The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-21
GOLDEN WORDS IN THE CAUSE OF SILVER,

are looked on as advocates merely of the sill
yer mining interests.
If any man in business attempted to run his
business as does our treasury, he would soon
be bankrupt.
l don't think we will ever reform our money
system until we put man in the Presidents
chair who will look out for the interest of the
masses instead of the creditor portion only OF
our nation.
denounce as infamous the doctrine that the
banker is the only one qualified to pass on the
money question.
have found that some of the bankers in the
West are not in favor of bimetallism. | found
one who was afraid to come out for bimetalllsm
because he was afraid that to do so would In
jure his credit in the East. The Western banker
has every reason to be in favor of bimetal-
ism, because he makes his loans on the paper
OF the producer and not on Government prom
ises OF redemptions, as does the Eastern
banker
The trouble is not lack of confidence, but
the lack of confidence in the property upon
which loan is sought to be made Not long
ago man came to San Francisco TO negotiate
a loan for his friend in the country who had a
ranch for which he had been offered $50 an
acre four years ago. The best the friend could
do for him was to get loan of So per acre at
91a per cent interest and per cent commits
sion, all expenses TO be paid by the borrower.
The value of dollar depends on the number
of dollars. The fewer the number of dollars
the greater become their individual purchas-
ing power. The contraction of the currency
brings the capitalist advantages, for his money
has an increased purcasing power, but to
nearly every one else ii has an Injurious effect,
for wages become less, and the volume of busl-
ness is decreased.
Let me quote the Carlisle-not the Carlisle of
to-day-not the Carlisle of 1S95-but the Car
Isle of 1873. Then in speech criticiZing John
Sherman, Secretary of the Treasury, he said
that if the Bland act had been entrusted to a
man who was In sympathy with the masses
he would have coined the maximum of silver,
but that under Sherman only the minimum
coined, to suit the wishes of the idle
holders OF idle capital, with whom he was in
sympathy. In these words Mr.. Carlisle appro-
priatelv phrased a truthful criticism OF his
own present position and his own change OF
heart, for his sympathies are now undoubtedly
with the idle holders of idle capital and
against the masses.
Why was Carlisle not invited to sound
money banquets seventeen years ago? Be-
cause he declared that they-the then silver
adyocates-would follow up the measures for
the relief of the masses by one law after an
other providing for a greater volume of cur
rency. This would not sound well at a sound
money banquet.
We have been threatened with q food of
silver if this country alone adopted free and
unlimited coinage. In answer to this l can
only quote the words of Senator Jones, used
in the United States Senate: "Where is it COM
ing fromY' Will the coinage of other countries
come here? Will the merchandise silver come
here? Will the amount used in the arts and
sciences in other countries be shipped to us?
l say no. Therefore they can ship only their
surplus metal. But when we stand ready to
take every ounce offered us 1t will not be long
before these same countries will be glad to pay
US 81 % an ounce for this same white metal.
They have threatened us with the terrorS OF
over-production ofsilver If we adopt unlimited
coinage. But this is only theory, and is as
likely to prove true as another deluge OF water
from the heavens. Anyhow, have been so
long suffering from. a drought that l am
anxious 10 be present al the first drippings of
this threatened food. [Cheers and laughter
We have waited long enough for the CO.
operation OF other nations, and l am now in
favor of our acting alone and Independently,
without asking the consent of other nations to
our financial policy.
1 believe that out of our 20, 100000 popula-
ton over 10000, 600 are looking for the signal
that shall declare our financial independence.
He closed his eloquent address by ex-
horting the advocates of silver in all Ma
tional parties to vote only for a Presidential
candidate who is pledged to the principles
of the Bimetallic League. All other mat
tiers should be made secondary, and mere
party loyalty should be abjured. This, he
concluded, was the only safe road to
victory-to combine the strength of the
bimetallists on a single candidate or force
one of the great parties to nominate a
silver man.
How we'll sustained was the power of the
great silver orator was shown by the fact
that not a single person left the hall until
he had uttered his last word.
Before the audience dispersed Chairman
Baker announced that on Wednesday
evening next there would be Joint debate
i'll Metropolitan Hall on the money ques-
ton between John P. Irish and Thomas V.
Gator, the former taking the side of gold
and the latter that of silver.