The San Francisco call., 1895-12-20
COLONEL TRUMBO ON SILVER.

1t is not easy to compress within brief
pamphlet comprehensive statement of
the chief arguments for the reconciliation
of silver, but Colonel Trumbo of Salt Lake
City has succeeded in doing it. In fact,
his pamphlet, which was written in reply
to an article in the July number of the
North American Review by E. o. Leech.
late a director of the United States Mint,
contains q refutation of the special pleas
made for the single gold standard, as we'll
as maintenance of the cause of free sill
yer, and is therefore virtually summary
OF the whole question made terse enough
for the reading of busy men and clear
enough for the understanding of all.
One of the advantages resulting from the
brief space which Colonel Trumbo allotted
to his argument is that it compelled him
to eliminate from the discussion all phases
of it not essential to the understanding of
its relation to the practical politics of to-
day. He points out that the whole con-
troversy practically hinges upon the one
question whether the legislation by which
silver was debarred from use as money
of ultimate redemption did not act as the
main cause of the fall in the value of silver
and the consequent decentralization of the
long-established monetary equilibrium of
the civilized world.
To this point the main portions of the
argument are directed and the facts bear
ing upon it are conclsely stated. These
facts are well-established matters of his
tory and have never been refuted by any
advocate of the gold standard. In the
course of the long agitation of the subject
they have been made in the main familiar
to all who have taken any interest in our
monetary policy, but have rarely been ar
rayed with the force of reasoning or terse-
ness of style with which they are here
marshaled to demonstrate the weakness
OF the positions taken by Mr.. Leech in
support of the gold standard.
Colonel Trumbo is not among those
falnt-hearted silver men who would post
pone remonetization until other nations
consent. He would have America act for
Anne ricans. In commenting upon the
heavy increase in the National debt caused
by the demonstration of silver he says:
"We need distinctive financial policy
one that will permit the richest nation
on earth, some time in the future, to be
rid of paying tribute to those nations
which We guard against by legislative
tariff, but which, by reason of our indebt-
edness to them, still fix the price at which
our farmers and other producers are to be
paid for their products. And this is the
glory of a gold standard in the United
States! That we may have the approvir G
smile of the human leeches of other ma
tions, we have debased one-half our money,
Disseminated against q great industry.
doubled the debt burdens of the producers,
and we are now having the CALLING chains
of industrial servitude riveted on our
wrists, while these chains will be left as a
legacy to be worn by our children and our
children's children for countless years"
AS Colonel Trumbo will in ali probabil
ity be one of the men whom Utah will
send to the United States Senate as soon
as the act of admission is complete, his
bold and determined stand in favor of
free coinage is of National importance.
1t will make clear to the country that
when the voice of Utah is heard in the
great council of the Nation it will speak no
uncertain sound, nor fail to uphold a stall
wart Americanism with all the force and
vlgor inherent in the growing West.