The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-16
REPLY TO MIR. CLEVELAND.
By the Chairman Of Executive Commit
tee of shs, Ri-meIallic League.

Chicago, April 15.-Mr. w. III. Harvey,
chairman OF the executive committee of
the Bimetallic League, whose headquar-
tiers are in Chicago has prepared the
following reply to President Cieyeiand's
letter to the Chicago committee OF bus
mess men:
Chicago. April Ito His Excellency,
Grover Cleveland, President. Washing
ton City.-Dear Sir: In reply TO your let
ter addressed to a committee OF business
men of this city, we wish TO say that
the committee who waited on you and
the persons who attached their names
to the invitation of such committee did
not represent a majority of the business
men and citizens OF this city who take
deep interest in the welfare of this re-
public. They represented that class that
owns money and securities payable In
money. fixed incomes.
1--WE respectfully submit that your let
ter does not present the true merits of
this controversy. You call attention OF
farmers and wage-earners TO the fact
that rising prices. while enabling them
To sell their products and labor at higher
prices. Will also cause them 10 pay equal
~ more for what they may purchase.
but you neglect TO say that your state
ment Is not applicable to debts. With
prices coming down regularly and steadi-
~ since the decentralization OF silver. our
merchants, manufacturers and the peo-
pie generally have been doing business
on a falling market. so that the time
Intervening between the purchase or their
merchandise or raw material and plac-
ing II months after on the market has
removed the margin they would have
otherwise made. This shrinkage In values.
added to the ordinary risk and expense
of business. has led TO an ever-increas-s
ing volume OF debt to a money lending
period until II has increased. all told, pub
lie and private. TO about forty billions
OF dollars, or about two-thirds of the to-
tai value of all the property In the Unit
ed States and these debts payable In
money have been steadily increasing. A
debt for 81 900 that i.on0 bushels OF wheat
would have paid ten years ago. now re-
Quircs the farmer TO give up 700 BUSH
els of wheat I'm exchange for these dol
lars with which To pay the same debt.
The debts now In existence are principal
IL old debts or renewed or refunded
debts or new debts contracted tn pay
old debts. or debts the people have been
forced 10 contract by reason OF the con-
tinued decline In prices The owners OF
products must now give M twice as much
property To pay taxes as In 1873. Seven
teen thousand bushels or wheat have paid
the presidents salary Of $4,000 In 1871.
and n now requires f0l00a bushels OF
whelt to pay the annual salary OF $50
n0n Taxes have increased as expressed
in dollars. and have doubled and quadrup-
led as measured In the property the
people surrender with which 10 pay IL
since 1871.
eve have constantly pointed out 20 the
people the ever-inCrcasing exchangeable
value - the creditors dollar and to thu
reason why Il was increased, but the
Influences or these creditors have domi-
mated your administration. and you insist
on such a currency as they would eStab-
1ssh 2 he
cnnhscation or the property of the people
hy the sale OF property under mortgages.
judgments and executions II ~ Is an In
Justice 20 restore prices 50 that the pec-
ple can exchange their property for a
sufficient number 81 dollars 10 pay their
debts and bring happiness and prosperity
30 our land. then u was greater inius-
tic-e so destroy tire value of property and
enhance tho value ~ money ny dem0ne-
tixayton ot silver and the establishment
~ single gold standard. 80 that. when
YOU cali the attention ~ the farmer and
wage Garner 10 the fact that rising prices
will make him pay more for what he buys.
Nou should az the same time call bis at
tcntfon - the fact that II would ENABLE
him 70 pay his debts. free him from IN"
bondage IN which ne has bern uninsity
placed. and again make him the owner of
"A homo and a free and independent cif-
gen We might say further 80 him that
rising prices cause money 10 seek invest
meme and would thus open NJ the chan
rels % commerce and trade and give en-
-,lovuaent - millions now tile. It's not
more money that we want 70 borrow nut
90 nay or what We already OWE.
''1~hc more We borrow, the more We
must nay and the annual interest on al
other public and private debts Is now
moro than the annual pro0ts OF business
and proAt Where viii y endg our
forcfathers fed from Europe and sStah-
lished q government - that they might
le fr,-, from the class legislation OF those
nations whore the masses are hewcrs or
wood ana drawers OF water for the
rich. for those who control the lsvmaking
mower. ans Yet IL Is now being seriously
Insisted uF~ou that we must adopt and
continue the most pernicious class leSts-
iattou that the moDarchies OF Europe
have ever fastened upon their helpless
people Rv adopting their policy We have
increased she demand FOR gold and its ~
chanErabie value and all money based
thereon With other property. We have
aidNd them in ere adoption % q single
metal Tor primary money. that they can
control and corner. thar they have corn
erred and forced yoa - KS - them - get
q 80 their own prices 10 sustain the
credit OF this great and vesourcefyi IA
ton. We Submit thst this policy shouI
be abandoned and our mtuts again thrown
open - silver ta= thcv are ROW 10 goldD
Mr.. W Fl. Hitchcock, Columbus, Wash,