Silver Men Pack the Armory and Demand a Senator Who Won't Waver

Advocates of free silver coinage again seized the boards at the armory last evening, and politics cut some figure. The chairman was a Populist, and the speakers a brace each of Republicans and Democrats. The audience numbered 300 or a baker's dozen less, and generally applauded each of the telling points of his address. Each of the old parties came in for severe criticism, the Democrats, particularly during Cleveland's present administration, being roundly cuffed, and the Republicans, on whom was charged the Sherman act, faring little better. The Populists escaped scot-free.

Before the meeting had been called to order copies of a circular, which, it is understood, was drawn by J. M. Davis of the People's Call, were distributed about the hall. They contained the following preamble and resolution:

"Whereas, The People's party is unanimously in favor of the free and unlimited coinage of both silver and gold at the ratio of 16 to 1, the same to be a full legal tender; and,

"Whereas, The electors of the state of Washington, by a large majority, are at heart in favor of this most important measure; and,

"Whereas, The present legislature will have a majority on joint ballot of at least one-fifth pledged to the support of this measure; therefore, be it

"Resolved, That the Referendum club of Seattle recommends and urges that the free silver section of the legislature, irrespective of past or present political affiliations, unite with each other in the election of a man to the United States senate that is not a gold-bug, but whose record is unqualifiedly in favor of the free and unlimited coinage of both silver and gold at the ratio of 16 to 1, and when so coined to be a full tender, and unalterably opposed to the demonetization of silver in time of peace, and the contraction by any method of our national legal tender paper currency."

The chairman called the meeting to order, noting the difficulty of arousing popular enthusiasm for any measure out of the ordinary run at a time when politics had simmered down. He referred to the contest being waged at Olympia, and said that one of the objects of the gathering at the armory was to secure a popular expression in order to put a man into the office of senator who would fairly and honestly represent the people. He introduced George Jacobs, the first speaker.

As the aged lawyer stepped forward he was greeted with a demonstration of uproarious applause. He was not fully in accord with the resolution, he said, but would approach as near to it as he could. He was not ready to declare in favor of the coinage of all silver, yet he did favor the coinage of all the silver produced by American mines, and he believed that to be the principle of the Republican platform. Nevertheless, if Congress should authorize the coinage of all silver, he doubted honestly if such action would result in the direful and disastrous consequences that had been predicted. He had drawn three conclusions from his study of the subject, as follows:

"First — The amount of the circulating medium in the United States is too small.

"Second — There ought to be free coinage of all the silver product of American mines.

"Third — The men in whom the country has been looking as oracles on the financial question have proven themselves unstable."

Judge Jacobs produced figures to show that the country's circulating medium was not insufficient to pay its debts, and argued that if the nation were ever called upon to meet its national, state, municipal, civil or school obligations there should be money enough available. He referred to the folly of calling in the greenbacks and still further diminishing the circulating medium, and warned that such a policy would produce a condition the country could not fortify itself against. "You must have free coinage for the silver men," he said.

When Judge Jacobs remarked that he had just made his first free silver speech, the declaration was a signal for applause, and W. H. Andrews was called for. He said the question was like every other that is to be solved, and that any proposition to limit the amount of money to be coined demonstrated that the proposition was absurd. The people who are suffering from a scarcity of money, he said, would not be satisfied; the bondholders were not the whole country, and the people must have money.

W. D. O'Toole followed Mr. Andrews, saying that the subject was not so far beyond the clouds that the ordinary mind could not grasp it. He stood on two propositions: First — That if half of any commodity be destroyed the value of the remaining half is immediately enhanced. Second — That the basis of all money is the gold and silver coin of the world. Capt. O'Toole closed his remarks with a burst of eloquence, saying that "there is a limit to human endurance, and it is now time for American patriotism to wake up and for every man to think and act for himself."

John Wiley was introduced as "the author of the free silver plank in the Republican platform," and from the first was a favorite of the audience. He made a hit, as they say at the theater, as soon as he appeared on the stage. He told the story of how he once listened to Col. James Hamilton Lewis finish a speech at Pioneer place, in which Lewis had made use of Napoleon's forty-century remark in the shadow of the pyramids, saying as he lifted his hand toward the rose canopy of heaven that "one hundred years look down upon the Democratic party." "Yes," exclaimed Wiley, "and the whole world looks down upon the Democrats tonight."

The spectacle of John Wiley imitating Col. James Hamilton Lewis had never before been given in this city, and of course the audience was convulsed. As the gaunt form of the lawyer loomed up on the platform and he slowly made his way to the front of the rostrum he was the least-observed man of the evening, but when he took his right hand from its resting place in his pocket, extended it majestically over his heart, and struck a Lewis attitude, the entire effect was indescribable and was a living picture of Liberty enlightening the world.

After the audience had calmed down, Mr. Wiley said that the repeal of the Sherman act had at first caused him much regret, but now he thanked God for it because that piece of legislation had forever buried John Sherman and Grover Cleveland.

"In my opinion," said Mr. Wiley, "the intrinsic value of any article depends on the use to which it can be put. Silver and gold are no exceptions, and when you destroy the use of the one or the other you at the same time destroy its value. You are sending $87,000,000 worth of silver a year to Europe, and inside of ten years it will come back increased in value. Coin it on this side of the Atlantic and let it appreciate here. It has not gone down. Coin it at 16 to 1 freely and it will come back."

Mr. Wiley was frequently interrupted by the enthusiastic outbursts of the audience. During his speech he referred to George Turner or W. C. Jones of Spokane as suitable material for a senator.

Before adjournment the following resolution was passed:

"Resolved, That our representatives in the legislature should elect no man to the United States senate who is not the unremitting advocate of the free and unlimited coinage of silver at the present ratio."