The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-07-13


stimulus the mining industry affords It
supports our fouDdres. operates our
msShnf msS reisSp chops stimulates Gravel Esep:
bright the fires OF the smelters and sends
customers to the shops of our merchants: IL mas
invoked in the valleys and upon mountain s'des
magnificent cities and thrifty towns ana VII
lages.
iron, steel and clays distribute their finished
products and support thousands OF prosperous
and happy families. But because agricuiturei Is
so limited In area-cOltined 10 narrow strips
along our few scanty streams-our labor so hign.
and its handiwork remote from other than
the local markets, the coal is mined the coke Is
burned, the rail is rolled, the grain Is grown the
fruit Is gathered. in the main. tor the owners
and workers in silver mines and smelters. and
the propretors and workInen OF the industries
and callings are dependent upon them.
EFFECT OF THE "sLUMP" IN SILVER.
The reduction OF the price of silver to about 20
cents has shut down 80 per cent. OF the silver
mines OF the country, and the smelters must
soon follow their example. There are In Colo
RADIO to-day $4,000 idle miners who know not
where 10 turn II work Is not resumed. There
will he added to this IDLE army or labor
1000 men from the snelters. The stone quar-
ries are nearly ali shut down, the railroad com-
the foundries are nearly all out of orders. the
farmers and fruitgrowers will be barely paid for
the cost OF saving their crops the merchants are
countermandfng their orders. the travelling men
for Eastern houses seek almost in vain for GUS
toners. This is exaggeration. The destruc-
ton of the silver industry will devastate the
country as IL swe Il by cyclone reaching from
the British possessions To the Mexican border
line.
This sorrowful picture of Colorado, with its
mining industry destroyed, but represents the
condition of the other mining States and Terri
tories with the same calamity upon them: II the
American output OF lead must he lost The
greatest bulk OF the lead product is taken from
silver bearing ores. Ii requires the one metal,
euDDlemeQte0
lead-silver miner. Not less than 50 per cent. of
the gold product Of the country depends upon
the maintenance OF the silver industry. The
placer, or creek washings-the earliest aud most
prolific source Of our gold supply are practical
Is exhausted.
Those who contend for the gold single stand
ard willfully mislead you as 10 the cost OF pro-
ducing silver: We say To you in the most solemn
prove that, including but legitimate items In
the account, the silver of Colorado costs, by the
time 1t is on the market. not less than 81 20 per
ounce. Like gold, some silver is produced for
much less than its market value. but the average
cost of silver is fully the highest price it ever
Ali of the mining States and Territories are a
debtor class. Stop and consider, men OF the
East. how many millions of your money is in,
vested with US. The funds Of estates, of
widows and orphans. have been loaned
on our lands and have built our
edifces Colorado has been favorite
field for such Investments Have the people OF
any State ever proved more punctious Ia prompt
repayment The Legislature has enacted laws
ity to the creditors. that no man might shirk or
escape repayment OF the borrowed dol
East Ear h9ndreds are of heia mlions of do
lars in railroad stocks and bonds. IN municipal
securities, in trusts and mortgages, the pay
ment or the greatest part OF which depends upon
the prosperity of the silver mining country. We
of Colorado pride ourselves upoh our CONNER
cal and financial integrity. No calamity can in
debt. Ali of our assets are ar the
will OF our creditors for their reimbursement.
But IL By bad congressional legislaton. If through
Congress you shall wipe out the great industry
OF the section around which all Others cluster
for vigor and profit, the values of our properties
towns and cities will be largely depopulated,
aud the railroads traversing the western half OF
the continent VIII be sent into bankruptcy. Ger
tainly, In the face OF such unmerited infiictlon
you cannot blame us If we are thus deprived of
all ability to meet our obligations. You may,
1t Is true take the country in payment, but after
you get 1t, what will you do with itl
WILL NOT SUBMIT WITHOUT STRUGGLE.
But though you may do all in your power.
whether in ignorance or through selfish greed,
to destroy US. we will not submit to the destiny
Of poverty without struggle. We shall seek to
open up new markets and build up our silver in
dustry along new lines and with new and more
sympathetic neigbbors. Colorado has aided
with her vote TO build the tariff wall between
ing and using republics of the Southern CONT
nent AS Senator Teller, one OF the stancbest
supporters OF this exclusive policy, declared but
was not IN COlorados interest TO vote for such
isolation, but Colorado, thinking more OF her
sister States than herself, had periodically
sacrificed her own IN their int rest
To the south Colorado appeals with more soul
felt words. Two years ago YOU feared. with
sinking hearts and paiing lips. the enactment OF
the law that threatened to deprive you OF self
government and 10 turn your election booths
overto the tender mercies of federal bayonets
on election day. To save you from the outrages
of the federal force bill Coorado's two Senators
caucuses and defeated what was to you the GER
tain humiliation and the horro or Of subjection TO
the electoral will of your former slaves. We
now 1t is more OF a death struggle than 1t was
the gold kings are accomplished-If the
present silver law shall be Internationally re-
pers AM our beautiful and wonderful state will
he set back in It's march OF progress more than
quarter OF "a century.
business record filled with brave men and reso-
lutte hearts, makes this, its appeal for preserya-
ton, to the openhearted and generous people of
the country. We are confident that it will not
be in vain. The atrocity Of making homeless,
through the destruction Of the chief industries
OF 100000 square miles OF American terri
tory, 100000 men. women and children, with
all the attendant sorrows Of enforced, hop peiess
tdleness can never be the wosk an American
Congress with your approval. Hopeful OF speedy
delivery IroIn the crushing burdens OF financial
system begotten or the greed or Great Britain's
remorseless money power, and or the prosperity
inseDarable from an American system which
includes the free coinage OF gold and silver at
people of tho United States this statement OF our
cause.
The convention. after arrangin q for fund
with which to dissent nate e-coinage lit
ersture In the East. adjourned sine die.