The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-03
M1NE.owNERs' PLOT.
Their scheme to Double the Value of Their
silver Bullion.


The free-coinage propaganda. which is alone
responsible for tie turmoil into which tho
country is now plunged, and for the disgrace.
| full position in which a time honored political
/ party finds itself was organized. fostered, and
| supported by men wko had a direct personal
| interest in advancing tile price of silver bull
| lion, who have been known for years as
| owners of mines and stock in mining COM
panes or attorneys for stich companies, and
to whom at the present day The passage OF
| freescoinage law would mean the doubling OF
their possessions in silver bullion, present and
prospective
The Comstock Lode, of Nevada, and the
| forces controlling it, gave the first strong i'm
petus to the demand for free coinage 1t has
been represented Tor many years III 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 interested in silver min
ing and in silver speculation. Senator Jones
has made and lost several fortunes in mines
and in milling silver ores. de Is recognized
as the strongest and best real advocate oil bi-
metallsm as theory in Congress. IT net ia the
country. Senator y. p. Hill, of Colorado, was
a few years ago q strong coadjutor Of Senators
Jones and Stewart in the silver propaganda.
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 Gran
ite Mountain Nine in Montana, whose stock Is
chiefly held III Missouri. The late Senator
Hearst made fortune, at one time estimated
at $50. GOO 000 chiefly out OF silver mining, and
his voice and vote were naturally added to
those of the Western advocates OF Tree coinage.
The list of those who, eight years ago aud car
Her. urged the free coinage of silver Is composed,
SO far as the more prominent names are con-
cerned of mine owners, mine attorneys, or
lr nd I'm
ver mining, while The minor advocates from
the agricultural States were either at one time
openly in the greenback ranks or secretly III
sympathy with iatsm.
Bat is was the sill YER mine owners and their
representatives who furnished at the outset the
funds for the spread OF the free coinage deius-
ion. The admission OF the new States greatly
added to their strength in the Senate, and made
a majority in the Electoral College in the future
mere than possibility. 1t was, however only
three years ago that the work of concentrating
effort for the silver propaganda began III earnest
in the complete organization OF the Bimeiail!c
League. This organization, which has been
more responsible than any other Tor the spread
of silver faliacics among he masses, was started
with funds furnished by the mino owners of
Colorado. Utah. Idaho Nevada and Montana.
Its Vice President, who was delegate 10 the
Chicago Convention, Is the manager OF the
Ontario and Daily Mines, at Park City, Utah,
which are chiefly owned by the Hearst estate.
Its Treasurer is the Private Secretary OF Sena-
tor Jones, of Nevada. It's work has been made
possible by tue fixed and regular contributions
from men whose personal interest in increasing
the price Of silver bullion is paramount to any
general interest III the condition OF the masses.
Thoroughly organized from the outset, and
with ample funds to hire lecturers and to print
and distribute literaturesbhs, Timetable League
early directed its Efforts to the Central, West
! S..tnc Ifa (Snr, rDCC mr.
Representatives poured out an upcnaing flood
o! speeches in Senate sand House, WHICH were
forwarded in steady stream in franked Gu
veIopes through the mails, into nearly every
farmhouse and home in the sections named.
Speakers like W. J. Bryan were hired az
monthly salary to deliyer addresses in school
houses aud public halls. The ming interests,
furnished the money! bat Kept as far as possi-'
bic in the dark. In all the States, month by
month, local organizations were perfected.
Later came the American Silver Party, III
| tended 10 attract and hold Republicans in
Republican States but WHICH drew little from
the Democrats, even then safely grayitating
toward the Populists. Il
When, early last Winter, it was announced
by the leaders tina. tie time had come for a
bold stroke. the representatives Of the miners
in the Senate threw off their mask, broke
| through party lines and boldly proclaimed
| that no remedial legislation would be per-
mitted which was not preceded by the enaet-
ment into law of FREQ coinage bill. The
| issue thus preciptated upon the country,
| forced upon the st. Louis Republican Convex
! ton, and trumphantly heralded at Chicago.
| when the representatives Of the mining States,
Republican and Populist, sat as guests of honor
! pom the platform, and joined in the yeils OF
/ Joy which greeted Bryans nomination..
! If a line be drawn north and south just west
of Nebraska, it will include the states from
which the money has come to push forward tho
silver propaganda. A dozen milionaires were
| at the bottom Of the movement and q hundred
men of scarcely less wealth were the chief
abettors. Every one Of these States has either
mining as its chief industry or is dependent
/ commercially upon the mines. The merchants.
| the farmers the stock growers, the iabOring
men find their local market in the mining
| camps or through the mining camps. The rail-
| roads largely depend upon the mining and al
lied industries for their most profitable freight.
| California is filed with owners of Nevada,
| Utah, and Montana mines. Oregon and Wash
/ ington are cose y connected commercially with
supplying the adjacent mining States. Profit
from the mines meaus profit for all classes who
| have dealings with tho camps. The fever OF
enthusiasm for free coinage in these States is
primarily one OF present and immediate per-
sonal interest, 1t was shrcwdly taken ad van
tage of by the bullion producers TO secure large
| aud steady contributions to what was called
| "the cause"
For three years past the miners have been
/ adding their aggregated mites to the large aud
| increasing funds for the spread Of tho free
coinage gospel East. The mine owners have
| never ceased in their own contributions The
amount of money spent in this work has been
enormous in the aggregate. IL has been used
in q daily campaign of education, which has
been carried on while the advocates Of sound
currency were in great degree ignorant of the
dangerous forces in operation. 1t has produced
its effect in spreading everywhere, in attractive
form, the most dangerous fallacies in finance
in uniting the forces of fatsm, Populism and
Democracy in advocacy of silver monometal
lsm, and in capturing the Conventions of two
political parties. The result is the triumph o
the mine owners shrewdness, foresight an(
business judgment in the collection aud distri
button of funds. But it has been the work o
men with an eye single to their own interests
engaged in venture to double the value of thu
bullion which they have for sale.
The Conquering Britisher.
North A,lcricdn ReuieW.
Every year there are carried away from
! the shores of Great B4RRiA so many hnndret
thousand Of oar young men. They are TIN
restless class; most of them have prove'