The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1892-06-11
TO the Voters Of Idaho.

TO the Voters of Idaho.
The Convention which was held in Boise
City on the Goth and 9th of May, COM
posed Of representatives of the organized
Silver Clubs in the State, among other
things created an Executive Committee
and appointed N. NJ. Ruick, Of HALEY,
Chairman, and Geo. E. Mills, of Ketchun,
Secretary; also State Central Commit
tee, and appointed James Gum, of Hal
ley, Chairman. and John G.. Rumsey, of
Ketchum, Secretary.
In entering upon the important duties
which devolve upon Us, we deem it proper
to address our fellew citizens and call
their attention to the gravity of the situa-
ton which confronts them, and the neces-
sitv for prompt and united action on the
part Of all. For twenty years silver has
been demonetized; for fifteen years of
that time we have vigorously demanded
its RECOMMENDATION. During all these
years there has never been a time that
there was not majority in both houses
! of congress in favor Of its rehabilitation.
But between the people and their express
ed will sat the chief executive with the
veto power IN his hand, and welding the
| immense influence OF the executive de-
partment Of the government against us.
Eight years ago when Grover Cleve-
land was elected on platform which
was understood in the west to mean
bimetallic currency, silver was $1.1O per
| ounce. After four years Of persistent
effort on his part to cause the repeal of the
Bland bill and degrade silver, he retired
from power leaving it worth but 81 cents
an ounce. Harrison, like his predecessor,
entered upon his high duties with a
pledge to the people in favor of gold and
silver coin. Like his predecessor, the
pledge has been broken, though by meth
DDS more stealthy. After three years of
his administration silver has been forced
down to IS cents an ounce, the lowest
limit it has ever reached in the history
of the human family. How much lower
must it 60 before the silver miner must
close down the mine and look elsewhere
for employment. It need not go any
lower; the starvation point is reached.
Many are holding out with the hope that
change for the better will soon come.
With others, when the present ore bodies
and surface deposits are worked out,
no more capital will be put up for
future development. Day after day the
miner is more closely pinched. The time
is close at hand when, if not relieved,
mining for silver, unless under the most
favorable circumstances. will cease. 1t
does not require the arguments of theo
rists to demonstrate to us that the de-
struction Of this industry impoverishes
the farmer and men Of all other callings.
We see it; we come in contact with stand
ing, irrcfutable evidence of that fact daily.
Fellow citizens of Idaho, while this
cruel and incessant war has been made
upon US, we have been loyal to the old
parties. In the language of our Colorado
brethren:
"Year after year we have gone regularly
to the polls and persistentIy fought each
other, while working for the supremacy
of one or the other of two great political
parties, instead of standing shoulder to
shoulder to meet and resist the attacks Of
one common enemy. Those parties, as
they exist at present, deem the spoils of
Office of paramount importance to the
welfare Of the people. They are main
tanned chiefly for the benefit of self seek
ing politicians, whose most lofty ambi-
ton is paltry Office. To attain that end
they do not hesitate to persistently betray
the interests of the people, whose aid they
solicit, into the hands Of the money power
They are partisans for revenue only At
the bidding of this same money power,
they have placed the government on
level with the stock broker; they have
rendered thousands OF families homeless
they have changed the toiling debtor into
cringing mendicant, and from the ranks
of honest labor they have recruited an
army Of tramps."
We do not ask you to desert the old
party organizations now, but join with
US so that our united efforts may be d.
rected to our own self preservation. If.
however, silver is to be stricken down. if
platform will be adopted by both the old
parties in which silver will be ignored,
or one full of glittering generalities, or
should they fail to nominate candidate
who is not in favor of silver, then the
time will come for us to take independent
and decisive action. For the present we
ask our friends throughout the state to
continue the work of organization, not
only in the mining camps, but among the
farmers and men of other callings.
Friends, organize! Your homes and
your welfare are in danger. Let US make
silver the issue IN the coming campaign.
As soon as clubs are organized send
list, with the address, of the officers elect
ed to Hon. Geo. e. Mills, Secretary Exec
ntive Committee State Silver League.
Idaho, together with the name of the
member of the State Central Committee
elected by the club.
BY order State Executive Committee.
n. NJ. RUIcK, Chairman.
GEO. E. MILLS, Secretary.
JAMES GUM, Chm n s. C. Com.