The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-09-12
MERRILL IN MONTANA.
Expresses His View Over the Finan-
cial Situation.

The Standard, OF Anaconda, Mont,
of the 10th inst. contains an Interview
with Hon Thomas G. Merrill of this
city, as follows:
Thomas 6. Merrill of Salt Lake,
treasurer of the American Bimetallic
union, was in Butte for 4 few hours
yesterday on his return from Jefferson
county, where he had been looking at
ter some mining interests. Mr. Merrill
is as enthusiastic in the silver catHe
as ever. and quite as hopeful of its
final triumph.
This tremendous era of prosperity
we are now enjoying on account Of
crop failures in other parts of the world
is due entirely to the election of Nc
Kinley, if we are TO believe the leading
journals Of the country" said Mr.. AIer-
rlll. The gold men, of course, could
not lose the opportunity to destroy the
most potent argument the bimetallists
had 10 use with the agriculturists of
the country. that the value OF silver
bullion keeps pace with the products OF
the soil and labor by depressing the
price of silver now that wheat has gone
up. This viii unQuestionably have
some effect at the present time, but
there VIII be a reaction when the price
OF wheat again reaches the level Of the
price Of silver bullion, which it will
as soon as another crop is harvested
throughout the world. That viii be an
argument that viii be more convincing
than any statement of facts by Mr.
Bryan OF any Of the bimetallists, and
viii cause such a change in the politics
Of the country as VIII give US in SO a
congress Overwhelmingly in favor of
MmetallisD. The educational work in
the cause Of silver must not be permit
ted TO cease, as il would seem perhaps
that this is the most important period
in the night for bimetallism-"
MIR. Merrill holds out new hope for
bimetallism from 4 rather unexpected
source. He believes it possible that the
next congress, with the aid and con-
sent" of the gold men, may remonetize
silver in order TO carry out the Balti-
mere banking scheme to place the is
SUance of currency under the control Of
the national banks. The Baltimore
plan confenlplates a larger volume Of
money, and any increase in the circu-
lating medium would add correspond
ingly TO the prosperity of the country
This led Mr.. Merrill TO say yesterday:
y believe there will be more pros
peTcus times in the Immediate future,
for congress viii unQuestionably pro
vide for q vastly increased amount of
money. this money TO be issued by the
banks In order TO accomplish this we
may be able 10 force the gold men to
give Us bimetalliSm- They know that
permanent prosperity cannot come
without an increased. volume of money,
and they cannot pass bill through
the United States senate for an in
creased volume Of money issued by the
banks without it carries bimetaIIism
with it
Mr.. Merrill does not believe that there
is q possible chance for an International
agreement. The national bimetaIlic
associations are not doing much at
present except 20 publish the National
Bimetallist, which is supported in
part from the funds Of the association.
The merit of the publication and cause
il espouses should draw sufficient sup
port to make it self-sustaining, but at
present il is not ar Merrill was in
Chicago recently and heard a great deal
about the expected prosperity, but not
much OF ii had arrived at that time.
Business men based all their hopes
and expectations on the rise in wheat,