Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-10-09
Bryan and wall street.

To Hon. Bourke Cochran:
When YOU and Bryan were I'm Congress
YOU argued against the income-tax anu
he argued for IT, The newspapers say
that Wall street has retained you 10 ioi-
low Bryan and try TO break the iorce VI
the truths he speaks. You profess 10
motive except a patriotic desire 10 en-
tighten men who lack intelligence 10 au-
preeiate the Wall-street view OF the
functions Of government If you are noe
trying to deceive, If you are dealing
honestly with the people you will speak
to and answer the following questions;
Did not Mr.. Sherman. Of Brooklyn
prove that less than 31.ooO persons now
own more than half OF the Sj5,V9oVo'Wo
Of wealth IN the United States
Are not our laws so framed that the
day laborer pays as much as vanderbilt
of such taxes as the tax on sugar. Would
not an income-tax even up the burden
OF taNation2
Has not a syndicate obtained control,
within the last few years, OF ell the ran
roads running into the anthracite-coal re-
gion? Does not this syndicate, OF less
than twenty "dangerously-rich men,
limit the production Of coal, fix the price
10 consumers. and fix the wages paid 10
miners? Has not this syndicate, within
the past three months, advanced the price
sufficiently to net them a profit OF more
than $4,000 eco? Here are the figures:
ANTHRACITE COAL TRUST
1893. 1876.
Production. i'm tons. .. &c, $1,000 100000
Price per ton ............ S-W 80
Miners wages, lower in 1896 than in 1898.
Before this trust was organized pro-
duction was increasing at the rate OF
!. 600 tons a year; since the trust was
organized the increase has been less tiah
100000 tons year.
Is not this trust I'm violation OF law?
VIII II NOT be broken up II Bryan IS
elected. with a Congress faithful to the
Chicago PLATFORM Is not this trust
and every similar combination 20 milk
the masses" against Bryan? Why are
they against him. Is II because they
wish TO protect national honor?
Is IT not an open secret on Wall street
that all labor organizations will be broken
up II Mckinley is elected?
SILVER.
II the coinage ratio be the same as the
market ratio will not a silver dollar be
worth as much as a gold dollar? You
dare not give a direct answer. because
you know perfectly well that no Con-
ETesS WOulu a tDliltbt iANc
ent from the market rate. You realize
that the average voter knows that. IL
the mint is opened to silver gold Sill
depreciate and silver will appreciate
Every man understands that the market
ratio which exists between gold and boy
cotted, demonetized silver. IS not the mar
ket ratio, which win exist when silver Is
restored as a money metal. You know
perfectly well that. il the metals do not
come together at the old ratio OF 10 to !
Bryan will be the first man to propose 9
new ratio. You know perfectly we'll thai
this CHATTER about a 5O-cent dollar Is
pure rot" designed 10 stampede fools.
If the mint is open to both gold snc
silver. to be coined at their market ratio
will We not have twice as much. money
metal as We have when the mint is closec
to silver? When one becomes scarce
will we not coin the other If the mint b
open to both? Did not both the United
States and France shift from one to III
other when either was scarce? Here ar
the figures. French coins are reduced 4
| dollars for convenience OF contrast:
France coined