The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1893-10-17
THE SILVER QUESTION.

slfnkRic III lut upper hpuo' W WI
gress without any results being at
tained and the prospects OF a solution
of the question at issue seem 10 be as
remote as everi
The silver issue cannot be said to be
n party question, although Mr. Cleve-
land and the administration have
taken a decided stand in the present
measure-the repeal of the Sherman
law. That act is one whi IA should
never have been passed. 1t was the
result OF the pressure of the West upon
the Harrison administration for more
liberal silver legislation, and was ac-
cepted by the advocates of the white
metal as step toward free coinage OF
silver, and by the country generally
as a means Of increasing the circuln
tion TO the extent Of silver purchased.
The three years Of experience with
the measure have proved in every way
disappointing, Instead of placing
more moneyin circulation it has re-
suited in simply boarding an immense
amount of uncoined silver which the
government has been forced to pur-
chase and taking from circulation a
great portion Of the money used in the
purchase.
In place Of relieving the mining in
terests of the West, it has resulted in
making, what had always been con-
sidered precious metal commodity,
subject to the Vaccinations OF specu-
lators, who 10y controlling the offerings
regulated the prices, and thus tempo
rarily, at least, destroyed the mining
industry, creating havoc among the
mine Owner. pud poverty among the
operatives.
Silver has always been The money Of
the poorer classes and therefore the
West demands that as much Of it
should be placed in circulation as the
country produces. That the same
laws regulating its coinage should OBJ
tain now as were in force previous to
the demonetizing act of 1872, and il
will never be possible for the states
men OF the East to convince them 9TH
erwise.
OF course the struggle now going on
is really between the gold advocates
OF one section of this country as
against the silver miners OF the other,
and tho Industries depending upon
both are being made to suffer. There
Is little doubt but that the monied in
terests Of the East have SO managed
affairs as TO create the belief that the
present striDgency is caused by an
excessive use or purchase for use Of
silver. And as against this the large
mine owners have united in the move
tn ousands OF men out of employment
who had never followed any other oc-
cupation, and who could turn to no
other employment to make liveli.
hood.
The nnnuSi silver production of this
country is less than Is, 900, 600 ounces
per AMMAN 1t was expected that the
requirements of the sherman law, to-
gether with that used by arts and
manufactures, would consume all
that vas produced, but the trouble
yamc iR the Importation Of foreign
silver, which dRstFoyei the market
What seemS t0 as as the proper So
ution OF the problem, and what we
believe will be finally accomplished 10y
the next congress II this one falls in
It's duty, is the adoption of u law for
rec coinage OF all silver produced in
he mins- IT the United States. This
at the outside svGuld not increase the
circulation 60 esCSSl 500, O0b 600 n
year, aud it would establish = value for
silver, not to b. controlled by sBscu-
lators, for it would then bs restored to
It's proper place as one OF the precious
metals.