The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1896-08-06
DEMONSTRATION OF SILVER.


j. Sterling Morton, secretary Of the
agricultural department, who was editing
country newspaper when the demone-
tization Of silver took place, tells the
country and the members of the 42nd
congress that the "crime Of 1873" was
not dark lantern bit OF work but was
open and above board and that the act
covering the characterization was before
congress for couple OF years. To very
small extent this is true for the coinage
bill was introduced two years previous to
its passage, but before il passed secret
alteration was made in its construction
striking out the provisions for the coin
age OF the standard silver dollars Of 1925
grains each. That ii was secret alter
alton there can be no question for mem
be,soithe finance committee knew moth
ing of it as Is show by the Congressional
Record, and even President Grant, who
signed the bill. was in utter ignorance that
silver was demonetized until his attention
was called to il by letter OF inquiry from
the German government several months
afterwards. Mr.. Morton, could have known
nothing about it for Mr.. Harvey, the
author OF Coin, has offered one thousand
dollars reward to anyone who viii pro-
duce newspaper clipping OF 1878, which
mentioned the dropping of the silver dol
lar.
That II was the work Of secrecy il
cleary shown by an examination OF the
Congressional Record few experts Of
which are here given. In volume Z. page
2, 45th congress, second session, page
1905. we find speech by Judge Kelley, |
republican, Of Pennsy lvania, in which he
said:
In connection with the charge that
l advocated the bill which demonetized
the silver dollar, say that though the
chairman Of the committee on coinage,
was ignorant OF the fact that the coinage
act would demonetize silver By dropping
the silver dollar from our system OF coins,
as we're those distinguished senator's,
Messrs. Blaine and Voorhees,, who were
then members Of the house, ard each Of
whom, few days since, INTERCEPTED the
other: "Did you know the silver dollar
was dropped when the bill passed ?
No. said Mr.. Blaine. .'Did your
s'No," said Voorhees,. 81 do not think
there were three members Of the house
that knew it. / doubt whether Mr..
Hooper, who. in my absence from the
committee on coinage and attendance on
ths committee on ways and means, man
aged the bill. knew it. ! say this in ius-
tiee to him."
Senator Beck. OF Kentucky, Congress
sioual Record. volume 7. part /. Forty
fifth congress- second session. page 200, |
said: "Tbe bin demoneiizing silver
never sAs understood by either housa OF
congress- | say thai with full knowledge
Of the facts No newspaper reporter
ard they are tie most yigiIant men
sssr sax IN obtaining information--dis-
ceversa that Il had been done"
49, 3eAs%A@f@ "a AAAAtAefAos AsE1 ettessuzshf
ReeSrs. JaEy Is, 1876, volume 4. part 5,
pszs $3.50, said: The coinage act Of
1873 WIS un4orompanied by any written
report upon the subject from any com
rnEsiee. and unknown 10 the members OF
congress who, without opposition, slIow-
Cd 4 70 pass under the belief. II not sssrr-
sace. that il made no alteration IN the
value Of the current coins, changed the
amt Of yaiae from silver to gold.'
Mr. Holman, Of Indiana. Congressional
Record volume 4. part 6, Fosty-fourth
congress, first session, appendix, page
1913, said Il have before me the record
OF the proceedings Of this house on the
passage Of that measure, which no man
can reach without being convinced that
the measure and the method Of ils pass
age through the house was colossal
swindle. / assert that this measure new
er had the sanction Of this house. and II
does not possess the moral force OF law
Joseph Cannon, Congressional Record,
volume 4, part 6, Forth-fourth congress,
appendix, page 1877, said: This legis-
lation was bad in the Forty-second con.
gress, February IL, 1873, by bill to
regulate the minis Of the United States,
and practically abolish silver as money
by failing to provide for the coinage OF
the silver dollar. 1t was not discussed,
as shown by the record, and neither
members Of congress nor the people un-
dersiood the scope Of the legislation"