Page:Coin's Financial School.djvu/146

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128
COIN'S FINANCIAL SCHOOL.

thickness. As none was to be had, they had to content themselves with measuring up silver dollars and figuring out how much space all the silver in the world would occupy. This resulted in confirming Coin's statement.

Mr. George Sengel, a prominent citizen of Fort Smith, Arkansas, while discussing the subject with a large party in the rotunda of the Palmer House, stood up in a chair and addressed the crowd, saying:

"Gentlemen, I have just been up in Coin's room and examined the government reports as to the amount of gold and silver in the world, and have made the calculation myself as to the quantity of it, and I find that the statements made are true. All the gold and silver in the world obtainable for money can be put in the office of this hotel, and all the gold can be put in this office and not materially interfere with the comfort of the guests of the house.

"I have been until to-day in favor of a single gold standard, but hard times, and this fact that all the gold in the world available for money can be put in a space of twenty-two feet each way, has knocked it out of me. Count on me and old Arkansas for bimetallism."

Mr. Sengel's speech was greeted with applause, and he was followed by others expressing similar views.

The morning papers gave full reports of the previous day's lecture. All editorially confirmed Coin's statement as to the quantity of gold and silver in the world, and the space it would occupy, except the Herald and Tribune; they were silent on the subject.

It was generally known that Coin would discuss independent action of the United States on the last day, and from the number that tried to gain admission, a hall many times as large could have been easily filled.

At the hour for opening the hall large crowds sur-