The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-04-05
THE SILVER QUESTION.
Meeting Of the Helena Board of
Trade to Discuss It-Reso-
lutions Adopted.
independent. April -

independent. April -
A meeting OF the Helena Board of
Trade was held at the Office of
Messrs. Edgerton & Weed yesterday
afterno to near the report of the
special committee consisting of s. T.
Hauser, G.. G. Swallow, E. D. Edger-
ton. r. c. Walker, and Richard
Jockey, which was appointed at a
former meeting to draw up reso>
]utions in relation to the silver
question. The committee reported
the following preamble and reso-
lutiOns'
WHEREAS, The United States of
America produce 45 per cent. of all
the silver that comes from the earth
annually, and that Montana has
already attained to the position as
one of the largest silver producing
States or Territories in the Union;
and
WHEREAS, The present silver out
put of this Territory IL of such great
importance to her citizens that it
may be considered the staple industry
of the country, so much so that it
should have such protection at the
hands of Congress as is given TO
other occupations and industries;
and.
WHEREAS. The enterprising
miners as we'll as the bankers, mel
chants, smelters, and mill men are
all interested IN the general diffusion
of the standard silver dollar among
all the avenues of circulation and de-
posit; therefore,
Resolved, That the Helena Board
of Trade respectfully memorialize
Congress for such further protection
to the silver mining operations of
the country As will recommend our
coinage to the trade of the world.
Resolred, That while gold, silver,
five franc pieces and Bank of France
notes are legal tender for all private
debts in that country, and that out of
u monetary legal tender circulation
there of $2,N5, 500. O.N0-$54O. .0Oo, 900
of that amount on the 3lst of Janu-
ary last consisted of five-franc pieces
which when compared to the pure
silver value of the standard Ameri-
can dollar, would only have a legal
tender value Of S523, ,476, 900. thus
proving that our American standard
silver dollar is intrinsically of more
value, ounce per ounce, than the sill
yer coin which France makes a legal
tender, and which forms more than
the fourth of her whole legal tender
circulation.
Resolved, That as an exhibition of
wise finance-a strength rather than
a weakness, that the Bank of France
shows in her vaults$l9S, ,920 600 of sill
yer, together with $3.50, O,46S, 900, of
gold, and that there is similar wis>
dom exhibited IN the United States by
having ut the same time. January 81,
1884, in its treasury 127 ,9SG,7l3 Of
standard dollars. together with $22l,
4l3 S64 in gold-that is. more gold
and less silver than in the Bank of
France, whose wise financial policy
has sent up the value of her stock 500
per cent. above par.
ResOlred, Further, that this Board
protests against any legislation which
looks to the stoppage OF the present
rate of coinage Of the American silver
dollar.
Resolved, That there can be no
danger that the coinage of silver will
send gold out of this country, since
returns show that the exports of sill
yer far exceed those Of gold for the
last five years.
Resolved, That a copy of the pre-
amble and resolutions be forwarded
to the Hon. Martin Maginnis, dele
gate In Congress from Montana, for
presentation.
A committee was also appointed to
communicate with the Boards of
Trade of st. Paul, Minneapolis, and
with the various towns OF Montana,
asking their cooperation in urging
Congress for a continuance Of the
coinage of silver. This is a move IN
the right directi III and it is taken
none too soon. There is III the East
a Systematically organized move
ment in opposition to the further
coinage of silver. This movement is
made in the interest OF and engin-
eered and supported by Eastern
banks, bondholders and capitalists.
They have lobby at Washington,
thoroughly equipped with money
and other sinews of war working for
them. 1t will make desperate
struggle for the repeal Of the silver
coinage law. The friends of the
metal in Congress will be attacked
upon every side and will need the
moral support, if nothing else,
of every silver mining district in the
West. Helena has spoken and Butte
should speak. The supporters OF its
interests in the Congress of the ma
tion call for the protests Of our people.
The time for action has come. If we
are indifferent to our own interests
we cannot expect those upon whom
we rely to interest themselves in our
behalf.
Congress is generally disposed to
help those who try to help them
selves. Butte is the largest silver
producing city in the West. Its
people are supposed to feel interested
in this subject. Silence upon their
part now will be construed to their
A plain, emphatic,
outspoken protest against the demon
etization of the metal or the suspen-
sion or repeal Of the Silver Coinage
act should be entered by our
mining and business men, and
at an early day. Butte has
no board Of trade but it has large
halls and people who are interested in
the silver industry to fill them: They
can add their voice to the voice of
silver miners Of other districts in