The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1902-10-10
THE CAMPAIGN OPENED.
The Fusionists Take the Lead in
Gardnerville.

The first gun for the fusion campaign
was fired in Gardnerville Monday
evening. Our streets were lighted up
with bonfires and the brass band and
a torchlight procession led the way to
Valhalla Hall, where Hon. H. f. Bar
tine and John E. Bray, Democratic and
Silver Party nominee for SuPerintend-
ent of Public instruction, addressed
the people.
Although the notice given of the
meeting was very short, many farmers
came in from the country and the hall
was crowded to the doors. If indica-
tions count for anything the success
of the Democratic-Silver Party ticket
in this county is assured.
Ex-Assemblyman Robt. t. Willer-
son called the Assemblage to order and
Hon. II. A. n. Todd was appointed
Chairman.
The local candidates for the legisla-
ture, Marshall E. Ford, candidate for
District Attorney, and members of
the County Central Committee occu-
pied front seats.
The Chairman started the ball roll
ing by introducing Mr.. Bray, who
made an interesting talk on educa-
tional matters. He does not consider
the Office of Superintendent of Public
Instruction political Office and said
that our schools should be above poll
tics. He is thoroughly familiar with
the needs of our schools, having been
teacher in Nevada for over quarter
of a century, and, if elected, will give
his undivided attention to the up
building of all the schools of the State.
Mr.. Bray made splendid impression
on the audience and will undoubtedly
receive large vote in Douglas county.
Hon. H. f. Bartine followed and
made a splendid political speech, de-
voting an hour and a half to a discus
sion of the record of the Republican
party and the leading issues of the
campaign. He made many good points,
dwelling particularly upon the inn
portance of the silver question. In
doing so he called attention to the in
EQUITIES of the Hill bill and said that if
it passed the price of silver would be
reduced to 25 cents an ounce, and that
: the great Wedekind mine at Reno, the
Tonopah mines and every other silver
: mine in the State would be closed
down. The speaker also called atten-
: ton to the action of A. C. Cleveland
in walking out of the ST. Louis con-
vention, and pointed out his inconsist-
ency in being the candidate of the Re-
publican party for Governor now when
the position Of that party towards sill
yer is worse than in 1896.
One of the best points made by Mr..
Bartine was in comparison of the Re-
publican State and national platforms
since 1894, showing the varying atti-
tude of the Republican party towards
silver. Eight years ago the Republi-
can State platform favored the I'M
limited coinage of both gold and silver
at the ratio of Is to /; but two years
ago the national platform of the party
came out squarely for the gold stand
ard. Hence the weak silver plank in
, corporated in the State platform of
that year and again this year. The
following is what the Republican party
of Nevada has to say in its platform
this year concerning the coinage of
silver Compare it with the plank fol-
lowing taken from the Republican
State platform of 1894:
eve favor the largest use of silver
as a money metal in all matters com
patible with the best interests of our
government; and we hereby pledge
our nominee for Congress, in the event
of his election, to exercise his best en-
deavors to secure the greatest possible
use of silver beneficial to the mining
States of this Union without endanger-
ing the financial safety of our country"
From the Republican state platform
of 1894: "The silver question: is by
far the most important issue before the
people of this country to-day. We be-
lieve that the destruction Of the true
standard of value by the demonetiza-
ton of silver in 1873 was grave wrong
to every silver mining State and Ter
ritory in the Union; that it increased
the burden of all debts and enriched
J the creditor classes at the expense of
, everybody else; that it paralyzed the
productive energies of the entire coun-
try, depressed business of every kind
except that of money lending, and that
there can be no permanent return of
prosperity to our country until silver
shall have been restored to it's full use
and highest position as a money metal;
} and as the only perfect mode OF SO re-
}, storing it we demand the free and I'M
limited coinage of both gold and silver
at the ratio of is ounces of silver to
ounce of gold, with full legal functions
accorded to each and no discrinlina-
ton against either. This action we de-
mand by the United States acting in
dependently and wholly regardless of
what any other nation may or may not
do. We hereby pledge our candidate
n Il