Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1893-07-29
THEY WANT SILVER.
An Urgent Appeal from the Miners
Of Montana
The Agricultural Glasses Are Warned OF
the Depreciation of Their Prod
ucts-The History OF Silver
Legislation.

July -, to discuss the silver question.
Prominent free coinage advocates were
present and addressed the assemblage,
and the following address, prepared by
the Free Coinage association, was
unanimously adopted:
1.-THE citizens OF the state OF Montana, in
sending forth to their fellowcitizens through.
out the union this appeal against what they
sincerely believe to DO an existing wrong OF
cruel proportions, and for u redress OF that
wrong, desire first TO extend the assurance 10
all who may differ from them In opinion that,
despite the disastrous conditions which 1T this
moment surround them; despite the fact that
many Of their mines and mills ana shelters are
now idle and labor unemployed: notwithstand.
ing that their property values have been largely
destroyed and their credit greatly impaired.
they are to-day, ns they have ever been In the
past loyal citizens OF the republic, devoted 70
its institutions, obedient to it, laws loving ana
cherishing its traditions and history, and proud
Of It's magnificent achievements.
1--WE assert with oil sincerity that although II
directly and most injuriously affects one OF our
principal industries, and one that has formed
in great part the basis OF our prosperity, we
yet would not advocate the full recognition and
restoration OF silver as money, did we not SOL
EMMY believe that such policy would rebound
10 the happiness and welfare Of the great mass
OF producers and toilers OF the land, and to the
increased prosperity Of the nation. We place
our demand for the free coinage OF silver ut the
ratio OF sixteen to one OF gold, andits full equip
ment with oil money functions equally with
gold upon the simple plan OF justice In sup
port OF the plan we assert, and TO this asser'
ton we challenge contradiction, that for CEN
turtles, and before legislation undertook TO con.
troll and direct its action and movement silver
maintained its parity with gold with but slight
variation, and despite the wide divergence in
the ratio OF production which frequently exist
ed In 1916 England demonetized silver. She
was even then the creditor nation OF the world,
and her fnancers foresaw that this policy
would enhance the value OF gold and render
II harder for other nations to pay her what
they owed For nearly sixty years thereafter
France, the Latin union ard the United
states maintained the parity OF the two
metals In 1871 Germany, flushed with
her victory over France and her treasury
filled with Frances ransom of sl.0oOOOO,OO
in gold, determined to demonetize silver.
Uncle sam Dcmonetizes silver.
I'm 1873 the United States, the greatest pro
ducer OF silver Of all the nations, following the
course marked out by Germany, struck the sill
yer dollar from our coinage laws. In 1875, the
Latin union, deprived OF the support OF the
United States and Germany, stopped the coin
age OF silver. In 1892 Austria abandoned silver
and is striving unsuccessfully TO get upon gold
basis Within the past month England taking
advantage OF the depression existing all over
the world has struck silver last savage blow
by closing the minis OF India TO the coinage OF
silver on private account
Demands of the West.
''This briefly told, is the history Of silver
legislation during the past seventy.seven years.
II proves conclusiveiy that legislation is d.
tor thn lae trttp lon n al
Us money. We therefore ask in the name OF
simple JUS tice that legislation now restore 1t TO
its rghtful place In the currency OF our country.
We state. without lea, OF contradiction, that
the act OF 1873 whicE struck down silver was
passed without due elaboration. The record
shows that the great majority OF the members
of both branches OF congress did not know that
the bill then under consideration contained
such u clause. Such statements OF Garfield
Voorhees,. Blaine, and many others, are upon
the records OF their respective houses emphat-
ically denying any knowledge OF that provision
OF the act So that We charge that II was done
without discussion or debate either In congress-
through the press, or upon the platform There
fore II was great wrong because II was done
without notice and without any demand from
and By the people, and It's operation was Injured
only to the proiit and benefit OF the holders Of
our bonds and the lenders OF gold
Appeal to the Agricultural Classes.
ave most earnestly appeal TO the agricul.
tural classes OF our country and beg them TO
look into the history OF silver legislation ana
the frightful consequences which have FOL
lowed the act OF 1874 We call upon them to
mark the steady and constant decline In price OF
nearly I'LL farm provisions notably wheat ana
cotton, which has followed the RECOMMENDATION OF
silver We invite them 10 close inspection OF
the processes through which Thy reason OF
the making OF silver mere commodity Eng
land has been able to bring the farmers OF the
United States into direct competition with the
wheat and cotton growers OF India We call
their attention 10 the significant fact that the
three products, viz. silver wheat and cotton,
have about kept pace with each other in their
headlong fall, each touching its highest and
lowest point together We assert that the
falling on In prices OF farm products Is u direct
result OF the decentralization OF silver, and the
consequent contraction of volume OF good me
tallic money. careful study OF these facts
should. we AFFIRM make every farmer In this
broad land an ardent advocate OF the cause OF
free silver
1--WE charge that the act demonetizing silver
was almost equivalent to an act levying direct
tax upon the wheat and cotton growers and sill
yer miners Of the country equal 10 from 80 70 b
per cent OF their product annually for the ben
eft OF the bondhoders and money dcalers for
such an effect has been Its unseen and insdious
operation We further affirm that the con-
stantly lowering prices OF the staple farm prod
nets of the land has IN turn served TO curtail
production. TO restrict growth and to discour-
age new enterprises. thus diminishing the Held
and decreasing the demand for labor to the det-
riment OF the working classes OF the land And
TO these evils, already so general and Tar reach
ing the enemies OF silver money are now seek
ing 10 add the further wrong OF totally destroying
n great industry and throwing out OF employ
hmm ada 0ffh osf nd whom