Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-08-05
MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS-.

In the face Of unparalleled disasters
the women of Utah, in mass meeting
assembled, appeal to your honorable
bodies. We respectfully petition that
at the ensuing special session Of Con-
gress, legislative measures be adopted
to increase the price of silver bullion.
We do not assume to speak of the
theory which should be adopted or
the means which should be used TO
attain these ends, but we speak from
a knowledge of the disasters and bust
ness disasters which have already fallen
upon our Territory and the whole In
termountain region from the partial
cessation of silver mining, and which
must increase when this industry is
more completely abandoned. Silver
mining is almost the only source Of
revenue of this whole Intermountain
region. The miners consume the
agricultural products, laborers and
merchants are paid by the products Of
our mines, and with the cessation Of
mining there will be common and
widespread disaster Already hun
dreds Of working women as well as
men have lost situations, thousands OF
skilled laboIers have been discharged
from our mines, and with no occupa-
ton and no capital, will soon have NO
food for themselves or families. A
few mine owRers are still working
their mines, but with reduced force
and wages and without profit, and
this only to avoid the waste and dam
age resulting to machinery and mines
from closing and stopping pumps;
even this work continues only because
Of the hope that the price of silver
may increase so as to enable a re-
sumption. Unless this advance OF
price comes soon the industry must
cease, and other thousands of helpless
laborers will be discharged. II this
were only temporary, or affected only
one of our industries, we would bear
up bravely, but the foundation upon
which our entire business structure
rests is silver mining, and failure
brings universal disaster. The people
of the East are assured that in these
appeals we are not actuated by self
ish motives, or making a false cry
when asking that the bitter cup be
turned aside. They, too, are also di-
rectly and indirectly interested in our
welfare, not only as citizens Of COM
mon country but in pecuniary way;
our merchants buy of them and obtain
credit in proportion to the prosperity
of our country.
Our railroads are built, our mines
opened and our improvements largely
made on credit Our railroad, State
Territorial and municipal bonds, our
principal loans and much Of our min
ing stocks are held in the East, there
fore they cannot ruin our one great
industry and inestimably lessen val
ues without damaging their own inter
ests.
The development OF this country
and the investments ia property here
have been undertaken and accomplish
ed when the laws Of the country and
the platforms Of its political parties
pledged the Nation to maintain the
parity between gold and silver, and
gave the investors the greatest pledge |
Of security in the world, and while we |
do not understand why this pledge
has been has failed, we see and know
the effects Of It's failure. Wo are loyal
woman. With you we have an intense
and pride in our native land,
and we cannot believe that an appeal
which directly affects the happiness
and prosperity of the people Of one.
third of this Republic can be listened
10 with indifference by you, and we
most respectfully submit our memoir
al.
Mrs. EMELlEE b. WELLS, President.
Mrs. ELLSWORTH DAnGETT, Secretary.
Mrs. GEo. A. LOWE,
Mrs. MCCORMICK,
Mrs. w. i, JAMES,
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