The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-14
Samuel Sachs.


Samuel Sachs, managing partner of
Sachs Brothers & Co., one of the largest
importing and iobbing establishments in
the City, was emphatic in the expression
of his views. II have been consistent
Democrat all my life, but I am through
and through gold man and could not con-
scientiously support the PopulistIc plat
form which riotous mob at Chicago has
tolsted upon the Democratic party.
IF the silver question is settled in the
demagogic manner that the Democratic
platform prescribes we may look for a
business panic such as America has never
experienced. The trouble is the people of
this country are not educated on this ques-
ton. They do not know what silver dol
lar means, and the owners OF silver mines
have taken advantage of this fact. 1t was
simply a scheme of theirs whereby they
hope to get the United States to place the
American eagle and the Goddess OF Lib
erty upon 50 cents worth of silver and
MAKE il worth dollar.
"If this measure should come into oper-
alton the merchant would still have to
pay for all imported goods IN gold. He
will have to accept silver in payment for
them and the consumer will be Obliged 10
pay propOVtionate to the difference IN the
two money values. The consumer, who is
primarily the farmer, the miner and the
Iaborer generally, is paid in silver dollars.
The purchasing power Of these will be re-
duced from 40 to 80 per cent In place of
buying an article for 81, as at present,
they will have to pay 81 so.
sit is a fallacy to think the wage-earner
will receive more pay. Wages are regu-
lated by the inevitable rule of supply and
demand.
"This entire movement comes from the
silver-producing States. Whereas now sill
yer is worth 80 cents it would be worth 81,
but would the owners Of mines increase
wages proportionately2 Decidedly not.
Moreover, the honor of the country is
at stake. The people of these United
States, not to speak of residents of foreign
countries VINO own United States bonds,
expect to be paid in what they have re-
Gently been compelled to pay for them,
gold. The Democratic platform presumes
to say the Government has no right to
promise to pay anything except that
which it pieases, whether silver, gold or
greenbacks.
81 am bitterly opposed to the free coin
age of silver, but my opposition is not as a
merchant. Neither am l banker or a
capitalist. AS merchant 1t will not ma
terially affect me. AS soon as party ad-
vocating such a measure assembled into
power prices would Immediately be en-
HANGED in exact proportion to the value OF
gold above silver, so the consumer would
be the one most seriously affected. Every
person having money in building and
loan society or in savings bank will be
detrim entally affected. The man who has
put 500 in gold in building and loan
society will receive 500 in silver, or S55 in
gold value in return. The same will be
true Of the savings banks.
Mexico is a silver country. A Mexican
dollar is worth so or 65 cents. When the
Mexican merchant wishes to remit he has
to paw in that proportion. If the silver
Of no Ilar
America would stand upon the same
footing.
what has California to do with silver
During the war California was the only
State that stood out firmly for gold, and
to-day it wants silver. Can any one tell
why2 During the war there was an ex-
preston he has "greenbacked" you,
meaning he has robbed you. That is what
the Democracy asks Uncle Sam to do to.
day. The Democratic party asks Uncle
Sam to discharge his obligations as does
the bankrupt, at so cents on the dollar,
yet Uncle Sam is not bankrupt. Where
there is no credit there is no trade, nc
traffic, and the United States cannot afford
to build wall around itself.
Free silver coinage would mean to
make this country a dumping-ground fol-
silver from all the countries of the world
Upon this the stamp of the United States
would be put to make it into dollars
Inese are the uOllaIs WnlCn VIII rem" ~
with us. All the gold dollars, save those
which will be taken out of circulation tc
be locked in safe-deposit vaults, will be
taken away Then will follow the catas
trophe.
IF no true Democratic platform is put
up will vote for Mckinley, though l am
opposed to extreme protection. do mol
consider the platform framed at Chicago
in any sense Democratic-it is Popullstic
1t was rushed through by band Of young
bloods, who com pletely ignored the ma
tured wisdom of the party.
II do not sympathize with those who
say they will not vote at all because the
Democratic convention made mistake.
A vote for Mckinley means two against
free silver, and | wish to make my
vote count as much as possible. do Tot
1....a4 -. - ---.--..-.. -...oAonA;o.. NJ