The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-10-16
THE SILVER TRUST.
MONSTER COMBINE OF THE MEN
WHO OWN MINES.

Silver Orators Have Nothing to Say About
tho Big Trust Which Is Behind the
Silver Standard Movement, Nor OF the
Mischief 1t Has Worked.
The free silver orators have a great
deal to say about trusts and combines
and monopolies, as in some vague and
unexplained way illustrating the evils
of the gold standard. But they are
scareful to say nothing about that gi-
gantic trust in whose service they are
evolutionary of them as it's hired
tools and agents. They say nothing
about that monster combine Of silver
mine owners. which Is behind the silver
standard movement. Between thirty
and forty men control the great bulk
Of the silver output of America. But
their aggregate realized wealth from
their mines is computed at not less
than $500.000,000, while they are the
possessors of many times more po-
tential wealth in the hidden stores Of
their silver mines.
For twenty years, or since the first
sharp decline in silver aroused them to
the Importance of uniting to procure
legislation which would raise the price
of their product, this colossal trust OF
multi-millionaires has been engaged in
an unceasing conspiracy to make the
government of the United States their
instrument in forcing their product
upon the American people. To this end
they have filed the Hobbies of congress
with their paid agents. They have sub
sidized all men of oratorical ability
who were approachable to their seduc-
tions. They have organized literary
and lecture bureaus supported by their
contributions, and have kept them at
work deluging the country with free
silver speeches, books and pamphlets.
While the business classes were asleep
on the subject, utterly unaware Of
what was going on this monster COM
bine Of multi millionaire mine owners
has been busily at work, with an or
ganized silver propaganda in their pay,
disseminating their arguments and ap-
peals for opening the minis to the free
coinage of silver. Their missionaries
have controlled the Populist party.
They have enlisted many Of the lead
ers of labor organizations. Their hired
agents have been necessarily employed
for many years among the labor I'M
ions, among the farmers, among the
rank and file Of both political parties,
in the effort to- make them believe that
the free coinage of silver was the sure
panacea for all the real or Imaginary
evils or misfortunes they were suffer-
ing. With untiring perseverance they
have been working through all these
agencies to obtain control of congress
and the government, in order to force
the opening Of the minis to the unlim-
tied coinage Of silver.
Twice they came near accomplishing
their conspiracy, and the country was
only saved from this calamity by the
two successive compromise measures
known as the Bland and Sherman bills.
both of which were dictated by the sill
yer combine. In both cases their con-
fdence that this wider artificial market
for their silver would raise its price
was disappointed. Under the latter act
silver declined more rapidly than ever.
The enormous purchases of silver for
three years had brought the govern
ment to the brink of insolvency and of
forced descent to the silver standard.
Then came the panic of 1898 and the re-
peal Of the purchase act in response to
the universal demand of the country.
Then the work of the silver propa-
ganda was renewed on a far larger
scale and with greater energy and &C.
tivity than ever before, with a view
this time to capture not only congress,
but the presidency and the supreme
court. To accomplish this purpose they
allied themselves with all the forces Of
L
They organized the Bimetallic league.
They flooded the country with specious
and plausible silver literature of every
sort. They multiplied their legions of
hired orators and missionaries and re-
doubled their efforts to obtain control
of the organization Of the Democratic
party, as they had already obtained
control Of the Populists, and of a mum.
Der Of leading men in the labor organ
izations.
As the final result Of their twenty
years crusade this colossal silver COM
bine has succeeded in debating the
Democratic nomination for president Of
one Of their servants, William J. Bry-
an, backed by fusion Of the Demo-
cratic and Populist parties. Confident
that as the result Of twenty years of
PIoPd6duuioIi tuty Adu
sufficiently befuddled the reason and
the consciences of the rank
and file OF the American people. they
have dared to risk their cause upon a
final appeal, not to the reason, but to
the supposed class hatreds, to the pref
udices, to the discontents, and to the
of the masses. The Amer
lean people have accepted this insult
ing challenge and they will give their
answer next November.
And yet these men have the impu-
dence to talk of trusts, these men who
are enlisted in the service of the most
trust that ever reared its
head In any country in the world. For
all other trusts and combines and mon
opolies that were ever organized by
human selfishness sink into insignifi-
canoe beside the colossal rapacity of
the combine of the silver miners. 9th
Or trusts and combines are satisfied to
raise in some not too exasperating de-
gree the prices of their wares. But this
silver combine deliberately
proposes to make money for themselves
out OF the financial ruin and dishonor
Of their country. They propose to
make their profits through a more stu
pendous scheme Of fraud and robbery