The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-07-07
TODAY'S WORK AT HELENA.

jority of the people favor the free coin
age of silver in Montana, Idaho, Cole
RADIO. Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Ari
iona. In other portions of the countr,
there is "a sentiment more or less defined
that is friendly to bi meta 'lism, bu
nothing that is aggressive or making 70
the spread of free silver doctrine. Tn,
representatives Of the people seem fol
once to be ahead of their constituencies
on this question, and there is a very fail
prospect that a majority Of the coming
house and senate will be SO favurably
disposed to bi-metallism as to render
possible the passage of a silver law that
will at least give all silver coined and
circulated a legal tender character.
To be sure this would not be free sill
yer coinage, nor anything approaching
it, but it would be an improvement on
the Sherman law. and SO may catch a
good many people who are in favor of
further parley and compromise with the
gold bugs.
We are in hopes that the Helena con-
ference will promptly vote down all half
way propositions and adopt a clean-cu
American free coinage resolution. We
are aware that there will be serious OBJ
stacles in the way of this owing to the
fact that there will be delegates present
who are Harrison republicans welded to
the international agreement heresy. and
Cleveland democrats who desire a gold
standard for reasons it would be difficult
for them to explain. These disturbing
elements, if they show their faces in to-
days conference, must be resolutely
fought Town by the true silver men. or
else the conference will prove a failure if
not a disgrace.
Probably some plan may be decided
on if the silver men are in sufficient
force to send a lobby to Washington
a delegation to confer with New
\ ork bankers; but it seems to us that
the most effective way of getting at
the matter would be to send a memo
rial to congress signed by the repre-
5entatives of all the mining states who
assemble in similar conferences at this
uncture. Such a memorial should
show:
That vast sums Of eastern capital has
)een invested in the west which cannot
paid unless silver is r%emonetized.
That the west is an enormous con-
of all kin Is of manufactured
imported from the east. machin-
ny, clothing, staples of all kinds, farm
PRODUCTS, products of the fisheries. sugar
efiner!es and distillerles, and that this
rade amounting to many millions each
ear must be stopped unless silver is re-
.abilitated.
That we fully understand that it would
e useless to appeal to their sense of
light or justice, but W. rely on the peo-
lie of the east to give us "a helping hand
D protect their own interests.
Thai the millions loaned in the west
n mortgages by eastern capitalists will
e jeopardized by further neglect or de-
recitation of the white metal; and,
That railroad earnings in the mining
.ates will decline to a figure that will
ankrupt many of tho roads unless sill
or is restored.
In these arguments there is no draw
on the imagination. They are true
nd self-evidert, and yet they contain a {
digestion of but half the evils that
.ust result from further paltering with
le financial question. In addition to
lem consider for one moment what will +
, the direct results to the people who l
e dependent on the mining industry t
r daily bread. A few weeks will suf- t
e to place thousands of them in a con-
ton Of direst need. They will then :.
unable to pay for provisions. REM. !;
othing, etc, and SO the people who !
we been in the habit of providing
EN- with these supplies will also be in
frightened circumstances.
Indeed, the effects of the dishonest q
ID short sighted financial policy of the :,
will be so far reaching that :,
ne except tie very rich can escabe. p
d even they will feel the pressure. If q
e policy be long enough persisted in
ey may, in the end, be the greatest 81
.iferers. 81