Evening Star Newspaper, August 12, 1896, Page 9

THE EVENING STAR, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1896—-TEN PAGES. THE DISTRICT AND SILVER revailing Belief That Free Coinage Would Be Disastrous t0 TALKS WITH BUSINESS Effect of a Victory for the! Democratic - Papulistic Coinage and Civil Service Views. Of late years Washington people have been Pickwick'an politicians. Interest In politics here has always been great, but since the civil service law relieved govern- ment clerks of the dread of wholesale dismissals as a result of a change of ad- m'nistrat‘on this interest has been largely independent of personal considerations. ‘This year the situation fs different. The conflict has come closer home. The bust- men of Washington feel that their personal interests ard the general welfare of the city are involved in the struggle. It cannot be remembered when political 1s- sus were discussed here with the earnest- ness and universality that they now are. In the street cars, on the corners, in hotels, restaurants, around the lunch table, across the counters in business houses, over the paying tellers desk in banks, in real estate offices and everywhere that two or three ere gathered together the money quesiion being discussed. The laborer on the street and the bank president alike Indi- ste their reallzation of a personal interest in t re It. Business men of small as well as of large spital, whose welfare depends upon the | ral growth and prosperity, are ir poli- | time being with an earnest- rare. is | Bryan's Election. | epinion is almost universal amonz =s of citizens that, irrespective of the merits and demerits of the silver ques- 1 in an abstract discussion, the inter- | District of Columbia will be by cc rvatism, and that of guarded te best the success of the Bryan ticket will se- riously jeopardize lecal prosperity From the point of view of enlightened selfishness it is argued that the people of Wa should stand on the side of ‘a. It ts argued that the rea- v1 to all business communiti reservation ef a sound finane! m which will give confidence to cap- | are magnified here, while the “bene- | tha! are claimed to attach to the fre Iver and the general cheapen- inz of money would be far frenr beneficial to the District of Columbia. Talks reporters of The Star have had with business men in all Hines and with Peopie in the departments disclose a gen- aprehensioa that local prosperity | be seriously retarded and the indi- ngton ral vidual Interests of a majority of the citl- zeus of the District would suffer if the free silver, antictvil service, populistic- Gemocratic policy should prevail. Hoping for Prectically the same ne of argument fs heard from al! quarters sustaining this idea. and the business men generally are work- ing as earnestly for the causc of sound money as if the District possessed electoral votes. It is urged that, aside from the fact that so large a class of District citizens draw salary or wages, which would not be proportionately increased, if increased at all, under the free silver policy. and who would have to pay more for everything they had to buy, there are many other reasons, more or less assoctated with this, why the District would suffer from cheap money and expensive necessaries of life. The out- side cepfital invested in the building up of Washington is largely a surplus capital, free from the demands of manufacturing enter- prises, which seeks profitable investment in real estate. or is spent to build up beautiful homes for the wealthy from all parts of the country in the most attractive city of the nation, where may be enjoyed the socfal, in- tellectual and political advantages of the | national capital. Phe general locking up of capital and curtalling of expenses by peo- ple of means would fall heavily at once on Washington. It is argued that the success of Bryan would cause a stringency in the money market which would stop tnvest- ments and render it impossible to borrow money for the building up of_the city. The suburban improvements surrounding the elty would come to a standstill and invest- ments already made would bring no returns. How Wage Earners’ Would Suffer. A lack of business, it te urged, would check all enlargement of the business plants, building operations would cease, all business would be drawn down to the minimum; the matertal men and their em- Sound Money Success. pioyes, the bricklayers, the carpenters, the masons, the tnners, the plumbers, the painters and workmen In all lines of bus!- hess would consequently be thrown out of employment. Government clerks having | the purchasing power of their salartes re- duce? w have to curtall all their ex- penditures, and the merchants would suf-| fer a corresponding lors of trade. Clerks | {| doubt that Mr. Bryan, as President, would, | While wages had advanced only Local Interests, MEN AND OFFICIALS endeavoring by small payments to pro- vide themselves with homes, would be una- ble to keep up payments, and this would at ene and the same time increase the amount of real estate on the market and reduce the demand for it, bringing ruin to the small hcme investors end heavy loss to the larger capitalist. It is argued that the very source of business would be cut off and no class of citizens would escape the blight if the election shculd result in a Prolongation of the conditions which frighten capital and render all investments unsafe. From a local point of view it is urged that the success of a party favoring cheap money, opposed to the collection of sufficient revenue for the needs of the gov- ernment, favoring niggardly apprepria- tions, opposed to the civil service law, and attacking constituted busiress methods and institutiors, would be detrimental to the District ct Columbia and the interests of its citizens. For these reesons the consensus of opin- ion among the bus'ness men of the District and department clerks 1s against the free coinage of silver. Taiks of Star reporters with citizens show this to be the case. ‘The intervews given below and made at random among the business men, as well as officials, give an indication of the pre- vailing views: Deputy Centrotier Cotlin's Views. Mr. George M. Coffin, deputy controller of the currency, and now In charge of the bureau in the temporary absence of Mr. Eckels, has made a special study of the free silver question. He says: “If Mr. Eryan is elected in November and the re- turns show the election of a bare majority of free silver representatives in the Hous the free coinage of silver may then be re- garded as an accomplished fact, for the Senate already has a majority openly com- mitted to this policy, and there can be no at the carliest possible date after election, ccnvene Congress to enact a free coinage law. For this, however, the money mar- kets would not wait, but gold would most assuredly go to a premlum immediately | after the election returns had been definite- ly_ decided. “What would happen then? Why, the prices of food, clothing and all the neces- Saries of life, now measured by the gold standard, would inevitably follow the price of gold and rise with it. For a similar ex- perience, any one old enough to remember the civil war will recall how, when gold Went to a premium in 1S61, the prices of all things for sale advanced also. Perhaps the cid private soldiers will remember how, When they were enduring hardship, danger and privation in ist4, their pay was still a month in greenbacks worth only cents a dollar in gold. And how about peo- ple then clerks for the govern- ment or private individuals and working for wages? The answer is found in Secre- tary Carlisle's Chicago speech to working- men, where he stated that the prices of all the necessaries of life in a depreciated cur- rency rose during the war until in 1866 these were higher by 117 per cent than they had been on the goid basis in 18, per cen In other words, a dollar of wages in 1860 would buy only as much as ts cents in gold bought in 1860, which meant a reduc tien of per cent in wages. If this has happened so recently, it can and will hap- pen again if free coinage debases the pur- chasing power of the currency, as even sil- ver advocates admit that it will. No Increase o Salaries. “Can the government clerks expect any increase in salari<s if prices rise? Assuredly not; In any event, unless Congress legt: lates this. All salaries to June 30, 189; have already been fixed by law, and the present Congress will, at its winter session, fix them for year ending June 30, 1898, so hew can government employes expeet any increase, i any event until June 30, 1898, and if prices rise next November, what are they going to do about ft? And du they imagine for a moment that a Congress elected on a platform providing for the abolitfon of a life tenure of office in the civil service and rotation in office instead is going to heed the complaints of gover: n:ent clerks, whe, by the people who ele: free silver Congressmen, are regarded as already overpaid? The probability would be rather to reduce salaries further still, even in a depreciated currency. Even where a government clerk had a mortgage en kis home, he would have less money out of his fixed salary to pay It off because he would have to raise more of it for the in- creased cost of living. And what is true for the government clerk is true for every man or woman in Washington who earns wages or salary with muscle cr brain. As one living on a salary, I invite the most serious attention of every other wage- worker to this aspect of the question, for what suffering. what lors and privation a rise in the prices of the necessaries in life would bring no one can now measur and yet in less than three months’ time this will happen right here in Washington if the people decide to have free coinage of silver.” Auditor Baldwin. Mr. E P. Baldwin, auditor for the Treas- ury Department, one of the few supporters of the Chicago ticket among adinintstra- tion officials, says: “I have no nreans of knowing what Mr. Bryan, if ele:ted Pres- ident, wil recommend to Congress in the matter of the employes in the cxecutive departments in this city, neither has any other person. I can only say thai from a long acquaintance with Mr. Bryan, and from a personal knowledge of the breadth and fairness of his mind on other public questicrs, which [ have discussed with him, I do not hesitate to say that the valuable public servants to be found in the departments here have nothing to fear from his election. If any effort 1s made by ® big B. Blackwell’s Genuine Bull is in actass by itself. You will find one zoupon insids each two ounce bag, and two cow ins! each four ounce bag of Blackwell’s gS Durham Smoking Tobacco Buya' of this celebrated tobacco and read the eoupon— Waa ennelaunorwuatsegemennanalerntogucaaes the democratic party, if successful at the next election, to Icgislate in the matter of olvfl service ft wiif certainty not be done except for the tmprovement of that serviee, and there will be no return to methods of appointment by which places were given as a reward for political serv- fees without regard to the competency of the appointed. “My experience of many years in thts de- partment convinces me that a good clerk is not uneasy about his position or the charge of the administration; he relies up- on his record, ability, gentlemanly deport- ment and devetion to duty to secure his retention. It is, as a general rule, the less competent whe scek ‘influence’ to retain Positions they should never have obtained. “By this rule you may safely gauge the merits of a clerk: If he is found attend- ing strictly and falthfully te his duties, dependig upon his record and ability to retain his position. he is a good clerk. If he is uneasy and apprehensive evary pres- idential election; is always seeking influ- ence of politicians to hold him in office, you may depend upon it the government Would not come to a standstill if he severed his connections with i Me. J W. Thompson. John W. Thompson, president of the Metropolitan National Bank: ‘The silver question is such a voluminous one,” said Mr. Thompson, “‘one hardly knows where to start in speaking of its effects on the interests of the District of Columbia. No one pretends that the increase of the sal- aries of the government employes in Washington is 2 part of the program of the free silver people, and yet it is ad- mitted that articles of consumption will be doubled in value. No example of the condition it is proposed to bring on could be given better than that which existed during the war. The confederacy showed the result of an inflated currency better than did the Union side. A man told me the other day that he got his month's sal- ary, $60, and went out to buy a handker- enief, which cost him $300, and he firalty succeeded in purchasing with his salary a rertly used paper coilar. “Of course all the goods we import would command a double value, as in China and Japan at the present time.” Mr. J A. Swope. Mr. John A. Swope, first vice president Washington Loan and Trust Company, re- gards the adoption of a free silver law as exceedingly detrimental to the interests of the District of Columbia. “Tf there should be a bread famine, Mr. Swope to a Star reporter today, were proposed to cut all the loaves of bread in two in order to make it go further, the proposition ceuld not be more ridicu- lous than Is the suggestion to cut our dol- lars in half in order to get more of them. “The interests of the District will suffer more than those of any other part of the country if we should have free silver. In- deed, it ts mew suffering. The threat against a sound currency ts injuring busi- ness. The thousands of government em- ployes in this city would continue to receive the same pay they now get, while every- thing they would purchase would be double the price they now pay. “I do not think the sober judgment of the American people will permit them to launch upon so absurd a system of finance as that involved in the free silver issue. The voters have three months to think about this propositicn, and when election day arrives I believe they will be found voting for common sense and a sound our- Michael I. Weller. “In my opinion td Mr. M. I. Weller to a Star reporter, “the election of Bryan and Watson would be detrimental to the best interests of the capital and migh: seriously menace its very existence, pro- viding the communistic planks of the plat- forms were to be carried out; the dema- gogic cry of ‘high governmental salaries’ and ‘alarming extravagance’ of public ex- penditures here have poison<d the minds of So many persons west and south against us to such an extent that we are eat- ered with a big reduction of wages all along the line, which would be followed by abrogation of the government's obilgation to pay cne-half of our expenses and final- ly we would have to encounter a renewal of the agitation to remove the nation’s capital to cyclonic location in Ne- braska or any unbiased reader of the Congre Record for the last four years must reach similar conclu- that Washington's position as the tal of the country, would sitively endangered, were the ad- vates of Bryan and Watson to be suc- ssful at the polls; may God save the country’s eapttal.”” Col. 0. G. Staples. Col. O. G. Staples, proprietor of the Riggs House: “I think the District of Co- lurbia would net suffer very much from the free coinage of silver, for the reason that we have no_manufactories, here. It will have little effect on government em- ployes in my opinion. But the general ef- fect of free colnage I think will be bad. It will be goed for the poorer and mid- dle classes, but will be injurious to the in- terests of men with money.” Mr. Andrew Gleeson. Mr. Andrew Gleeson, who claims the distinction of having employed more men cn public works In the District of Colum- bla than any other coniractor, does not want to sce a free cuinage law added to the statutes ef the country. He said to- day that he had been in business in the District of Columbia for thirty-five ycars, and he had never seen business so duli as it is at present. ‘ree silver will injure business in the District of Columbia,” he said to a Star reporter today. “The prospect that it may come is injuring business now. The trou>le Is, the people do not know what these pop- ulists anit anarchists are going to do. Al- thorgh I am a republican, T would not hes.tate to speak for silver if I believed in it, but [ don’t believe any good will corae of It.” Mr. 0. L. Pitney. Mr. Ora L. Pitney of Pitney & Bradford, : “One man in this city has told Mr. Pitney, “that he would in- vest $1,000,000 in real estate in Washington if we should have free coinage of silver, and he is well able to do It, too. I believe if we could get free coinage without having a depreciated currency the effect here, as elsewhere, would be good. I do not know what the ratio of the metals should be, but it should be so fixed that a dollar of silver and a dollar of gold will be exactly equal. A singie gold standard puts us in the hands of the gold men and of the for- eign capitalists. If we get a silver Presi- dent and Congress, they will not throw sil- ver on the country without a regard to consequences. These men are as patriotic and have as much regard for the country as have the gold men.” Gerome Desic, Gerome Desto, jeweler: “The first effect of free silver on our interests would be good. That would be during the boom. Afterward, nothing could be worse.’* Heury H. Brown. Henry H. Brown, optician: “The free coinage of silver would knock business in the District of Columbia into a ‘cocked hat,” was the expressive manner in which Mr. Brown tndicated his dread of the white metal. “Free silver would be as great a calamity as could hap- pen. Our business here depends on the general prosperity of the coun- try, and the condition of the country at large is directly reflected here. If bus- iness throughout the country is dull peo- ple will not travel as much, and we will have few visitors here. We want no change in our standard of money, m my opinion.” Bushro@ Robinson. Mr. Bushrod Robinson of Robinson, Chery & Co.: “I think the free coinage of silver woukd be very injurious to cur city. Its success would bring a party here with no interest In Washington, and if it had its way things would be revolutionized, at leest for a few years. After the new order of things had been established some bereft might be seeurei, but I cannot see what it would be. I do not think at the present time free silver would be safer. I have no doubt the value of silver would be enhanced upon the principle of supply and demand, but for one I would rather see the gold standard im force. “But I think the tide of public opinion is now charging. I have talked lately to a ‘gcod many traveling men frem all parts of the country, and they tell me the silver sentiment ts on the wane and people are ccming back to sound money. Traveling men are very observing, and are quick to catch the drift of opinion where they go. “Of course, free silver would enhance values very much during the first year of its enforcement, but it would break half the merchants here if Bryan should be elected. The trouble in free silver wouki be in getting it. After we once hat it I do not think It would be so itjurious.” Mr. F. L. Siddons. Mr. F. L. Siddons said: “It will only be in the event that Mr. Bryan and his followers attempt to unde the work of the civil ser- vice law that Washtagton will be inju- riously affected. I do not share at all in the apprehension said to exist that the election of Bryan and Sewall or Bryan and Watson means financtal ruin and commer- cial prostration for the country; but if their election means the repeal of the civil service law and a return to the old vicious Method of turning persons out of the gov- ernment service in order to make places for others of a different p8iftical faith, then the District will have occasion to re- Bret the advent of the silver standard bear- ers. We have too lively a recollection of the disturbance to business end the general unsettling of local conditions, caused by the application of the unlovely ‘spoils sys- tem,’ to welcome its return. “It is greatly to be deplored that Mr. Bryan, who is prompt to denounce the in— Justice of many features of existing social and industrial systems, fails or refuses to Perceive the rank injustice of this same ‘spoils system.’ ” Some Atteruesn’ Views. “T have,” remarket Attorney Wm. G. Johnson, “neither the tmagination nor the IntelHgence to express what I betfeve would follow as the result of Bryan's election. It is too dreadful to think of.” James K. Redington, the well-known law- yer, said: “I honestly believe that tf the election were to take place today Bryan would be successful. But bétween now and election day I believe that the sober sec- ond thought of the people will prevail to such an extent that McKinley wil be elected by a most substantial majority. Should Bryan be elected I believe that financial ruin would follow within sixty days, aud the people of the District would, of course, become as deeply involved a3 the people elsewhere.’ Mr. Edwin Forrest, a prominent local democrat and a member of the bar, also believes that if the election were held to- day Bryan would be elected. “But.” he re- marked, “I am confident that McKinley will turn the tables in November. I think the result of Bryan's clection would be financlut disaster. It might not, perhaps, be felt so seriously here, where so much money fs received by the people direct from the government, but it would be felt, and much suffering would, I fear, follow. One thing I am certain of, however, and that is that the success of Bryan would result in the demoralization of the civil service system of the government. Bryan and his followers are after the fat, and if he is successful the pressure wiil be so great upon him that, even if he were otherwise inclined, he could not resist {t, and ali that Mr. Cleveland has done- to preserve and extend the system would be undone.” LABOR AND SILVER. Views of District Workingmen on the Currency Question. Many conspicuous leaders of organized labor in the District of Columbia favor free coinage, as was Indicated In the interviews vith a number of them printed in The Star at the time of McKinley’s nomination. Some well-known labor men at the head of influential organizations are “sound mon- ey” men and belleve free coinage of silver #t 16 to 1 means disaster to the working- Iran. The interviews given below with well- known leaders among District workingmen are considered as representative: Mr. E. M. Blake, first vice president and during the absence of Mr. James F. Mc- Hugh, acting president of the Federation of Labor, was a delegate from the District to the populist convention at St. Louts. Wren asked by an Evening Star reporter his opinicn of the effects of free colnage and the election of W. J. Bryan as the President of the United States, he said: “I am always ready to accommodate The Evening Star, for The Star has done more to aid the workingmen of the District in securing a hearing before Congress for thefr grievances and measures than the rest of the press cf Wastington. Notwith- standing my reluctance to appear in print, I do not feel that I can refuse to give The Evening Star my opinion of the agitation for free and unlimited ccinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1, without waiting for the consent of other nations, and how workingmen may be benefited through free coinage and the electton of Bryan. “As a Knight of Labor i have been stand- ing on the following plank of that order for years, to wit: ‘XV. The establishment of a national monetary system, in which a cirevlating medium tm necessary quantity shall issue directly to the people, without the intervention of hanks; that all the na- tional Issue shall be full legal tender in payment of all debts, public and privates, end that the government shall not guaran- tee or recognize any private banks or cre- ate any banking ccrporations.’ “Knights of Labor have for years con- tended that the manipulation of the money by the banks has been the chtef cause of the distress of agricultural and mechanical labor, and they have viewed with alarn the workings of the banks in forcing the continual and gradual appreciation of gold and the contraction of the currency, bring- ing about the falling of the prices of produets, the steady fall of wages and the inerease of the army of the idle. The ob- Jeet lessons taught in the last bond tssues and in the patriotism (?) of the banks In preventing another bond issue until after the election I think has about convinced 9 per cent of the membership of the or- der that it Is not to their Interest to con- tinue a system that gives the bankers the power of cornering and controlling all coin-redeemable paper, thus enabling them at any time to make a raid on the gold re- serve and force the government to increase the publie debt. Z “The knights believe that the free eoln- age of silver will force the commercial value of the bulhon to its coinage value; that a silver doliar will buy as much as a gold dollar in our markets; that free coin- age will increase the per capita circulation to equal the demand for money; that gold will not be driven out of the country, for the reason that gold always seeks the best market, and the resources of our country furnish unlimited flelds for prosperous In- vestments, while foreign countries offer but few such opportunittes; that more money being in circulation, more men will be employed, thus relieving labor of the burden of the support of the millions wao are now tate. $ “While it is true that a portion of the necessaries of life can be bought for less money, because of the increased purchas- ing value of the dollar, {t Is also true that the tax on labor employed for the support of labor unemployed, makes the actual value of money yery much less. Bear this fact ever in mind, labor employed, and not cvpital, supports labor umemployed “There are three causes assigned for the stagnaticn of industries and the number of unemployed: the effects of the tariff, the effects of machinery in cheapening produc- tion, and the contraction of the currency. Knights have about agreed among them- selves that the fault Nes mainly with the contraction of the currency and the appre- ciation of gold, and they believe that the support of the Chicago platform is a step toward the establishment of a monetary system, ‘in which a circulating medium in necessary quantity shall fssue directly to the people, without the intervention of banks. The knights ure also of the belief that we are a great people of a great and pewerful country, and can establish and nraintain a monetary system of our own in defiance of England and uth=r countries, as our fathers believed they cuuld and did es- tablish _a republic in defiance of all na- tions. The knights further believe that the quickest and most direct way of bringing about international agreement fs in lead- ing_the way. “There is not a member or an ex-member of the order in this country today, if he ever held to the vrinciples taught by the order, who will not im November vote against McKinley. Workingmen will fol- low Morgan, Vest, Bryan, Teller rather than Hanna, Quay, McKinley and Hoba:t.” Mr. Dent for Free Silver. Mr. F. M. Dent, chai-man of the executiv board of the Street Railway Assembly, sal “It 1s a fact that cannot be disputed that a large percentage of the population of Wash- ington are surrounded by conditions that are deplorable in the extreme And the minds of all fatr and observant people are filled with the direst forebodings for the near future of skiNed and unskilled labor. “To satisfy the most skeptical that these are cold and incoatrovertible facts, let him spend a few hours in the reading room of the Workingmen's Library each day, where gather a large number of skilled, energetic and sober mechanics, who for weeks ond months have utilized every effort, embraced every opportunity, te procure employment, without success. “Amd by the Knowiedge that will there be thrust upon him of the condition of the building trades and or- ganized crafts, some lea can be formed of what must be the candition of those en- gaged in the unskilled and unprotected in- dustries. “Since T was so unceremoniously ushered out of the service of the Metropolitan Rail- road Company, for associating tee closely with those of my own calling, I have been pursuing a vocation that brings me in direct contact with those who are always the first to be affected by a financial or industrial depression. I can truthfully assert, without fear of successful contradiction, that there are thousands of people in this city who are = led with even the bare necessaries fe. “These people do not ask for charity; all that they desire ig work and a fair return for their labor. Only the other day it was reported in The Star that the first unfor tunate to fall a victim to the intense heat ‘was a butcher ooking for employment. I nate these few instances to show the con- ditions that prevail in the capital of this ‘gold standard’ republic, the natural ad- vantages and resources of which are su- berior to any other country on the globe. ‘The question that is paramount in the minds of the working people today is, what wil transform the present era of destitution into a period of prosperity? And almost with ome accord they cry aloud for the restoration of silver to its legitimate place in the currency of this country. Thanks to the influence of the press as an educational medium, and ihe many agencies of of ganization, the workingmen have been edu- cated up to that standard by which they are enabled to think for themselves, speak for themselves, and act for themselves, and these qualities will be strikingly manifested in the coming election. They are not to be deterred or frightened by the cry of fifty- cent dollars or the withdrawal of gold from circulation. “They have learned from history (and history sometimes repeats itself) that when silver was demonetized by the act of February 12, 1873, a silver dollar Was worth 103 cents in gold; also that of the $650,000,000 of gold coin of which we hear sc much not one-half, according to the controller of the currency, can be lo- cated. It is also a self-evident fact that there is but Httle if any gold in circula- tion at the present time. The question now. 1s, to what extent and in what respect will free comage Benefit the laboring classes of the District of Columbia? “Whatever will benefit the country, whatever will dispel the clouds of distress and want that envelop industrial forces in this country in general, will benefit the city, and will re- Neve the working classes of Washington in particular. The mest presperous period in the history of this country, as well as the most prosperous in the history of Washington and the history of the building trades as wef as every other avenue of labor, wae during the fcurteen years that elapsed between the years 1878 and 182, and if so much could be accomplished un- der a limited and compulsory coinage, what would be the result under free and un- Itmited comage, such as is proposed by the Chicago convention and championed by William J. Bryan? Those who have been driven here from the west to compete with Washington labor will return to their Proper field of operations; the surrounding country will reclaim mary who have fied from the farm because of the steady de- cline In the prices of farm products since the demonetization of silver. Confidence will again be restored by the increase in the circulating medium, which ts at prec- ent entirely too small to carry on the m- creased bus:ness of this country. Money will be more plentiful. The merchant ean employ the carpenter, the horsesheer, the painter, &c., and they in return can sup- Port the merchant. Capital will seek tn- vestment, which means employment for the mechanic and the laborer. Labor will surround itself with more healthful and pleasent conditiors, as has always been the case where silver cccupied its proper position in the currency of the country. There 1s one fact that every intelligent member of organized labor deplores, that the lines should be so clesely drawn be- tween the masses and the classes in this campaign; but for this labor is not re- sponsible and cannot in the future be held responsible for that which tt has so long endexvored te avoid.” President Spohn on Coinage. Milford Spohn, president of +he Central Labor Union, said: ‘Were I a money dealer I would favor the single gold standard, but regarding the question from the standpoint of a workingman I favor the free coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1. I do not be- lieve that this is a panacea for all the ills with which we are afflicted, but I believe it will largely benefit the people by giving us a money which cannot be controlled and cornered for speculative purposes. It will remain with us as am exchange dollar, and thus performing the desirable and legiti- mate functions of money should be pre- ferred to gold. “There may be truth in the assertion of those who oppose free coinage, that the silver dollar would be a dishonest coin: that it would be of less value than the gold dollar, intrinsically, yet this assertion loses force in face of the fact that we have not an honest dollar in circulation today, if honesty means 100 cents in gold. Estimat- Ing upon the basis of the gold coin in the United States, avatlable for redemption purposes, a dollar of our currency is enly worth cents in gold. If a billion in cur- rency is thus maintained at par with gold, why could not a dollar, worth 30 cents in- trinsically, be maintained at par? In other words, if our circulating medium is kept at a parity with gold on a gold basis of 25 per cent and a confidence basis of 75 per cent, why couldn't we give 50 per cent of confi- dence to a %-cent dollar and make it as good aa a national bank nete or any other promissory note? The truth is our whole financial system is based upon credit and confidence. We have confidence im the money of the banker, trust in his ability and promises, and I believe that if by the fiat of the people any amount of silver dol- lars are coined, bearjag the sovereign seal of this republic and the legend, ‘In God we trust,’ that Providence and the American people can make that dollar worth 100 cents anywhere within the jurisdiction of our flag. I think this can be done without ask- ing the consent of England. When it ts done our English neighbor will scramble for them as he does for the silver of India, China and Japan, for John is no respector of nations, quality or quantity when a dol- lar fs the stake.” President Silver for Gold. William Silver, president of the Building Trades Council, said: “I am opposed to the free and unlimited coinage of siiver at the ratio of 26 to 1 without international agreement, as without this condition there would be no guarantee for its stability. In all foreign exchanges this money would not be current and the requirements for gold money would make a gold basis nec: sary. If we nad the free and unlimited cotnage of silver it would become debased through exixenctes of foreign trade, for in the settlement of all balances silver would crly be accepted at its commercial value, and, under such conditions, the United States alone could not maintain silver at @ parity. “If we should have the free coinage of stiver those who own the bullion would realize a handsome profit by having the government coin their metal free of charge, thus having the face value of their bul- Non increased almost 50 per cent. They alone would be beneficiaries, while those who recetved it as a dollar in the payment of debts would be shaved 50 per cent. None would feel this more sensitively than the wage worker, for he is always a credi- tor and should always receive for his wage claim a money at par. When he does not receive a dollar worth 100 cents his wages are virtually reduced the per cent of the dollar value when compared with gold.” President Galliford for Sound Meney. Mr. J. B. Galliford, president of the Amalgamated Association of Carpenters, said: “I have never given the subject of the currency much attention. I have read something from both sides relative to the matter, and think that the present gold stardard is the best for the working peo- ple. I also think that the workingman should receive for his labor a dollar that is as good as that of the banker. “If we have the free coinage of silver the workingman will receive a dollar worth only 50 cents, and, of course, under such a@ condition as thts he would receive re- duced wages, while at the same time tnat which he consumed edvancing im price would make a further reduction of wages, and, of course, the workingman would be @ sufferer. “I do not think that the free coinage of silver would increase the volume of our currency to such an exteht that it would result in a perceptible revival of business, and I believe that there ‘s sufficient money im the country at the present time if the holders of that money were disposed to invest it in building and other enterprises to give all the unemployed employment. Having these views on the subject I am not able to understand why free colnage would increase business.” —_+. AUCTION SALES OF REAL ESPATE, &c, Teday. Ratcliffe, Sutton & Ce, Ancts., 920 Px. sre. n.w. —W st. bet. 11th and 12th sts. se., dwelling. Sale Wednesday, August 12, at 4:30 o'clock p.m. J. T. Campbell, trustee. = we ‘Pomorre: & Bensinger, Auct., 940 La. ave. n.w.—Regular sale of hocses, vebicies, harness, &c., at Rarser oa Thursday, August 13, at 10 o'clock a.m, iy 6, end recorded May 11, 2802, in Ne seq. of the land of and at the v of the PB tad ee im front of the ‘ESDAY, ‘TWENTY-FIFTH DAY OF AU‘ A.D. 1896, at HALF-PAST FIVE O'CLOCK the followmg described Innd ee of Wnahktegton, Columbta, designated as and being all lot sumbered sis @@, in Doris Grupe’s subdivision of lots square numbered nine ee per plat recorded in 19, at 28, of = eee oe Ss basement: brick front a ae to be paid im cash, and the balgmee im two equal Installmente, payable tn one and years, witb interest at siz anmwm, payable semi-annually, secured by deed of trust upon the property all at ae, it alr and notarial as Pri eed Poe ere retin wees ey a BEOWN Syl4-dkts ‘Trustees, AUCTION SALES. = THIS AFTERNOON. RATCLIFFE, SUTTON & CO.. AUCKIONEERS. (Successors to Ratcliffe, Darr & Co.) TRUSTEE'S S\LB. OF FRAME HOUSE OX N STREET BETWEEN 11TH AND 12TH STREETS SOUTE-EAST. By virtue of @ deel of trust, duly reconied in No. ISTT, folio °t et seq.. one of the Innd rerords in the District of Columbia, and at the sv- quest Of the party secured thereby, wo whil erll at public auction. in front of the premises, oa WI) XESDAY, THE TWELFTH DAY OF AUGUST, A. D. 1806, AT HALS-PAST FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. the following described real estate, to wit: All t certein plece or parcet of Inmt and premises and being tn the city of Washington, Dist Colnmble, and dimtinguisbed an and ling lot be red fourteen (14), ta squar: numbered o@e thonsand@ | end one (2003), together witt al Imrrovements, etc. thereon. Terms: One-third cish, balance in one and two years, with notes beariag futerest from the day of sale, ‘and secured bg deed of trust om the property sold, or all cash. A deposit of $100 required at time of sale. All conveyanc at purchaser's cost. J.T. CAMPBELL, oul-dids ‘Trustee. ‘TOMORROW. REGULAR SALE OF HORSKS AND CARRIAGES, AT THE BAZAAR. NO. 40 LA. AVE... TOMOR- ROW (THURSDAY) MORNING, AUGUST THUR TEENTH. AT TEN O'CLOCK, will be sold 30 HEAD OF HORSES AND MAIES, GOOD WORK- ERS AND DRIVERS, ae Al NEW AND SECOND-HAND VEHICLES OF DIF- FERENT KINDS, HARNESS, ETC. 8, BENSINGER, Auctioneer. Horses. Horses. 2 Carloads. BIG SALE TOMORROW (Thurwtay), TEN A.M. ALSO WAGONS AND HARNESS. Auction Stables, 205 11th st. nw. MAGRATH & KENNELLY, Auctioneers. FUTURE DArs. WALTER B. WILLIAMS & CO., AUCTIONEERS. ADMINISTRATOR'S SALE OF UPRIGHT PIANO, HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE," BEDDIN BOOKS, CHINA AND GLASSWARE, KITCHEN UTENSILS, EFC. By order of the Supreme Court Columbia, holding a special te Court business, L shall sell at_ pat sales room of Walter B. Willlmus & Co. and D st. now. (frcmg Penna. ave. DAY, AUGUST PRFTEENTH, A. DL 1su6, aT MALY-PAST TEN O'CLOCK ALM, Housebold” Fur niture, Carpets, Bedding, one Upright Plane, Hand- somely and Inlaid with Pearl (Bradbury, makers), Books, WMetures, Glassware and many other articles too numerous to mention, beng the Dervonal effects of the late Della L. Covey, de- ceased. ‘Terms cash. AUGUST GRAGES, Admintsicator. awi2-3t WALTER B. WILLIAMS & O0., Aucts. 612 E ST. N.W. EES’ SALE OF ‘ED PROPERTY, O. 1314 LITH STREET SOUTHEAST. By virtue of a certain deed of truxt, dated Jan uury 12, 1801, and duly recorded In Liber No. 1551, follo 172 ef sey., one of the land recorda of the District of Columbia, and at the request of the it on SATUR- Partles secured thereby, we will sell, at public ction, in front of the premises, ou MONDAY, vENTY-FOUKTH, 1896, at FIVE LOCK P.M, the following described propesty: Lot numbered twenty-two (22) in Bond and Schuntdr, trustees’, subdivision of oriinal lot mine (9) in square numbered ten hundred and one (1001), atl improved by a two-story brick building and frame back butlding. Terms: One-third caxb, balance in one and two years, with fnterest, wecured by a decd of trust, or all cash, at purchaser's optton. 3100 quired at time of wale. All conveya: cording at purchaser's cost. If tecms of sale are pot complied with im ten days the trustes reserve the right to resell at the rik and cost of def. ing purehaser. JAMES P. RYON, Trustee. aul2-d&ds BURY. R. TRACY, Trustee. THOMAS DOWLING, AUCTIONEER. PUBLIC SLB OF CONTRACTOR'S OUTFIT. AT LAKELAND, MORE MARYLAND, ON THE BALTI- 10 RAILROAD. ST NINETEENTH, 1496, . WHY be sold, at auction, Md., a Contractor's Oattit, consisting Horses, 7 Waxous, 6 Carts, 3 . 6 Se 3 Chains, 1 Blacksnrith Bellows, 1 Anvil, I Sets of Double and Single Trees, 10 > : Shoveis, Picks and Mattocks, net mentioned. ‘Train leaves Baltimore and Ohio depot at 12:10 m. Z WILSON & ak Ae rt aut2-dts Washingt ©. G. SLOAN & CO., AUCTIONEERS, 1407 G ST. TRUSTEBS’ SALE OF VALUABLE PROPERTY IN “PETWORTH.” D. €., IMPPOVED BY EIGHT BRICK DWELLINGS,” KNOWN AS 4009 TO 4023 EIGHTH STREET, INCLUSIVE. By virtue of a deed of trust, deted Febraary 20, 1894, and daly recorded in Liber ISST, follo 245 seu. oue of the land records for the District of Co- lumibia, and at the request of the party secured thereby, we will offer for sale at public auction, In front of the premises, ON FRIDAY, AUGUST TWENTY-FIRST, 1808, at FIVE O'CLOCK P.M. the following described land and premises, situa: in the county of Washtagton, District of Columbia, and designated as aud belng lots twenty-five (25), twenty-six (28), twenty-seven (27), t (23), twenty-nine (29), thirty 0), thirty-two (32) and thirty-four (34), ington Loan and Trust Co.'s subdivision of lots in block thirty-eight 188), of the subdivision of ““Pet- Worth,” ax recorded in Coanty Book ‘, page 3 gether with all the Improvements and appurtenances to the sme belonging. Terms: Purchaser to assume a trast of $9,000, balance cash. $400 deposit required at time of sale. Terms of sale to be complied with In fifteen days from day of sale, otherwise the trustees reserve the right to resell the property at the risk and cost of ths defaulting purchaser or jurchasers, after oe notice of such resale in some newspaper pabliahed in Waslinston, D. €. All conveyancing and re- conding at cust of | 5 — 612 E st. nw. SALB OF VALUABLE IMPROVED AND UNIMPROVED _P: ON THE 21ST AND 22D NORTHWEST. Default axving been made in payment of the tn- debtedness secured by a certain deed of trast, dated July 12, 1898, and recorded July 13, 2803, in Liber 1836, folio 462 et seq., of the land records of the District of Columbia, by’ directions of the part secured, the undersigned i offer for sale, on FRI- DAY, the TWENT' TRAST b- of AUGUST, Ties, at HALF-PAST FOUR O'CLA) M., im front of the premises, lots twelve (12), thirteen (13) and fourteen (14)'in square eighty-four (4) In the city of Washington, District of Colmnbia, lots 12 ani 13 being unimproved and lot peing improved by (6) frame houses ‘Terma of sale: One-third (1-3) cash, one-third -3) in one year and one-third (1-3) in two years, or I cash, at the option of the purchaser. Deferred payments to be evidenced by notes, and secured by deed of trust upon the preimises wold, and beartax interest at 6 per ceatum per annum, payable semi- annually. A deposit of $200 to be’ unde at thne of sale, If sold as an entirety, or $100 upon each tract sold Af divided. The trustees reserve the op- tion of offering said lots separately or a 5 or the hokees thereon separately. Terms of sale to be complied with within tem (10) desu, or the prem- fses to be resold at the risk and cont of defaulting purchaser. Conveyat ‘at purchaser's cost. FACKSON H. RALSTON, MAHLON ASHFORD, TRUSTEES’ SALE AT AUCTION CF REAL ES- TATE ON THE EAST SIDE OF 10TH STREET BETWEEN M AND N STREET NORTH. On WEDNESDAY, the NINETEENTH DAY ef AUGUST, (A.D. 1896, at | HALF-PAST | FIV O'CLOCK P.M.,"In front of the premises, the un- dersigned, as trustees under a certain deed of trust, dated mber 10, 1895, amd recorded tn Liber No. t folte 40 er ‘ven, of the land records of the District of Columbia,” will sell, at putlle auction, to the highest bidder. part of original lot rumtered twelve (12) in sqmare mumber- ed thres hundred aed sixty-eight auht part having a fioutage of sevente-u 17) feet am’ the enat wide of 10th street northwest by depth lot, and cd MAHLON ASHFonD, CONSTANTINE H. WILLIAMSON, auT-codieds Trustees, DUNCANSON BROS., AUCTIONEERS. SORTHEASE. By virtue of a certain deed of trust to us, dated merts ther dened seventy (70h, in de ae 3 division (180), RL sable halt year cty sold, or all nem, yearly, on, : coun. "pio0 ds ‘ten cay clase aale. sad recording at pam ehaser's cost. AUCTION SALES. “MAS DOWLING, AUCT., 612 EB ST. XW. “Or IMPROVED Prorerry, ELEVENTH STEEET | SOU TH= of @ cortain dend of trast. dated Sep INH, and daly reconted im’ Liber 14%, tet ef the land records of the riet of Columbia, and at the request of the few secured theretiy, we will sell, nt pablic ame- in trout of the promines, on MONDAY. AUS TWEATY-POURTH, “ine, AT RLV TOCK PML. the following described property, reed twenty-three of Sa mel Sehanidt’s eirastoesy wut Sumberd pine +), im snare md and one +1001), ane tam brie’ butiding aud frume tn one and years, with interest, secu or hae upon” the property. option. $100 deposit required at time conveyancing and recording at purchaser's cost. If terms of sale ore not complied with in ten dawe th intews Teeerve the right to resell, at the risk and cost of defaulting parchasem SAMUBL H. WALKER, MICHAEL 1. WELLER: aui2-d&ds Trustece. M. B. LATIMER & 00. ADCTIONEEES, 1229 and 1231 G et Catalogue Sale of Fine Furniture in the Elegant Residence No. 101 ith St. Northesst, on Mon- day, August 17th, 1896, commencing at 10:30 o’clock. _pZEMBRACING IN PART: ONE SUPERB ANTIQU MaHoGasY si BOARD, aS TIQUE MAHOGANY SIDE TABLES ONE LOUIS VI CLOCK. ONK St PERE ANBOD CLOCK.“ WITH CATHEDRAL BELL, STRIKES HOURS AND HALF HOURS (COST $75): ORNA- MENTS: AND PICTURES, VERY HANDSOME a LOW SUITES, HANDSOME FABLES, LIRRAIY TABLE, DWARF BOOK CASE, BANQUET Lar, HANDSOME HALL STAND. BASS FIKE IRONS” HANDSOMELY CaLVED WALNUT SIDEMOABD (A SPLENDID ARTICLE), VERY FISE QUAKTER- ED OAK FXTENSION TABLE, Oak 1N@ CHAIRS, ELEGANT CARPETS AND BUGS, STAIR a « SOLID M. i SUITES, ELE- ‘AMELED CHAMBER FURNITURE, EN- AMELED BRASS AND IRON BEDSTEADS, WITEE BOX MATFRENSEX: HANDSOME BIRCH AND SOLID WALNUT CHAMBER Sires, sven SEP. E MAPLE CHAMBER QUARTERED O&K CHAMBER SI ARATE PIBCES OF CHAMBER TURE, SU- IERB HAIR MATTRESSES, LIBRARY DECORATED TOILET SETS, GAS RAN PERFECT ORD? 7 evold at public anction, en MONDAY, f NEVENTSENTH, 1806, at HALE Pasi TEN O'CLOCK, at above mentioned, residence. N.B.- This Is an exceptionally fine collection of forntture, and shevld command the attention of partes who are furnishing. ‘The Metropolitan elee- trle and G etrect Lines g> within & square of resl- dence. 3. Honse will be open for insp~tion Saturday priot to sale n1-dts M. B. LAVIMER & CO, Aucts. DUNCANSON BROS, AUCTIONERUS. TRUSTEES SALE OF BRICK DWELLING HOUSE, NO. 80 K STREET, Ok MOUNT NORTH WEST, deed of trust, duty re oe the “aud records of the District of Colun.tla at the raquest of the party scented, the toler slgxed, trustees, "wilt with the improve nionte, thereon, at publ on, tn front of the. prow inva, ob WEDN THE NIMETHENTH (DAY OCLs kK PM part of Jot numbered two (2), tn square nuinbered four hurdrrd and two (402), descrihed ae fullow Reginning for the same at a polut ia tlie ant line of eald square, Mutant 76 fect from the south. east corner of said square, rmnning thence west 22 feet to the center of Un west wall erectad on maid lot; thence north 10 3 “° cust 22 feet; thence south 109 fect to the place of bexinntr g. Terms of sale: One-thint cash, alanee in one and two years, with Interest at six per contum per avnum, for which the purcheser well execute ble betes. secured by decd of trust upon the property, oc all the purchase money may be paid in casi deposit of $250 will be required at the tit sale. If terms of sale are not complied with ten days from date of sale, the trustees rv night to resell the property at Th: risk a the defaulting purchaser, after tive days’ tisement of such resale In some Ushed in the ity of Washington, 1. + veyancing and recording at the cost of the pur A. A. WITSOX, JOHN B. Lak auTa&ds Trustees, 1355 SLOAN & 00... AUCTIONEER TRUSTEE'S SALE OF A NEARLY NEW WHITE ITEARSE. Ry virtue of a deed of trust, exceuted by Fred erick G. Alexander, dated the Ist day of November, 35, amd recorded tn Liber No, 2064 folio 431 et” the land records of the District of ta, and by request of the » notes deseribed thereiu, 1 will sell at anctian for cash, at the auction roums of (. at No. 1407 G st. n.w., tn the city " District of Columbin.” on Yr xt FIFTERNTH, 1896, AT TWELVE O°CLCK NOON, one No. 181 style Hearse, one Center and four Cormer Urns, one set Curtains with worsted fringe ant tassels, drop center inside rails: suid hecrse manafactured and muuberst No. 15836 by Jnwos Cunningham, Son & Co. All in good order and open to imspect Cooper's Livers Stables. tn the rear of the Fredoula Hotel, sear 13th and H sts. ow. HENRY FE. WINDMARSH, autdte RATCLIFFE, SUTTON & ©O.. AUCTIONE Successors to Bateliffe, Darr & Co. ‘BE BRICK DW NG HOUSE, NO. 408 SIXTH STREET NOK CH- WEST. By virtue of 2 certrin deed of trust, dated the 30th day of July, A.D. 1894, and duly ‘recorded tn Liber No. 190, follo 163 et smy-, ane of Tie laad records of the’ District of request of the parties thereby sec offer for sale, In freut of tle premises, on SA DAY, THE PISTEESTH DAY OF AUGUST, A.D. 1896, AT FIVE O'CLOCK P.M., that plece of land, situated in Wasnington ctr, District of Coinm- bin, and being the morth tweaty-threr (i) thet elght (8) Inches front, and back by the same widil the fall depth of orizinal lot numbered twenty-six (24), im square four hundred and fifty-seven (437), the sald past of said lot being improved four-story brick dwelling house, Tuing in 10 days from the day of sale, and the remainder in two eral payments, reprreeited by the notes of the purchaser, at one ard two years, respectively, from the ‘day of sale, with Internat at ihe rate of six per cent per annuin, payable sem!-annually. and accored by a, deed of trast on the properts o all the purchase money may be pald in casi deposit of $200 wilt be required when the property is sold. All conveyancing at the purchaser's cowt. If terms of sale are uot complicd with within tem days from the day of the trustees resorve the right to resell the property at the risk and cost of the defaniting purchaser, after five days’ adver- thuement In seme Bewspaper published in Wastriag- toa city, D. C. 7 EUGENE MORGAN, WILLIAM W. BOARMAN, au3-d&de Trnstece, DUNCANSON BROS, AUCTIONERR TRUSTEES’ SALE OF STORE AND Dwi NO, 480 T STREET SOUTHW FOUR-AND-A-HALF AND SIXTH STREETS SOUTHWEST; ALSO TWO VACANT Lots oN K STREET ‘BETWEEN FOUR-AND-A-HALP SIXTH STREETS SOUTHWEST, ALL IN SQUARE av, By virtne of a deccee of the Sapreme Court of the District of Columbia, dated August 5, 1806, and ssed in the cause of Ofutt ve, Franklin, kquity No. 17498, docket 40, we will wl publie aue- ticn, on ‘THURSDAY, THE TWENTIETH DAY OF AUGUST. AD. 15096, AT HALF-PAST POUR O'CLOCK P.AL, In frout of the premises, the cast half ‘of ot numbered 18, in square 400, busing a front of twenty-four (24) fect eight amd enr-halt (Si) Inches on T street southwest by @ depth of 102 feet 6 Inches, linyroved by a tweeters, brick dwelling and store. And on the same date. immediately after the abore sale, we will sell, in front of the premises, ‘of let 19, tm square 499,. betmg the east 17 Feet & inches front of I street by a depth of 102 feet 6 tnches, unimproved. And on the same date, immediately after the second sule, we will sell, tn front of the pren- fees, the west half of lot 90 and all of lot 31. in square 400, having ® front of 30 fect on K street southwest. Terms of sale: One-third cash, balance in eyunl payments, in one and two years, secured by trust on the p y sold, with interest fom sale, payable ecmt- of the purchaser. day of sale ou the parcel first described. $10) om mnualty, or all cash, at A deposit of $200 required on ~ the parcel described seeondiy and $50 om the par- If terms of sale are net com- piled with inten days from day of sale, trustees Will resell, at ris and cost of defautting par- pur- 319 ty st. CHAS. T. YODER. ree = OS 1 st. aw. & CO., AUCTS., 1407 G ST. SALE OF FRAME DWELLING NUM. 1627 MADISON STREET NOnTH- RBERED WEST, THIS CITY. By virtue of a certzin deed of trust, duly recont- ft Liner 1855. fullo Sat et sea.. “land recwrdm, x at request of the pa je DC o party secured, |, trustees, will sell, with lmproe eon, at public auction. im frout of tise ca TUESDAY, the EIGHTEENTH DAY of , 1896, at PIVE © CLOCK PM. lot mum- ‘Darton, trustee's, gab- re aumbered one Luudred and eighty an said subdivision ts duiy recorded in Liber W., folio 3, records surveyor's allies. ‘Terms of sale: One-third. cash, balance one and ‘at sale. EDWIN C CUTTER, JOHN B. LARNER,