Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1896-09-14
To Friends of Bimeta11is,n.

The political campaign now in pro-
gress and the election to be held on
the Sd day Of next November involve
the most important economic and in
dustrial question ever presented for
the consideration of the American peo-
pie. 1t is whether the present gold
standard, with a continued fall of
prices, greater business stagnation, and
Intensified suffering among the poor,
shall be maintained, or silver be re-
stored to its former right of unre-
stricted coinage, thus establishing the
bimetallic monetary standard guaran-
teed by the constitution, and upon
which our people lived and prospered
from the founda ton Of the republic
down to the year 1878 It is question
freighted with momentous consequent
ces to humanity, and one which should
be carefully studied by every voter be-
fore he casts his ballot.
'This is a struggle between the
money power on the one hand and the
great army Of toilers and producers on
the other. The former is determined,
if possible, to maintain the existing
gold standard, believing that it's con-
slant rise in value gives an advantage
to those whose wealth is chiefly in the
form of money and money obligations.
With a very few exceptions the great
newspapers Of the country are directly
or indirectly controlled by the moneyed
classes and welded to the interests Of
wealth. No fortunate and favored class
advantages enjoyed by it-political, So
cial OF financial.
Every reform originates with and is
consummated by those who suffer from
the conditions complained of.
''The people chiefly injured by the ex-
listing monetary system are those en-
gagged in productive industry and those
who are burdened with debt Appre-
ciating money means that the produc
er must content himself with fewer and
fewer dollars for the same work, while
the debtor must turn over more and
more of the product Of his labor to sat
isfy the demands Of his creditor. AS
production is at the foundation of all
other industry, and very large pro-
portion Of the worlds business is done
on credit, it should be apparent that
general and continuous fall of prices
strikes at the very root of all human
prosperity.
'"This is the grave and vital ques-
ton now before us-the one great issue
of the presidential campaign. The
voter who neglects to study it well
fails in his duty to himself, to his
country and to his fellow man.
'By far the best method Of diffusing
education upon this subject is through
the medium of clubs and leagues or
unions. Such organizati tons bring the
voters together in compact bodies and
enable them to collectively obtain at
nominal rates the very best literature
extant This in turn leads to discus
sions, not only by speakers from the
platform but between individuals. AS
a result the chaf is separated from the
solid grain, the essential and material
matter is sifted out OF great mass that
question at all. The great contest is
now on, and it can only be settled at
the polls. To the end that the decision
may be right, the American Bimetallic
Union strongly urges the formation of
silver clubs and leagues in every State,
county, city, town and school district
in the Union.
"To all interested in the cause we
say, organize, and we will assist you
to the best of our ability Our means
are limited and the wealth Of the coun-
try is arrayed almost solidly against us,
but we will aid in the work of organiza-
ton and education to the utmost of our
ability. Such literature as can be fur
nished free we will provide gratuitous-
ly. and all that necessarily involves
expense VIII, Sc provided at cost. In
every legitimate way we will assist in
disseminating correct information up
on this subject, the correct solution of
which means so much to the people of
our common country. For detailed in