in "coin." The
! interest on all the older bonds and the
payment of ordinary government ex-
penses could and would all be made
| in silver.
1t is said, however, that there is not
enough silver in the treasury to en-
able Mr.. Bryan to carry out this plan.
But whence comes the treasury funds?
From payment of duties and internal
| revenue taxes Should Mr.. Bryan start
out on the plan indicated, sense Of
insecurity would be at once created.
| Payments into the treasury would be
| made in silver and silver certificates,
| and there would be no other kinds Of
money to pay out for governmental
| expenditures. A financial crash would
follow. And all this could be done by
the president alone, acting within his
legal powers, without any action by
congress.
| But would Mr.. Bryan take that re-
sponsibility? We think so. Four years
| ago he said: "If there is any one who
! believes that the gold standard is a
good thing, or that 1t must be main
tained, want him not to cast his
vote for me, because 1 promise that
| it will not be maintained in the coun-
try longer than / am able to get rid
of it," In other words he would
pay not only the current expenses In
silver but all other obligations as fast
as they fall due. He has never said
a word in revocation of the above.
That he would carry out this plan Is
certain. And all the shouting over
imperialism" can not obscure the
real issue-silver 1t is the vital issue
quite as much as it was in 1896.