The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-08
GOV. RO0SEvELT'S
GRAND RAPIDS SPEECH.
Republican Vice Presidential Cam
dfdnte Declared silver the Para
mount Issue OF Campaign.


There are several great issues at stake
IN this campaign. but. OF course. the
greatest issue OF all is the Issue OF keep
ing the country on the plane of material
welibeing and honor to which II has been
Drought during the last four years" said
Gov Roosevelt.
Il do not claim that President McKiu-
ley's admirable administration and the
wise legislation passed by congress,
"hich ne has sanctioned. are solely re-
sponsfble for our present weiIbeing. but
DO claim that It is this administration
and this legislation which have rendered
1t possible for the American people TO
achieve such welibelng. i insist further
more, that the one and only way 10 in
sure widespread Industrial and social
ruin would be now TO reverse the policy
under which we have so prcspered and
TO try that policy OF financial disgrace
ana economic disaster which we rejected
in 1896
'our opponents now advance the most
extraordinary arguments that have ever
been advanced In presidential campaign
by any party on behalf OF its presidential
nominee. They have reaffirmed specifi-
caily their entire 1896 platform. and yet
they insist vigorously that all they con-
sidered OF most vital Importance In 1896
shall now be reiegated to subordinate
place: and more extraordinary stih they
actually ask that MIR Bryan and Demo-
cratic house be elected. because the sem
ate will remain Republican anyhow, so
that the president and the house won't
be able 20 do much harm. Think OF Il.
gentlemen. This Is the position actually
taken by not few OF our opponents. and
especially by the men who know that
Mr.. Bryan's financial policy is utterly
ruinous. but who want to give themselves
some excuse for voting against President
Mckinley. because. forSooth. Mr.. McKin-
ley has been too active In upholding the
honor OF the flag"
silver ouestion Para6ount.
Gov. Roosevelt declared that the silver
question. IL a question at ALT Is para
mount. Said he:
"The leaders among our opponents are
doubtless uneasily conscious that their
free silver policy would be disastrous to
the welfare OF OUT country: but having
played the part OF demagogues. they
must now reap the fruits OF their action.
IL they came into power their possession
OF power would throw this country into
commissions Of disaster. They would be
obliged TO make war upon the principles
OF sound finance. The victory Of Mr..
Bryan would mean such a strengthening
of the foes OF honest money as to power
fully impress every wavering mind In
the senate, so that free silver legislation
would probably pass both houses. and
any StCTtIAEy OF tut tftHrbff Ffe Nttth
accept office under Mr.. Bryan could do
nothing but follow course which would
plunge our financial system into chaos
Speaking OF trusts. Gov. Roosevelt said
that while the evils produced must be
eliminated. hasty and violent action should
be avoided, for It would either be In
effective or II would. In crushing the evil
be equally destructive 10 the good. He
recommended publicity as the frst and
most potent remedy for the trust evil.
saying.
1--WE must be able by law to flnd out
exactly what each corporation does. and
earns This mere publicity itself will
effect something towards remedyinK many
evils Moreover. II will give us clearer
idea as TO what the remaining evils are,
and will. therefore. enable us to shape
our measures for attacking the latter
with good prospects of success"
He referred to the franchise tax cs-