The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-29
BY UNION LEADERS
A Document That Will Benefit the
Cause of Silver.
SENT OVER THE COUNTRY
They VIII Be Hung In Labor Halls
and Distributed Among All
Classes of voters-Re-
ceived In Butte.
SENT OVER THE COUNTRY


| nation which has been issued and is
signed by the principal officers of the
leading labor unions of the country
Copies of this proclamation have been
received by +. b. Howell of this city
and they will soon be framed and hung
up In the halls of the labor unions In
this state as well as elsewhere through
out the United States. The proclama-
ton is addressed to the members OF
organized labor and all other produc-
ers and toilers throughout the United
States" and is as follows:
In view of the general distress now
prevailing throughout our country,
which has existed for so many years,
and which will continue until remedial
legislation is enacted, and all this oc-
curing, too, at a time when our
granaries are full to repletion, and
when, in the natural order of things.
our producers and toilers should be
enjoying to the full, the fruit of their
hard and conscientious labors, 1t seems
to us that the time has come for united
action on the part of those who create
the wealth of the country.
The respective demands and plat
forms of principles of our several Or
CARNATIONS set forth our opinions as
to the causes that have brought about
this condition of things. Inasmuch as
the leading representatives and friends
of all our organizations have placed
one of the causes of our tribulations
of our beloved republic to the depart
ure of our government from the wise
bimetallic financial policy of Washing
ton, jefferson and Hamilton. and the
substitution therefor of the present
monometallic policy recommended by
European money owners and advocat-
ed by their American allies, we the un-
dersigned officers of Industrial, agri-
cultural and commercial organizations,
have thought II best, at this particular
time, to submit for your careful con-
sideration synopsis of the legislation
respecting the precious metals enacted
in this country since the foundation OF
this government, that you may Judge
for yourselves as to what portion of
such legislation was enacted in the in
terest of the producing and what in the
interest of the producing GLASSES,
and as to whether or not the shrewd
manipulatorS of our finances foresaw
that the result of their work would be
to largely help in the subjugation of
the people.
Whatever the object, certain II Is that
before the decentralization of silver and
the enactment of other financial legis-
lation, which our organizations con-
denim, $500 bushels of wheat, or IS 900
pounds of cotton was the annual pay
for our congressman and senators,
while to-day 10000 bushels of wheat or
100000 pounds of cotton barely suffice;
before demonetization $4,000 bushels OF
wheat or $4,000 pounds of cotton per
year would have paid the salary of the
president; to-day he receives the
equivalent of 10000 bushels of wheat
or 1000, 900 pounds of cotton; and in like
is 1t with all other fixed sal
aries and incomes.
iGho
honest? Does it not necessarily follow
that the Generalization of the food pro-
ducing sections of the country, through
failure to procure reasonable prices for
their products, causes the manufacture
ing sections to accumulate excessive
stocks, and in consequence of a poor
market hundreds of thousands of ope-
ratives are necessarily thrown out of
thus robbing them of the
power. even at the low prices, to pur-
chase the neceSSaries of life
Again, 1t is not obvious to everyone
that the striking down of one-half OF
the worlds volume of money makes
the remaining half a comparatively
easy matter for capitalists TO control
and manipulate, and the toilers, to OBJ
tain money for the purchase of their
food supplies. are placed entirely at
the mercy Of the foreign and American
money sharks, who. by contracting
the currency, can force a panic or
famine In money at their supreme will.
Would they be guilty of such a
crime? We only say in reply, look at
our present helpless condition Does II
not seem to you that in the light of
the facts here given, that where in the
midst of plenty there is widespread
suffering and unhappiness, there is
meat in the refrain from
Wall street: Dig on, We toilers. dig;
the legislative button that we press
will do the rest"
PRECIOUS METAL LEGISLATION.
The first coinage law enacted under
the constitution as recommended by
concurred in by Jefferson,
and approved by Washington, provided
Tor the free and unlimited coinage of
both gold and silver; the silver dollar
BIN grains of pure metal.
In 1887 the mint laws were revised
Ind standard for both gold and silver
vas made nine-tenths fine-that is.
pure metal and one part
alloy; the number of pure silver grains
% the dollar remaining unaltered. viz.
'71A grains.
This law establishes our present ratio
IF 16 to 1.
In August. 1865. the public debt which
grew out of the war, reached its high
st, the debt. less cash in the treasury.
'eing 2.136.43l. 600. This debt was not
payable in gold. No bonds or other
obligations were ever
made specifically payable in gold. The
interest on the bonds was made pay
lble in coin. the greater portion of the
OF the original bonds in law
ul money and OF the refunding bonds
n coin-not gold coin. but coin Of either
sold or silver.
In 1869 the principal of the bonded
t4h wa al IL -
In 1870 the standard of the coin was
" the refunding act nominated in the |
,ond; that is to say. all of the obliga- /
ions OF the United States were then 1
declared payable in either gold OF sill /
'er, OF the present ratio. at the option.
lot OF the bondholders. but OF the peo- /
lie of the United States.
All of the acts DaSsed since the closa