The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-03-26

u changers. Just Ms the price of our whea
and cotton is fixed by Liverpool specu
: lators. Therefore silver men are com
PEELED to fight not only the money powc
of our own country but the gigantic
money plutocracy of gold standard Fin
gland. The contest is an unequal one
the vast monied interests Of the worlo
upon the one side, the laboring masses
npon the other. The creditor class
against tho debtor class. The Shylocks
striving to increase the purchasing power
of their gold; the people fighting for an
enlarged dcbt-paying capacity. And this
unequal contest is made still more I'M
equal by the fact that tl1oughtless men
~-laboring men. toO,-whose interests lie
in the line of free coinage. persist,
through party pride and prejudice. to
cast their votes and influence for their
party candidates who stand for and vote
for the gold bugs interests. These
thoughtless partisan laboriug men are
unwittingly sharpening the knife which
will be turned against them. Is it not
about time they should call a halt and
vote for their interests and let gold
standard men take care Of themselves:
The silver question is not only a great
national question, but it is a vital one to
Montana in particular. While free sill
yer coinage would be an inestimable
boon to the laboring and debtor classes
generally throughout the United States,
enlarging their field of employment and
increasing their debt-paying capacity. it
would add millions of dollars to the tax
able wealth of Montana and make it by
far the most prosperous state in the
union. 1t is the principal silver pro
ducing commonwealth in the country
and hence free coinage would greatly
add to the value of its output of the
metal. Let us see about what the in
crease would amount to upon the basis
of its last years silver product. The
exact figures are not at hand but say, for
illustration. it was 2S.000.O0o ounces,
which amount will not vary much either
way from the exact figures.
The price of silver is now less than 30
thanks to the Sherman gold bug
law. We will. however, say its average
price will be 30 cents for the ensuing
twelve months and that Montana's out. -,
put of the metal will reach 2s.HpyUU
ounces. Under a free coinage law silver
would bring 51.29 % 100 at the minis of
the country, Leaving off the fraction
the difference between its market price
today and its mint value under Il free
coinage act may be thus stated:
>, 600, 900 ounces of silver at si.2g
per oull'" ...... -. ...... NSh,l - l,bU'.'U
Is 90 uU ounces of silver at ~
cents per ounce - 2W.UoO.D
Difference in favor of free coinage. 5000 co.o0
1t will thus be seen that free silver
coinage, estimating the output Of the
On last years figures. would an
nually add nearly Sll,00O,OOO to the tax
able wealth Of the state. This immense
instead of being invested in state
properties or scattered among
,ur laboring classes. and artizans and
business men. is divided among a syndi-
.ate Of silver spectators and the gov
the latter retaining a goodly
hare as may be learned from the fact
hat during the past thirteen years its
Profits arising from coming silver
mounted to nearly s72,WU,OO0.
But the benefits which would flow
ON free coinage would not stop at the
lnnual retention of e%1l.VO0.OO0 IN the
tate. With silver at sl.29 per ounce
thousands of prospects now lying I'M
ouchcd would be developed and as many
thousands Of low grade ore silver mines
'ould he worked to their full capacity.
;hile the force IN the present producers
t the metal would be more than doubled.
very mining camp would be IA busy ;
i've of industry and Montana would
Don become one Of the wealthicst as
veil as the most prosperous states in tn" :
lnion. Free silver coinage would bring
his about and every true and loyal citi-
en- Of the state should work and vote TO
ccomplish this end.
n',.,