The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1896-08-21
JUSTICE slcELow,s VIEWS.
Nevada's Great JurIst Says Free Coin
are VIII Injure Silver Miners.


ago VIII Injure Silver Miners.
Chief Justice R. r. Bigelow OF the
supreme court of Nevada had letter
in a recent issue of the Reno (Nev)
Gazette which states some OF the ef-
fects of 16 to free coinage very clear
ly. Here is part OF his letter:
1t is not to be denied that the Re-
publicans of this state are hard hit by
the action of the st. Louis convention
upon the monetary question. The free
coinage of silver is believed to be so
much to the advantage of Nevada as
silver producer, and we have for so
many years heard nothing but free
coinage "at 16 to 1" arguments, that
we have almost come to the conclusion
that no one can think otherwise who is
not a scoundrel bought with British
gold. But there is another side to the
question that is believed in sincerely
by millions of as pure patriots as any
who believe in free coinage of silver.
Any man who says that this country
can alone double the value Of all the
silver of the world and bring it and
gold to par is either ignorant OF the
lessons of the past or he willfully shuts
his eyes to them. If the free silver
ties carry the election this fall on their
16 to / platform, it will not only par
alyze business-it will utterly destroy
it. There will be scarcely bank or
business house in the land that will not
90 down before the storm. 1t will send
gold to almost 100 per cent premium,
and, as measured with silver, every
thing else will go up in value with
it, but as it will take twice as many
| dollars as now to buy the same ar
| ticle it will be of no earthly advantage
| to any one except to the man VINO
| owes debts that he has not promised
to pay in gold. His silver dollars will
pay such a debt just as during the wal
greenbacks would pay one, although
worth but 33 cents on the dollar, bu1
they will only buy half as much toul
or clothing or groceries as now.
But if he owes money to banks OF
money lenders-and who does not?-
who have all protected themselves DJ
gold contracts, he will have to take
two of his silver dollars to buy one II
gold, and at the same time, owing II
the general stagnation in business, the!
will be harder to get hold Of than golt
| dollars are now. 1t will be Of no ad
vantage to the silver states, bscaus'
their silver will be just as hard to ge
from the ground as now, and a pount
of it will buy no more steel or pow
der or any of the necessaries of lif
than now.
But the laboring man will be tn
one who will suffer the most. Tn
Comstock miner will still get 81 pc
day, the laborer So and the clerk Sc
to S75 per month, but it will be in sill
yer, and, as it is now in Mexico, 1t vii
only buy for his family or himself one
half what it will to-day. The same will
be the case with the crippled veterans
their widows and orphans, who ar
now getting pensions. Its effect viii
be to scale their pensions. Its effec
will be to scale their pensions dow
one-half.
There is not one of the arguments G
the silverites that cannot be complete
ly and successfully refuted. Free coin
age at 16 to 1 by this country alon
cannot possibly benefit any one, but
can bring fearful distress upon all.