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| Silver Trade Dollar. |
The
Cortland Democrat, Friday, September 18, 1896.
SILVER MEETING IN CUYLER.
A Large Attendance and a Fine Day. Good
Speeches—Farmers Aroused.
The
silver picnic which was held in Petrie's grove at Cuyler on Wednesday proved to
be one of the most interesting and enthusiastic meetings of this campaign. The
picnic had been widely advertised, the day was all that could be desired, and
at an early hour the people began to arrive from the adjoining towns. The South
Otselic cornet band came over early in the day and rendered several choice selections
in the village during the forenoon.
At 1 P.
M. the speakers of the day, Mr. F. W. Collins of Cortland and Mr. L. B. Lincoln
of Buffalo were taken to the grove in a carriage, led by the band. The speakers
were followed by carriages containing representative citizens and ardent silver
supporters.
The
meeting was called to order by Wm. Petrie who acted as chairman of the day. Mr.
Petrie in brief remarks introduced Mr. F. W. Collins of Cortland, who for one
hour explained the issues of the campaign in a clear and logical manner. The
speaker, after brief introductory remarks said "This is a great issue and
one which is puzzling the minds of all candid thinking men. Wherever you go you
will see groups of men discussing the question 'what shall be our standard of
values?' What the people want is something which will give us prosperity. This
they believe Bryan can do, and never since the days of Lincoln has anyone come
as near to the hearts of the American people as has he.
"This
issue is non-partisan in character. Party lines are lost sight of and all
honest men are working shoulder to shoulder to restore that prosperity which we
were wont to enjoy. The republicans say they will give us that prosperity, but
how? Do they offer us the much needed relief? We as an American people have
great possibilities, our broad and fertile valleys stretching out over a wide
expanse of country, our numerous manufacturing industries all afford us great
opportunities for both agricultural and mechanical pursuits, but one thing
retards us and that is our contracted currency. Eighty per cent of the American
people want the same thing but differ somewhat as to the best means to obtain
it. Many say we have money enough now, and yet if the treasurer of the United
States was asked to pay the outstanding indebtedness, he would not be able to
pay 10 cents on the dollar.
"What
we want is bi-metalism and that in the ratio of 16 to 1, not in the sense of 16 dollars of silver to 1 of gold, as many think,
but silver dollars which will contain 16 times as many grains as are contained in
a gold dollar. Much has been said about the silver mines of this country and what
a source of revenue free coinage would be to the owners of these mines. Not one
word is said about the gold mines of this country.
"The
present dollar is all right for the man who has dollars to let but how about
the man who has dollars to get? Who is looking after his interests? My friends,
remember the words of that renowned statesman, Abraham Lincoln, uttered in the
memorable year of 1861, when he said, 'Let not capital come ahead of labor.'
What is it doing to-day? Every candid thinking man can answers this question in
his own mind.
"Give
us more money with which to purchase, and our factories will again resume their
old time prosperity and plenty will again pervade the land.
"Farmers
are the only class of people in our land who have plenty of work. Twenty-five
per cent of our laborers are out of employment and why? Because we have not
enough purchasing money.
"Think
for a moment, my friends, of the dishonorable act of 1873, when silver was demonetized.
The congress of 1872 was not elected for any such act and many of the members
of that congress were not aware that they had passed any such law. Gen. Grant
said several months later that he was not aware he was signing any such act."
Mr.
Collins' remarks were clear, convincing and truthful, and at the close he was
greeted with hearty applause. Music was then rendered by the Otselic Band after
which the chairman introduced the Hon. L. B. Lincoln of East Buffalo, who spoke
as follows:
"Ladies and gentlemen, I was a resident of this county 26 years ago
and it gives me great pleasure to be present and speak to you at this time.
But, my friends, I see much which causes me sorrow in your midst. Land which at
that time would have sold readily for $50 and $60 per acre, they tell me could
not now be sold for more than $20 per acre. What has been the cause of this?
You have had good crops. For many years the earth has responded bountifully to
the touch of man. Then why these hard times. Why are these farms so low? Are
the causes of this decrease in prices due to the contraction of the currency?
"Let
every honest thinking man ask himself these questions. Let him consider the
monetary system of to-day and I am sure that he will see that this decline in
prices and the enhanced value of our obligations is due to the contraction in
currency. Many people say the hard times are caused by an over production, but
in my opinion this is not true. The real cause is an under-consumption caused by
the depletion of the treasury.
"In
1863 we had $40 per capita, now we have scarcely $20 per capita as reported by
the treasurer of the United States. When they began to contract the currency then
the price began to go down and prices have continued to go down until the present
time when we find our farms tenantless, our factories closed and want and distress
on every hand.
"Legislation
which will benefit this community, will benefit the whole country.
"When
silver was demonetized in 1873 the silver dollar was worth $1.03 or three per
cent more than gold. When they passed that act of legislation they demonetized your
farm, my cattle and everything except the bonds and bond-holders. If the people
legislated the value out of the currency, can't they legislate it back again? This
is a question for the people. On the one side we have no particular party but a
class of honest men, anxious to see the prosperity of our glorious country. On the other hand we have the monopolist and the
banker. With which will you associate? Which will restore prices to your
products and protect you from the ruin which is surely staring you in the face?
"Send
some one to Albany who is a representative of the farmers. Give the lawyers and
millionaires a rest and you will see legislation which will restore the good times
of yore. The man who does not want the silver dollar is the man who holds the
bonds and obligations. No one else refuses a silver dollar. If the present gold
standard prevails the government can issue bonds every three months until your
farms and homes are destroyed by taxes and interest. Will you, my friends,
allow them to do this?"
Mr.
Lincoln's remarks were enthusiastically applauded and at the close three rousing
cheers were given for Collins, Lincoln and Bryan.
Fully 500
people were present and by their patient listening showed that their hearts
were in the cause of free coinage.
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| William J. Bryan. |
TO FARMERS.
If These
Arguments Are Good Every Farmer Should Vote for Bryan.
The N. Y. Tribune, World and Sun are
appealing to the laboring men in cities to vote against Bryan and the Democrat
ticket for the reason that if the Democrats succeed they, the laboring men
will have to pay at least double price for all farm products. They concede this
and urge city men to vote the Republican ticket so as to buy farm products at
the present low prices.
These articles appear in the daily issues that
circulate mostly in cities, they keep them out of their weekly editions that
circulate among the farmers. In their weekly editions they talk to the farmers
about honest money and the tariff. If their argument is good, then every farmer
ought to vote for Bryan, for if the triumph of Democracy will double the price
of farm products, it would double the value of farms. If oats at twenty cents a
bushel makes a farm worth thirty dollars per acre then forty cent oats would be
worth forty dollars per acre. If farmers would do as bankers and money lenders
do—vote for their own interests—McKinley would not get a farmer's vote in the
United States.
When you hear that a Democrat will bolt the
ticket, hunt him up and you will find every time, that he is either connected with
some bank, insurance company, railroad syndicate, oil or coal monopoly, or living
on a fixed salary. Every one of them is interested in having his dollar buy two
bushels of the farmers wheat, while the farmers interest is in having his
bushel of wheat buy two of the banker's dollars. If the money shaver will have his party to protect
his pocket, why should not the farmer do the same?
The sole issue as our enemies make it is: Shall
the farmer get double the present prices for his products? If the Democrats succeed
Republicans say he will.
BIGGEST
BANNER AFLOAT.
Harlem
16 to 1 Club Swings it to the Breeze at its Clubhouse.
The first free silver banner ever flung to Harlem
breezes was raised by the Harlem 16 to 1 Club, at One Hundred and Twenty-fifth
street and Park avenue, recently. It is one of the largest and most novel ever raised
in this city.
Its centre is an immense watch dial, the hands
of which point the time sixteen minutes to one, the minute hand bearing the
words "masses" and the hour hand the word "classes."
On either side are handsome portraits of Bryan
and Sewall, and below them mottoes, "The Classes Have the Dollars," "The
Masses Have the Votes." Above and on either side are reproductions of a chain
and a key, the former bearing a tag reading "No English Chain for
Us," while the latter accompanies the line "America Holds the
Key." Over all swings the legend, "Gold and Silver Without England's
Consent."
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| Cortland County Fairgrounds, racetrack and grandstand at Wheeler Ave. and Homer Ave. |
OUR FAIR A SUCCESS.
COUNTY
FAIR THIS YEAR WAS ON A GRAND SCALE.
A Large
Number of Exhibitors With Fine Displays and Large Crowds Every Day.
The Cortland county fair for 1896 closed
yesterday and was the most successful one ever held by the society. Entries in
every department were large and the display very fine.
About the grounds were a fine display of
lumber wagons, land rollers, plows, etc., by Mr. J. M. Seacord of East Homer; a
a seven horse power gas or gasoline engine exhibited by the [Olin] Gas Engine
Co. of Buffalo; several wire fences; the customary merry-go-round, fortune teller,
"Coney Islands," and side shows which go to make up a fair. The
exhibit of live stock and poultry was especially fine this year.
In Floral ball the floor space was all in use.
Mr. O. W. Walter had a fine exhibition of musical goods, and Mr. F. R. Miller
presided at a piano for the benefit of visitors. In Harrington's booth were more
musical instruments and sheet music for sale. Daniels orchestra and Mr. F. W.
Lannigan were alternate entertainers.
The space occupied by Joiners Business
college was decorated with specimens of penmanship and typewriters were at
work. Mr. Joiner presented visitors with his circular and the name of the
caller written upon it.
M. L. Decker exhibited his line of sewing machines
and specimens of their work. Next to
him was a fine exhibit of cloaks and capes by Messrs. Kellogg & Curtis.
F. S. Sterling of Homer had on exhibition a
line of Stewart stoves and ranges for which he is agent. G. F. Beaudry made a
display of bicycles.
Mr. H. W. Gazley displayed his milk cooler,
and Mr. I. L. Scofield of Chenango Bridge, and the Vermont Farm Machine Co. of
Bellows Falls, Vermont, each had on exhibition their cream separators, and he
latter also a swing churn.
Hopkins, the florist, made a fine display of
palms, potted plants and cut flowers in one end of the center. The
Syracuse Easy Washer, manufactured in Syracuse, and the Handy Washing Machine
made in Muncie, Ind., and sold in this section by Mr. H. B.
Stevens of East Scott, were giving exhibitions of their respective merits.
Peck Bros. occupied the north wing and had
on exhibition the famous World's Fair plow which is triple-plated with $756
worth of gold and was made by the Syracuse Chilled Plow Co., whose goods they handle.
The balance of their space was occupied by a fine display of wagons, sleighs,
harness, blankets, etc., in which they are large dealers.
There were fresh fruits, canned fruits,
vegetables and the like in profusion and in the fancy goods department one
could find everything imaginable; crazy quilts, rugs, linen, etc., all showing
the most delicate work. There was also a choice collection of paintings.
There were twenty entries in the baby show
Wednesday afternoon and it was hard to pick the handsomest, but the judge, Miss
Luanna Wire of Syracuse, decided that the little Armenian child of L. E.
Simmons was entitled to the first prize, and the baby of Mrs. Dan Reiley of
Cortland, second prize.
The horse races were all close and exciting.
Tuesday was the race for four-
year-olds or
under and had five starters. It was won in three straight heats by Water
Maid, owned by Hon. O. U. Kellogg of Cortland; "1175," J. A. Hudson
of Auburn, second; Anna Vista, A. C. Crandall of Hunts Corners, third; Major
S., A. F. Stilson of Cortland, fourth, and Dixoneer, Dana Rhodes of Groton,
fifth. Time, 2:29 1/4, 2:29 3/4, 2:32 1/2. The latter horse made a record of 2:26
last week, and when his owner paid his entrance fee he also left the five per
cent demanded of winners, thinking he had a walk over, but later found his
mistake.
Wednesday there were two races, the 2:20
class and the 2:40 class. In the latter there were eight starters but Allie L.,
owned by W. A. Peckham of Auburn, won in three straight heats with Romania, O.
U. Kellogg, Cortland, second; "1175," third, and Te John, Fred C.
Atwater of Homer, fourth. Time, 2:33 1/4, 2:33 1/2, 234.
In the 2:20 class were five starters. Lady
Gray won the first heat after a close race, but J. A. H., owned by H. J. Hudson,
Auburn, took the next three and first money. Lady Gray, Paul Perault, Pa.
second; Welcome, M. Murphy, Homer, third, and Bessie M., Jas. Bowker, Moravia, fourth.
L. H. Tucker paced by Messrs. C. C. and
Harry Wickwire on a tandem, went a mile against the track record of 2:13 and beat
it by one second.
Thursday's races are being finished up as we
go to press.
The ball game between the restaurant men and
the grocery and meat men Wednesday afternoon resulted in a victory for the
former. Score 34 to 25.
Throughout the fair there were large crowds
in attendance and all agreed it was the best fair ever seen on these grounds.
Too much credit cannot be given to Mr. E. E.
Mellon, the efficient secretary of the society for the success of the fair. He
has worked early and late to bring about the results and has had very little, if
any, assistance from others. If every stockholder would do one-tenth part of
the work he has done, Cortland county would be proud of its fair.
In the 2:30 race Thursday afternoon there
were 5 entries. The race resulted as follows after four heats: Welcome won
first money, Guy second, Suzette third, and Bell Rose fourth. Time, 2:31 1/4,
2:29 1/4, 2:30 1/2, 2:34 1/2.
The free-for-all was won by Big Mike, H. G.
Hudson, Auburn; Lady Gray, Paul Perault, Pa., second; Ned, W. H. Coville,
Homer, third, and Red Rag, W. A. Peckham, Auburn, fourth. Time 2:34, 2:25, 2:22
1/2.
The first heat of the running race was won
by Red Rose, Thos. Sullivan, Binghamton. The next two heats were won by Dandy
M., Chas Mosher, McLean, giving Mosher first money and Sullivan second.
The first prize in the contest for the best
display of ladies' horsemanship was awarded to Miss Addie Hull of Homer, and the
second to Mrs. Jno. Wilson of Homer.
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