The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1896-08-15
MONEY And LABOR.
The Effect Of PFes Silver in Mexican
Republic.
THEIR DOLLARS WORTH 6S CENTS.
Effects Of DEPRECATED Currency on
LabOrers-The Mexican Dollar
Valued at Home by Gold
Standard.
THEIR DOLLARS WORTH So CENTS.

6uc0 III M61lCOs 0lEs 6JOu6 WIOG6 IN
reply as follows:
Chicago, Ill, Aug. 5.-My Dear
Friend: Your letter of the I'd inst. at
hand, and contents noted. You ask
me to give you my personal experience
In Mexico during the three years time
was there, and more particularly the
practical effect of "free silver" upon
the ordinary citizen and working
man." with such facts and figures as
will enable you to fairly judge the
question Of how you will cast your
vote at the coming election in the best
interests Of your country.
In reply to your question will say
that ! feel cOmplimented at your conf
dence in my ability to answer ques-
ton so important to the interests of
the American people at this time, and
more particularly our workingmen
generally, and l can assure you that
viii only give you "facts" that came
within my personal observation, and
in many instances with which had to
do or was in some way directly con.
nected.
To begin with, l Travelled through
Mexico from the Atlantic to the Pa
cifc, stopping at many of the large as
well as some of the small towns, purely
for the purpose of observation, and to
get acquainted with the business meth
DDS, customs, and manner of living of
the people generally. think l sue
ceeded admirably.
In the first place, Mexico is perhaps
the largest and most important of the
"free silver" countries on this hemis-
Phere, and this is what saw:
A country that was remarkably rich
in natural advantages, with fertility
of soil far superior to anything / have
ever seen in the United States land
there is little of this country have not
seen), with climate that was simply
superb, in the greatest portion of it;
with fine harbors, the best of water ia.
Cilities, and fairly good transportation
and railroad accommodation. In fact,
almost everything that makes a great,
rich, and prosperous nation, happy
and contented people, and the other
conditions that bring about the welfare
OF the "wage and his family,
and the peaceful enjoyment of the
"high-wages" that makes the 'laborer
worthy of his hire"
As you know, the Mexican silver dol. !
lar contains more and better silver
than the American Coin-yet 1t is
worth about 50 cents American money.
That is its exact purchasing power in
the markets of the world. 1 have
heard 1t asserted many times by the
advocates of the free coinage Of silver
IN this country that the purchasing
power Of the Mexican dollar is "SI in
their own country" thereby arguing
Cat least by innuendo) that it is as good
and valuable as any other dollar in
that country. This argument is mis-,
leading and dishonest. 1t is fallacy-
deny it absolutely. The Mexican
dollar in purchasing value is Just the
same In Mexico as 1t is in any other
country, dependent entirely on the un,
certain fluctuations of bullion silver
with the exception that there must be
deducted the bankers discount for
drafts or the railroads and steamships
charges, when the actual silver is
shipped.
In other words, the Mexican dollar
Duys-in Mexico, or in any other free
silver" countries-only the same guam
tity of goods of any kind that SO cents
OF American gold would buy; no more,
no less. Thus, il the price Of silver
rails, the price Of goods rises, and if
you give the merchant his choice, he
Will take the American gold every time ,
In preference to the money of his coun. :
try; aud this applies TO the gold of :
any other country. Every merchant !
With whom came I'm contact ems =
Oraeed opportunity to obtain rod, III. Il
stead Of silver; and the merchants ana p
business men generally, and OF every a
nationaNtg, 8thrpughout the, country.
nsbt OF them iof long experience, ex. !
pressed the opinion that free silver" :
Was The Course Of the republic" have =
talked with many of them with mo
other abjecS than to learn.
NoV5as to the condition of the work v
nEman. The native laborer Ccalled Q
'peOns') get from 80 cents to SI25 per y
lay in silver. They work hard and in. v
lustrlously on an average about nine Y
hours per day. This is the top wages 8
n the hardest Kind of employment g
uch as railroad building and public
FORKS. Other kinds of employment
70 paid in proportion. Q,
Tho average workman lives in an "
adobe" house, which is made of sun e,