The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-05
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE SAFE REMEDY.
INTERNATIONAL BIMETALLIsM EXPLAINED
Mp A / DILL

INTERNATIONAL BIMETALLIsM EXPLAINED BY
Mr.. A. ]. DILL.
To the Editor of The Call SIR: Since free
coinage OF silver would be manifold curse
to the United States and International bimet-
allism would be boon, according to the Re-
publican platform which condemns the one
and is pledged to promote the other; and since
free coinage is easily understood while inter
national bimetallism appears.to be a sort of
ignis fatuus or financial flea to those who do
not understand what Republicans mean as
they use the term, it seemed proper thing
for me, although Populist, to ask some good
Mckinley Republican 10 tell me just what we
would have In place of free coinage if we
could ever induce "the leading commercial
nations of the earth TO give up the single gold
standard and adopt system unknown in the
financial history OF the world; ana also asked
this Mckinley Republican 10 show how free
coinage would be curse when international
bimetallism would be boon to all the COM
meIcial nations.
Happily my appeal was not in vain, for A.
J. Dill has made reply and has rendered a
service for which l thank him, although he
states that his purpose is ito say something
for the benefit of the honest and well-meaning
voter" rather than TO satisfy me. So far as
am able to Judge think there is no reason
whatever that justifies Mr.. Dill in anything
have written, said or done for excluding me
from the class he designates as honest and
well-meaning voters, and shall leave 1t to the
readers of THE CALL 10 judge whether 1t was
kind or fair for Mr.. Dill 10 imply such ex-
clusion.
The greater part of Mr.. Dill's reply or ex-
PLANTATION is devoted to criticism in disparage-
ment of those whom he designates monometal-
lists, in which 1 agree with him; but must
dissent when he says that cable advocates of
free silver coinage at the ratio of Is to adj
nit that the country may go to silver basis
if their theory prevails l must challenge
that statement. / deny it. and MT. Din must
name these liable advocates or admit his mis-
take. In the meantime let Mr.. Dill inform the
honest and well-meaning voter as to whether
this country was on silver basis in 1873 and
for eighty years prior. One line of fact is
worth whole volumes OF theory, especially
such theory as that offered by Mr.. Dill and
other Mckinley Republicans on The subject OF
free coinage.
But let us pass on to Mr. DIPS explanation
OF international bimetailism, found in
his last paragraph. He says: "Bimetal-
lists contend that if some intermedi-
ate point between is and 30 could be
agreed upon and that ratio maintained q
while then 16 TO / could be reached and main
tanned" In a word, the harm done, the dis
aster caused by the restoration OF silver to free
coinage at 16 10 l, would be obviated by his
plan. fear that it is too much like the boys
plan TO cut off part of the dogs tail at a time
so as not 10 hurt the dog so much.
But let us assume that "some intermediat
point between 10 and 80 could be agreed npon
and that ratio maintained q while" What
follows? II we make 1t halfway, at %, then it
would hurt the pensioner and the laborer (and
the mult-miilionaireD only half as much as to
go at once from 80 to 16. Is that it, Mr.. Dill !?
II SO, then what becomes of the present silver
coins until they can be recoined? Are they
money! If so, what kind? How would a dol
lar or 5O-eent piece be rated 2 What would
they be worth In fact, would we have any
silver coin for present use =?
OF course understand that our present dol
lar would be rs cents at the ratio of % to l.,
and half dollar would oe 3715 cents. quar-
ter dollar 1881 cents and a dime ~ cents.
But how would IL WORK. fear that the people
would not like it and would prefer to be hurt
twice as much, if they would be hurt al all,
and at once go back to the same old ratio
which worked so well from 1892 to 1878, and