The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-05-07
AGAINST FREE SILVER.
Mr.. Henry L. Lamb Warns the
South Of Its Danger.

Among the prominent guests OF tho
Norfolk and Western party was Mr..
Henry l.. Lamb, of Lansingburg, n. V,
superintendent of the famous banking
house Of ID. Powers & Sons of that place
Through that house large amounts of
Norfolk and Western securities have
been placed. 1t is q remarkable house
The head is woman, Mrs. Deborah
Powers, now in her 1Oist year. The
other members are her sons, aged 7j
and 20.
| William Powers and Deborah Powers
| began the manufacture OF floor oil
cloths in Lansingburg in 1877. William
Powers was accidentally burned and
died, and his widow carried ON the bust
ness which, with her sons in partner
ship, is still being prosecuted at Lam
singburg and Newburgh, n. y. They
| opened their banking business in 1877.
Mrs. Powers is Il native of New IIamp-
shire and, though now becoming feeble
from old age, has until recently signed
every business paper of imr ortance in
connection with the firms business.
Mr' Lamb is sssr2ng opponent of free
silver coinasH AN. . las written several
strong letters against it. These letters
nave Jcen directed particularly with
I'll" view of influencing Southern senti-
ment, as Mr.. Lambs connection with
Southern investments has been pecu-
liarly intimate. In conversation with a
TIMES reporter yesterday he said;
! OFF free silver coinage shall prevail,
the trained economists and the repre-.
sentative investor who command the
tfaY1c IL
money which would carry the South on
and forward in lis new prosperity to its
more beneficial communication, will
feel hesitation and doubt in making
new investments there which they
have not felt at any time in the last
twenty years. Just what the South
needs to-day and hereafter will become
more difficult to get and farther from
its easy reach with free silver.
The man who can view the coinage of
silver with comparative composure is
the one with money in hand; for he can
convert his money into forms that suit
him. The men. the corporations, the
cities, the States, the communities that
| have resources which are improbable,
| but who owe money or who wish to Dor
row money in order to use their prop
erty prof dably, have their future at
stake now. The reason is plain. If
they desire money, they need credit.
The cornerstone Of the greater pros
perity of the South which Shall rejoice
to see, and of which we have some fore
| CLEANS that are full of bright promise,
is full and entire wol divide credit; pei :
feet countenance in our public financial
and economical policy. Such policy
! must run on the sa fe and sound lines OF
the worlds experience and judgement,
| in order to command the covertcd share
of the worlds accumulated capital for
use, for growth and production.
81 the possibilities OF the South are
magnificent. they are dependent upon
the vital force OF abundant capital for
their vivifying and fructifying Prop
erty in farms, in mines, in forests, in
water powers, etc, is not wealth. They
become riches when capital shall turn
them into productive industries, when
they shall yield income: thence, in its
| position wonder that the South can
entertain the idea of silver coinage with
any favor. For, if free coinage shall
come, the South will inevitably be
smitten heavily by it. To struggle and
toll hopefully and manfully through
the thorny wilderness from poverty to
plain view Of the promised land. and
to commit suicide involuntarily would
be tragic as we'll as pathetic fate for
these people"