Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-08-28
A GIGANTIC CONSPIRACY.
The Origin and Development of
the Free Silver Movement.

SJduudTu, Wulle Tree silver is Jne cause Vi
the "common people" with little or no
money and nothing but "a principle of
eternal right" to sustain it. This pretence
arouses the wrath of every honest man
when the facts are known.
The free silver movement as it exists to-
day is the result and outcome of the work
of the millionaire silver mine owners, per-
sistently carried on, and backed by their
money. This silver propaganda, which
began its work before 1878, had its origin
in the wish of the mine owners to sell their
bullion at a price higher than it would
bring in the open market. These men,
who had already made great fortunes and
obtained seats in the United States Senate
through their shrewdness, were obliged to
content themselves for a time with "com-
promise" purchases of silver by the govern
ment, but even these purchases could not
enhance or even maintain the market price
of silver, so the silver senators set about
manufacturing a sentiment for free coin
age. 1t cost a great deal of money to do
this, but they could afford to spend mil
lions out of their great surplus, for in the
event of success their profits for time
would be enormous. They skilfully con-
trived to summon to their support all of
the advocates of fat money, particularly
the old Greenbackers; they captured the
Populists, easily led to sanction anything
opposed in their belief to the money powers
of the East, and now they have secured,
by the aid of Populists and Greenbackers,
control of the Democratic party.
But it was the silver mine owners and
their representatives who furnished at the
outset the funds for the spread of the free
coinage delusion, and it was not until three
years ago that concentrated work began in
the complete organization of the bimetallic
league. This organization, which has
been more responsible than any other for
the spread of silver fallacies among the
masses, was started with funds furnished
by the mine owners of Colorado, Utah,
Idaho, Nevada and Montana. Its vice
president, who was a delegate to the Chi
cago convention, is the manager of the On
tario and Daily mines at Park City, Utah,
which are chiefly owned by the Hearst es-
tate. Its treasurer is the private secretary
of Senator Jones of Nevada. Its work has
been made possible by the fixed and regu-
lar contributions from men whose personal
interest in increasing the price of silver
bullion is paramount to any general inter-
est in the condition of the masses.
The Comstock Lode of Nevada and the
forces controlling it gave the first strong
impetus to the demand for free coinage.
1t has been represented for many years in
the Senate by Senators Jones and Stewart,
of Nevada. Both are men of large ability
as writers and speakers. Both have been
for many years deeply and personally in
terested in silver mining and in silver spec
ulation. Senator Jones has made and lost
several fortunes in mines and in milling
-sit<-r ores. He is recognized as the strong
est and best real advocate of bimetallism
as theory in Congress, if not in the coun-
try. Senator n. p. Hill, of Colorado, was
a few years ago strong coadjutor of Sen.
ators Jones and Stewart in the silver pro.
paganda. His entire fortune has come
from the mines and from the smelling OF
ores.
Senator Teller is large owner of mining
stocks. Senator Vest of Missouri classes
among his strongest personal friends the
owners of the great Granite Mountain mine
in Montana, whose stock is chiefly held in
Missouri. The late Senator Hearst made
a fortune, at one time estimated at $780,
100000, chiefly out of silver mining, and
his voice and vote were naturally added to
lnOSG vi lhC w CoNtlll dNlNOOdlCS VI lItt GULL
age. The list of those who eight years age
and earlier urged the free coinage of silver
is composed, so far as the more promi
nent names are concerned, of either mine
owners, mine attorneys or those directly OF
indirectly connected with silver mining
while the minor advocates from the agri.
cultural states were either at one time
openly in the greenback ranks or secretly
in sympathy with fiatsm.
Thoroughly organized from the outset
and with ample funds to hire lecturers,
and to print and distribute literature, the
bimetallic league early directed its efforts
to the Central, Western and Southern
states. Its congressional representatives
poured out an unending flood of speeche:
in Senate and House, which were forward
ed in a steady stream, in franked envel
opes, through the mails, into nearly every
farm house and home in the sections
named. Speakers like W. j. Bryan were
hired at a monthly salary to deliver ad
dresses in schoolhouses and public halls
The mining interests furnished the money
but kept as far as possible in the dark. Ii
all the states month by month local Organi
cations were perfected. Later came the
American Silver party intended to attract
and hold Republicans in Republican states
but which drew little from the Democrat:
even then safely gravitating towards the
Populists.
When, early last winter, it was an
nounced by the leaders that the time haC
come for bold stroke the representative!
of the miners in the Senate threw off theil
mask, broke through party lines, ant
boldly proclaimed that no remedial legisla
ton would be permitted which was no
preceded by the enactment into law of {
free coinage bill The issue was thus pre-
cipitated upon the country, forced upor
the st. Louis Republican convention anC
triumphantly heralded at Chicago, wheI
the representatives of the mining states
Republican and Populist, sat as guests o
honor upon the platform and Joined in tn,
yells of JOY which greeted Bryan's nomina
ton.
If line be drawn North and South jus
west of Nebraska, it will include the state
from which the money has come to pusl
forward the silver propaganda. A dozeI
millionaires were at the bottom of tn
movement and hundred men of scarcel,
less wealth were the chief abettors. Tn
mine owners have never ceased their con
tributions, and the amount of money spen
has been enormous in the aggregate.
has been used in daily campaign of edu
cation" which has been carried on Will
the advocates of a sound money currenc
were in a great degree ignorant of the dan
gerous forces in operation. 1t has pro
duced its effect in spreading everywhere
in attractive form, the most dangerous fal
lacies in finance, in uniting the forces o
fiatism, Populism and Democracy in advo
cacy of silver monometallism and in cap