Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-09-04
WHOLE NUMBER 1908.
THE MONEY QUESTION.
NORTHERN PACIFIC EMPLOYEES
ASKED TO INVESTIGATE.
Applicants Will he Furnished In
formation on Both Sides of the
Question and Are Asked 10 Conc
slider and Decide for Themselves
1t Seems to He a Fair PROPOSE
ton.

plains itself, has been mailed from St.
Paul to the employees OF the Northern
Pacific Railway company. The first
copies were received at Tacoma last
week. 1t is simply request that
all employees should carefully examine
the questions at issue in the recent
campaign that they may cast their
ballots, knowing what they are doing:
"To all employees of the Northern
Pacific Railway company: The deep
interest that is manifested by all
classes of people throughout the pres-
ent political campaign is due to the
fact that upon the decision OF the
voters at the polls in November next
will depend the future prosperity and
happiness OF millions OF wage workers
throughout the land.
The advocates of the cause OF free
silver claim that the enactment OF laws
which shall declare that an ounce of
silver shall hereafter possess a value
of $1.29 and that the holder of silver
may have it coined free of cost in any
United States mint and that the re.
sulting coin may be used in payment
OF all debts, excepting those, of course,
in which it is provided that payment
shall be made on gold basis, will
bring prosperity and plenty to all.
1.-The advocates of the gold standard
claim that legislation or legal enact
ment cannot increase the value of SO
cents worth of silver to ST. or increase
the value of silver bullion from 81
cents to $1.29 an ounce; that the free
coinage of silver upon this basis, will,
temporarily, and until such time as
prices can be adjusted as to meet the
new conditions, result in making it
profitable for people within and with
out this country Gn fact in all parts of
the worldly to send their silver to the
United States mints and immediately
double its value by the process of coin
age; that the result of this action will
be to largely increase the nominal
value OF gold and to make it COM
mand a premium as coinage metal; ;
to cause it to disappear entirely so far
as its use as money is concerned; to
greatly increase the cost of all articles
and staples which were bought upon a
gold and must be sold upon a silver
basis; to force into bankruptcy those
individuals and corporations who are
borrowers, and who, in accordance
with custom, have promised to pay
their obligations with gold.
"This question is one OF the great
est Importance to every railroad cor
poration in the United States, and it
follows, as a matter OF course, that it
is equally important to the employees
of such railroads, for their fortunes
must vary with those of the railroad
upon which they depend for money
income given in exchange for their
labor.
1t is not the intention nor purpose
OF the management to require or even
request the employees to act or to vote
upon this or any other question other.
wise than in accordance with the
dictates OF their own judgment. As to
tho course which will best promote
their own individual interests and
those OF the community is one of such
vital Importance to them as we'll as to
this company, it seems desirable that
it should be carefully considered dur.
ing the time between now and next
November and you are earnestly re-
quested to study the question with all
the care that its Importance merits.
1t is certainly impracticable to con.
slider any question without looking at
both sides. Men who believe in the
gold standard should consider the argu.
ments OF those who advocate the free
coinage OF silver and men who believe
that the free coinage OF silver will
restore prosperity to take the place OF
the period of depression and care
which has prevailed during the past
four years, should consider the claims
and arguments Of those who favor q
gold-standard.
The management proposes to
furnish to such OF its employees as may
desire to study this question and who,
because of their location are prevented
from having free access to the current
publications upon the topics herein
referred to, all of the standard publica-
tions upon both or either side issued
by the gold or the silver party or both.
This proposition is made in entire good
faith and it is hoped that it will be
generally accepted. An endeavor will
be made to supply information called
for fully and promptly.
Yours, very truly,
j. w. KENDRICK,
General Manager"