The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-24
STATE II COINAGE.
MT. KinmaA Favors Il establishing q Mint
in MOntnun.

ME. kinman Fav0rs II establishing q Mint
in Montana.
10 the members of the legislative assem-
bly,: The outrage has gone far enough.
Instead Of there being Frightening pros
poets ahead for tho reconciliation OF sill
YER the night which surrounds US ia all the
time growing darker. One after another
those whom we have believed to DO favora-
BILE to tho white metal are dropping into the
ranks OF the gold bugs. Silver steadily
declines in price. Mine after mine closes
down. Thousands of miners are unsm-
ployed and their families begin to feel the
~blightinR effects Of want. Every whore
throughout tho great state our chief in
dustry is perishing. The merchant. the
stockraissr. the mechanic. the laborer. as
we'll rs tho miner arc pinched and dis
heartened by the gloomy prospect which
tho gold standard men present TO our view.
Shall We submit longer to their devilish
tyranny? or shall we rebel like mon? The
time time has come for bold, decided ao-
tion--sction which will sink the silver
jsvslin deep into tho quivering flesh Of the
gold bug tyrant.
The action We must take is: To estab-
lish a state mint. pass a FREQ coinage bill
through on. state legislature. and coin
Montana silver dollars, one-tenth alloy.
and to weigh 412115 grains. the weight and
~ VAS - - ~ INK bhlo
coins a full legal tende for all debts, dues
and demands within the state: coming only
the product of our own mines. But says
the gold bag: lyon can't do that?" Why
notI Because congress would not allow
such a thing; and besides. they would de.
preoiate to the bullion value of the mstal.'
But. ! say, hold On, Mr.. Goldbua! have
made q close and careful study Of this sub
jsct OF money and the laws relating thereto
!or more than twenty years. and l say that
Montana has a perfectly legal right to es-
teablish a mint and eoin either gold or silver
prevent il. The constitution Of the United
States says: Congress shall coin money
and regulate the value thereof" but that
power is nowhere denied to the states. In
fact, the statos exc, oised that right for fifty
years. The old state banks coined money
Tor coming money 10 printing money. and
has no reference to the kind of material
upon which the stamp Is placed, whether ii
be gold. silver or paper.
Congrsss admitted q want of power to
abolish those old state banks. and O tax of
10 per cent was imposed on their ~circula-
lion. Repeal that tax law, md the acts
would not be applicable to our mint. and
even if it was We could pay a tax of 10 per
cent and then get q dollar and nineteen
cents for every ounce Of silver. which would
be much better than We can do at the pres
CIV piICes mOubAA0 uab JusS an ROOO anu
perfect a right to establish a mint and coin
silver dollars as the national government,
and l dsfy any man, lawyer or statesman,
to show to the contrary.
And l move that tho legislative assembly
OF the state of Montana pass q free coinage
bill. establish a mint, and make an appro-
%printicn to start the stamps in motion.
Gold bugs are bold and u~nscrupulous, and
should be just as much 80.
Mexico has free coinage, and maintains
her circulation at par. and Montana can d.
it, too. Besides. Colorado. Nevada, Idaho,
and the rest of the silver states will follow
suit, and the nation will be compelled to
silver on the same basis. There is no
difficulty about this matter. All that il re-
quired is action.
/ will draft a bill for the free and unlim-
tied coinage of silver. and to establish a |
mint, on the request of any member
Of the Legislature who wishes to present 1t
for passage. Respectfully.
G. T.. K1NMAN.
Woodville, Mont, Jan. %. 1893.