The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-22
FREE AND UNLIMITED.
The Helena Silver Club Organized
by Men Of ALL Political
Faiths.
Ex- Governor Hauser Is Unani-
mously Chosen as the
President. IN

Speeches From Democrats and Republic
cans Fnyoring tho Removal OF Nestric-
| tions on Silver,
Electric hall Was half filed last night at
the meeting called to organize n silver
club. Enthusiasm ran high in the
audience, which was composed of men OF
all shades Of political faith. The meeting
was called to order by Thomas G. Merrill,
who was made chairman. and Miles Cavan-
augh secretary. Mr.. Merrill said they were
assembled pursuant to call signed by
prominent citizens of Helena to organize
IN the interests of the free coinage OF silver
which concerned one Of the chief indus tries
OF Montana, and tho one which had re-
ceived such deadly blow at the hands OF
congress in 1873. The question Ia matter
Of life and death. The act demonetzin0
silver was criminal one which was carried
| through congress by a trick, and II is now
an open question whether one out Of fve
| silver mines in this country can continue.
II ~ time for the people to organize for the
Tree and unlimited coinage of silver ana
| place 1t where it was before demonstration
took place.
y. n. Mcintyre, Robert Teeple and Thos.
Dougherty, committee on permanent or
ganization, recommended the following az
permanent officers of the club, and thev
were unanimously chosen: President, S. r.
Hauser; first vice-president, n. M. Parchen;
second vice president, Thomas G. Merrill;
aecretary, Robert B. Smith; treasurer, A, j.
! Steele.
No resolutions were adopted last night.
The committee on resolutions. A. M. Hol-
ter, Il. B. Smith, John ii. Shober,
VIM. Thompson and Gen. j. s. Har-
10, are to report set of resolu.
tions to the club next Monday evening for
adoption. There was some talk of adopt
ing the Denver platform but it was decided
not to copy, but originate.
Speeches were made by r. b. Smith,sA.
M. Hotter, r. H. Howey, ]. II. Mcknight.
John II. Shober and Gen. Harris. They
were all in favor of the free and unlimited
coinage Of the white metal, and were heart
ily applauded. The gold bugs OF New York.
Mr. Shober said, we're only small part of
the combination against free coinage. The
head center is in the big banking centers of
London and Berlin. No matter whom the
people sent to represent them, the cold
bugs seemed to have influence enough to
! aWerve the representatives. He wanted no
international conference on the silver uues-
tlou. If outsidefs do not like our action
they can do the othsr thing. Protect the
poor and the rich will take care Of them
selves. Organize to elect representatives
whom no money can buy. He attributed
the present situation to the cowardice Of
the democratic party in congress, ana said
the silver bill had been side-tracked.
There were loud calls for r. Fl, Howey.
who spoke briefly. He said he had read
the congressional debates and had placed
himself in the attitude of juror and had
come to one fixed conclusion. He believed
IN free and Unlimited coinage. and the
placing of silver on an equality with gold.
and to make it legal tender for public
and private debts, except in contracts
where individuals agreed otherwise. He
argued that it would not only be the best
thing for Montana, but for the country at
large to have double standard. Congress-
thinks it has side-traoked the silver Ques-
tlon for this campaign, but it 10 not SO,
The people cannot afford to have it side
tracked; Mr. Howey quoted at length
from Congressman Harter's remarks in
congress on March %, wherein he charged
that the movement for free coinage was
gotten mp solely for the benefit Of a few
mine owners in the west. Harter, Mr..
Howey snid, was simply speaking for the
EOAu AAkh VA wall 6LE66b. l06T6 were
scores Of men elected to pass silver bill,
but they are afraid to do it. Both sides are
afraid Of losing the coming presidential
election. Mr.. Howey closed by warning
the representatives to pay heed to the ad-
monition OF Lincoln, "keep your ear clos
to the people,
William Thompson, Of Butte, followed
Mr. Howey, aud heartily agreed with the
sentiments expressed. The first thing 10
do was to protect home industry; it is our
bedrock interest. all others depend upon it
in the state. He said the republican and
adopt resolutions favorine free and unlim-
tied coinage The only interest against
silver was the moneyed interest. Men
should be sent to congress who are
free from the influence Of this money in
terest.
j. H. MacKnight, formerly editor Of the
Helena Journal said he was not
much of mining man, but had
studied the question and written 4
number of articles on free silver.
The government has the power to correct
the trick by which tho metal was demonet-
ICED III 1878 and tho people should insist
that 1t be done. England, our ancient foe,
had been benefited by the act of 1873 to
the extent Of millions and to-day India has
lots Of silver that We ought to have. She
dictates III congress and Wall street. and
it is not oreditabls to Americans that this
should be 10. Democrats and republicans
alike Ill congress have taken their present
course through fear of losing New York
The west has been aroused as never before,
and demands that silver be placed on
level with gold. 1t is asserted that If silver
is free gold will vanish. In opposition to
This the speaker said that France, which
has double standard, has more gold than
any other nation and is able to supply
others.
II is big question, aaid Gen. Harris. and
las two sides. 1t is tho best blessing we
,ould have to get free and unlimited coin
ICE. He alao pointed to the example OF
France, and said that to-day the bank OF
France had more coin in it than there was
II any one place in tho world before.
There IL not too much silver in the world
or the United States, said Il. b. Smith.
This country produces ~ per cent of tho
nlvet of The globe We do not ask fres
IND unlimited coinage in behalf OF the
nine owners of the west or for any special
.lass. but we demand that silver be given
TIA constitutional rights. We demonetizsd
t in 1873 and we will remonotize ii in 1893
Ne have submitted long enough to Wall
treet. Gold aud silver were equal before
s73, and We demand that the dollar OF
hose days be restored and pnt on basis
'qual to the one which ia held over our
leads. No ono is in favor OF an inflated
currency. lie reoited the history of gold
md silver up to 1873 when
he Rot demonetzng silver waa
igned by President Grant. lie waS inter
npted by General Harris who said that