Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1897-11-19
THE CHIEF ISSUE.
What George Fred Williams suys of
RECOMMENDATION.

Recommendation.
George Fred Williams, the brilliant
Massachusetts leader. is not one of
those who believe that dollar wheat
aud the decline in the gold price of sill
YER have knocked the bottom out of
the silver argument. and that the DEM
ocracy would have to Shift to other
ground. He claims that the constant
decline in prices under the gnld stand
ard marks constant slrinkagc in the
value OF property Of all kinds. Hence
the wealth of the world is decreasing in
nominal value, although vastly in
crcasing in volume, individual holders
lose, borrowers are unable to meet their
debts, and then the morigagcc steps in
and grasps the property. In this way
Morgan and his like are wrccl<ing the
railroads of the country and are get
ting mere and mere control of the
country's resources at figures far be-
low what ihcy ought Ia command. An
Of this is duc, lie argues truly. Ia the
gold standard and its inevitable, effect
to force down prices. He says. accord
ing 10 the Illinois State Register, in an
interviews:
"Ihc more silver goes down, the more
I believe in free coinage MS the only
remedy for the fall in prices. The re-
mOnetization of silver ut sixteen To one,
with absolute free coinage. is the only
thing which will prevent the CON
tinucd fall of prices in all things. The
fact chat wheat has touched one dollar
a hushcl has nothing whatever to do
with the real question. Would YOU set
tie great financial issue upon the
events of one wear alone? We have
here mere incident Of bad crops OF
wheat in other parts Of the world and
good crops here for the time But
there is no general prosperity. Where
is there amy evidence Of prosperity cx-
ccpt in the newspapers? Have you
heard of the wages of amy wor>mcn he
ing raised? Yes, the newspapers re
Port Shat mills are starting M in differ
cut parts of the country. but what does
that amount TO and hoAs much prosper
ity is it bringing to the workiugmcn?
The fact is that from the discovery OF
gold i'm California up to 1873 there was
constant rise of prices all over the
world, and there WAS never Il period in
human history when the chcapenings
Of the processes of production was go
ing on so rapidly. There was a steady
rise in prices all the time. Since 1879
there has been n steady fall all over
the world, and the process is going on
now. This present year is no exception
to the rule. In 1894 prices of goods fel!
on an average all over the world ten per
cent. In 1895 they fell five per cent
more. Your idea that prices will fail
as the facilities of production are In
creased is not sound. for the worlds cx-
rcricncc for the 20 years before 1871
proves the contrary. The fall in prices
will continue as long rs silver is de
monetizcd. and nothing but the re-
moncti1ation of silver will restore pros
perity. See how il is in McNivc: wha,
n boom of prosperity they are having
there with their silver nancy. Capital!
is flowing in from every side. Guern-
scy knows what the truth is. He shows
how really prosperous they are there.
silver coinage will continue to be the
chief political issue until it is settled
right. OF course The party will make it
the chief issue this wear. and it will be so
in the congressional campaign of 1895.
EX-Gov. Boics, of Iowa, does not know
where he stands on the question. lie
has been looking around ever since last
spring for same safe position to strad-
die on, and he has it in his idea like
Secretary WINDOWS. Hut that is ut
terly impraciicablc. Nothing will ever
come Of trying to issue notes for silver
when deposited at the mint That
merely makes the government deposi-
tory of bullion. 1t does not help in the
problem at all. We have other issues as
well as silver. and l do not want
them to be obscured. but silver will be
the chief issue until there is remoneti-
cation ut the rate of sixteen to one"