The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-07-29
A HORRIBLE CRIME.
of Iron About 2,2OO
Years Ago.


Years Ago.
Alexander p. Hull, of Atlanta, is a
strong 16 to / man. He does not be-
leive in halfway measures. The free
coinage of silver idea is too tame for
him. He is willing to see the silverites
and to go them 100 points better.
Here is his declaration, proposition
and argument:
Having been deeply impressed by
the argument of Judge Crisp, Bryan,
Stewart, Jones and other silver leaders;
and especially greived, shocked and
Mortified by the awful crime of 1879
as so luridly depicted daily in the col
ums of the Atlanta Constitution and
other silver organs, have changed my
views on the money question and am
ready to maintain the propositions
following in joint debate or newspaper
controversy.
II accept the arguments of the advo-
Gates of silver and agree with their
remedy as far as it goes. However, it
does not go far enough. Let US have
plenty of remedy-in fact, enough to
make debt and poverty things of the
past-relics of the dark ages. lam in
favor of the free and unlimited coin
age of pig iron at ratio of 16 to l
with gold by the United States alone,
independently of all nations, and can
prove by the bestauthority obtainable
that such a policy on the part of the
United States will raise prices, put
plenty of money in circulation, and
give the honest debtor a chance to
pay his debts, therby making the
whole country prosperous.
'Now in the first place, it may be
urged by some who do not understand
the subjects of standards of values,
that free coinage act would not raise
it's price to a ratio of 16 to with gold.
To them 1 reply that the stamp of
this government and the legal tender
qualities of the iron dollar would in
stantly make the bullion value of pig
iron the same as the mint value. For
who would part withan ounce of this
precious metal for ANYTHING less than
the mint ualue?' Stewart, Jones and
Bryan.
"Again, it may be urged that our
minis would be overcrowded with pig
iron. I reply that the price of pig iron
having been raised from $3.50 ton to
a ratio of So to with gold the world
over no one would especially care to
carry it to the minis. since the mint
price could be obtained anywhere in
the open market. atlanta Consti-
tution.)
Next, it may be urged that gold
and silver would SO out of circulation.
I reply, first, "This is is mere as
sumption of the tools of the money
power which they cannot verify AT
lanta Constitution; second, Suppose
gold and silver do go out of circula-
tion, is there not plenty of pig iron to
take their place and give the people
plenty of money? Bryan, and, third,
Such an assumption mixes the idea
of circulating medium and standard
of value, that gold and silver would
still be potential money metals,
though not in circulation, and would
lend their help toward raising prices
and causing general prosperity. (Crisp.)
"Then, again, it may be urged
against the pig iron standard of value
that wages would not rise in proper
tion to prices. The reply is, Wages
would be compelled to rise, since no
man would be fool enough to work for
81 day who could make $1,000 per
day picking up rusty nails and old
horseshoes and carrying them to the
mint for coinage HULL
SIN addition it may be urged by the
money power, by the Wall street
sharks and the Bond street Shylocks'
that we could not alone go on pig iron
basis without an international agree
ment. TO such dastards as dare to
lay limit to the power of the
American people to do what they
please, Independently of all nations, 1
hurl their cowardice and lack of
patriotism back in their faces. ;
(Bryan.)
1.-THE crime of demonetizing pig
iron took place about 2,200 years ago,
when certain 'goldolators' and silver
ties, in order to increase the purchas-
ing power of their i'll gotten wealth,
secretly and like thieves in the uight'