The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-07-28
SILVER'S FRIENDS.
They are Numerous in Great Falls.
As Shown by the Mass
Meeting.
Conservative Resolutions Passed, Ana
Some Instructive Speeches
Made.

treat fallR
A large audience gathered at the opera
house last night, and listened attenta-
lively to number of speeches and pass
ed resolutions to send to the free silver
congress at Chicago.
The meeting was called to order at
about 8 o'clock by j. A. Macknight in
the name of the National BiMetallic
league, and on motion of Mr.. Brosnan
he was elected temporary chairman and
Mr.. q. M, Holmes, secretary.
Mr.. MacKnight appointed the follow
ing committee on resolutions and organ
ization:
]. L. Harris, Ira Myers, Il. S. Ford, j.
f.. Reynolds, o. Nj. Holmes, G. A. Rohra-
bacher, T. w. Brosnan.
The temporary chairman then said
that the country is approaching u crisis
in it's affairs which should call forth the
best patriotism of the people, and as it
was the custom of the fathers of the re-
public on all important occasions to in
woke the blessing of Almighty God he
called upon the Rev. DIR. Wasson to open
lDo Ulttliue Will iho
was listened to with deep attention.
Mr.. MacKnight then made a few re
marks on the subject Of the demonetiza-
ton of silver IN 1873 and explained IA
large placaru that was on the stage
showing how silver, wheat, ami cotton
have declined in price together ever since
that date.
The committee on organization being
ready to report named &. NJ. Webster
for permanent chairman and q, NJ.
Holmes for secretary. The following
vice presidents were named:
r. S. Ford. S. +. Atkinson, A. NJ. Scott,
Mayor Gelsthorpe, James Donovan. Matt
Dunn, Il. f. Collins, ira Myers Paris
Gibson. G. II. Goodrich, IT, w, BrosnaI,
j. r. Reynolds, w. ID. Dickinson, Supt,
Aldrch, silver smelter: j. j. Kelly. II. p.
Rolfe. presidents of all the labor unions
Of the city, J. y. MacKnight, NJ. NJ.
Lyter, Supt. Klepetko, Is. ~ NJ. smelter.
On takiAg the chair eX Mayor Web
ster asked the secretary to read the reso
lutions, which we're adopted practically
as read. They were AS follows:
The Rcsoiations.
Resolved That the people of Great
Falls in mass nesting assembled do
hereby urge upon the congress Of the
DllcNI Oldlts tIc ucCtSslly VI lctuIuluD
TO the monetary system which prevailed
prior to the surreptitious demonetlzation
of silver in 1873.
Resolved. That we view with alarm
the steady advance in the price of gold.
and corresponding decline of silver and
all other products Of labor, and demand
that instead of the further contraction
Jf the currency an elastic expansion be
given to it, which will permit of the en-
ployment Of labor at far wages, the car
rying forward of projected enterprises,
which have been abandoned because
If the contraction of the currency, and
relief to all the producing classes of this
country.
Resolved. That gigantic wrong has
been and ia being committed in change
Df ii system of money which places the
debtor class in the position of serfs to
the money-lender The gold conspira-
tors VINO have secured control of large
section of the civilized world have now
fastened their fangs upon the vitals of
the republic, and we believe that moth
ing but the prompt relief which the re-
nabilitation of silver would assure can
save a large proportion of the American
farmers and other producers from abso-
lutte bankruptcy in the near future.
Resolved, That we deny the charge
commonly made by the conspirators that
the west Is moved to make this demand
for free coinage by selfish motives, Such
is not the case in any sense. We know
that the farms of New England, the
plantations of the south and the manu-,
featuring industries throughout the
country are as vtally concerned in this
question as we are; that all labor
whether physical or mental, is affected
by it, and that tho only class that has
any eau SO for opposing silver remoneti-
zaiion, is that section of the lending
class which seeks to make money scarce
in order to make interest high, and to
the end that their loans will be returned
to them in money of greater value, as
measured by other products. than when
their loans were made.
Resolved, Believing, as we DO, after a
careful examination Of approved Official
figures, that the production of silver and
gold arc about equal at a ratio Of l5l or
lG to |: that both these metals are cs-
sentally money metals, and that 81 /
grains OF pure silver have been been by
common consent and established law,
during the first century of the nation 8
life, the unit measure of all our money.
We demand the absolute free and un-
'"itSN SpihhSp VI octii S'i' uIAN
at "A fixed basis of 1G to |, both coins and
the paper money issued by the govern
ment to be full legal tender for all
debts.
In support of this demand we cite tho
following facts: While gold and silver
we're both coined with equal privileges.
their price ir the markets Of the world
remained throughout within a fraction
of lG to Land as showing the established
and recognized policy Of our government
we call special attention to the fact that
when gold did go above silver, in 1884 +,
the administration then in power acting
in harmony with established precedent
directed that our gold be rccoined, re-
ducing the amount of gold in dollar
LIB grains. That all our gold was then
so recoined
Resolved, That we condemn as insin
cere and unDatriOtic the action of DOliti-