The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-08-22
ARE FOR FREE COINAGE
A Petition Presented in the House by
Representative Hartman Which
Is Called Significant.
NUMEROUS LABOR LEADERS
Have Signeda Request For Free Coin
age at a l6 to | Ratio---The Ac-
companying Address.

WASHINGTON, Aug. Representa-
tive Hartman of Montana presented in
the house resolutions for the free coin
age of silver, which are regarded by the
free silver advocates as one of the most
significant expressions in favor of their
doctrines which have been elected by
the agitation of the past year. The
resolutions have been considered and
adopted by the most powerful labor or
ganizations Of the country; they are
strongly worded, and are signed by the
chief officers of the various unions. The
signsrs are:
j. w. Sovereign, grand master work
man; John Nv. Hayes, secretary treas
urer of the Knights of Labor; Samuel
Gompers, president of the American
Federation of Labor; Marion Butler,
president of the National Farmers AL
lance; Henry Fl. Trenor, president, and
p. ]. Guire, secretary Of the Brother
hood of Carpenters and Joiners; p. M.
Arthur, chief of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers; G. r. Robson,
president of the Farmers Mutual Ben
eft association; Frank Sargent, chief of
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
men; F. w. Arnold, secretary and treas
urer of the same organization, and John
Mcbride, president of the United Mine
Workers of America.
An Accompanying Address.
Accompanying the resolutions is an
address. ITO the Members of Organ
lied Labor and All Other Producers
and Toilers Throughout the United
States" which led to their adoption.
The address declares that Sin view of
the general distress, at a time when
granaries are full, and in the natural
order Of things producers and toilers
should be enjoying the fruits of their
labors, it seems that the time has come
for united action ON the part Of those
who create the wealth of the country. >"
One of the causes which have brought
about this condition, the address says,
is the departure from the wise bimetallic
financial principle of Washington,
Jefferson and Hamilton, and the sub.
stitution OF the mono-metallic policy
dictated by the European money
holders and their American allies. A
review of financial legislation is given
to show what part is enacted in the
interest Of the producing and of the
non producing, classes. The proposition
is set forth that before the demonetiza-
ton OF silver $500 bushels of wheat or
1000 pounds of cotton equalled the an |
nuai pay OF senator or congressman.
while today 10000 bushels of wheat or |
1OO, 900 pounds of cotton barely suffice;
that formerly $4,000 bushels of wheat |
or $4,000 pounds of cotton would have |
paid the salary of the president, while |
today he receives the equivalent Of |
10O, 900 bushels of wheat or 1000. 600
pounds OF cotton, and the same proper
ton applies to all other fixed salaries
and incomes.
Decentralization of the food producing
sections is said to have caused the man.
ufacturers to lose the markets for their
goods, 50 that hundreds OF thousands of
workmen have been
Thrown Out of Employment.
and the characterization of half of the
worlds volume of money to make il
comparatively easy for capitalists to
corner and manipulate the other half.
IN the review of financial legislation. 1t
. charged that all acts since the civil
war have been I'm the interest of the
oondholders and against the producers.
md the Sherman law is said to have
,een repealed at the demand OF Europ-
IAN financiers, although a grand fight
vas made by the peoples representa-
ives.
Coal Trade Demoralized.
SPRINGFIELD, Ills, Aug. 22.-The