Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-11-05
The Proper international Silve,
Conference.

In a recent number attention was
called to the demand of Switzerland
for more silver coinage by the Latin
Union, the assurance of French au.
thorities that that country. with its
enormous stock of silver, had not too
much, if enough, and other evidence
of the absence of flood of silver"
but OF an actual need of more of it,
instead. AS if to supplement the ar
ticle referred to, Prof. A. s. Claosh, a
native East Indian, of the Calcutta
University, has an article in the
North American Review for October,
giving reasons why the people OF In
dia demand a re-cpening of the mints
to silver, and relating the effect that
their closing has had upon the ma.
terial interests of that country, as
serting that sit has resulted in con-
fiscating one-half the wealth of the
people of the Indian Empire"
But Notwithstanding the curtail-
ment of the demand for silver by for.
bidding its further coinage in India,
the dumping ground of silver bull
lion in the world. 1t is learned from
the last report of the directors of the
United States mint that his attempts
to locate the place and amount of the
silver bullion now in existence result
ed in finding no definite or consider
able quantity. When Great Britain,
France, Germany and other Europe
an countries report, as they do to
the director of the mint, that they
have no knowledge of the amount of
silver bullion in their respective
countries, it unreasonable to conclude
that the quantity is too s'small to
count"
During 1896 the coinage value OF
the silver produced in the world was
5000. 100000 It is very evident that
nearly all of it was needed and de,
manded for coinage and other purpo-
SEES. If India had been coming silver
as usual the demand would have been
far in excess of supply, and as it is
the demand SO nearly equals the sup
ply, that it would require but little
effort in the right direction to make
its commercial equal it's coinage val
ne; and that right direction is easily
pointed out: OF the 5000, 100000 pro
duced in 1896 three countries-ths
United States, Mexico and Bolivia
produced over $4,000, 900, and othe
South American countries produced
the balance, except about $13,OOO,00(
produced by all Europe and Asia, the
great buyer of silver.
Three countries, then, are produc
ing over five-sixths of the silver o
the world, over five-sixths of a CON-
modify that is in demand, that is &C
tually nearly all purchased, notwith
standing the stupendous efforts mad
to restrict it's use; and strangely en-
ough, the efforts of the United State
government have always been strong
est in trying to restrict that use
though we are the second largestpr
Queer of silver in the world! Now
1t not a logical and business-lik
proposition that if an "internationa
agreement" were made between tn
United States, Mexico and Bolivia t
sell no silver at less than it's coinag
value at the ratio of 16 or 15t ounce
to one of gold, that that would i'll
mediately establish the parity of CON
mercial and coinage value? Then tn
silver dollar would be Sound
one, and every objection to its re
monetization would at once disaE
pear.
II our bi-metallists-by.i nternationa
agreement were honest and SINGER
they would look to the South rattle
than the East for the agreement; the
would not engage in the doubtful
not impossible task of inducing til
buyers of u commodity to consent I
doubling the price they now pay fe
it, but would ask the few princip,
producers of it to compel the buyer
to pay q fair and honest price for i
This would be business, Statesman
ship and common sense combine,
but that is probably the reason VIII
the plan is not attempted. Moder
craftsmanship and common sens
seems to have become mis-ft. OF
perambulating binetallic commissio
now in Europe is making a holy sho
of itself, and humiliating its countr
to boot. 1t is playing the role of tt
suppliant when it is in condition /,
command and compel obedience
is begging at the foot of thrones an
in the ante-rooms of jewish banker
when it ought to be standing proud
await haoovnac o;f;uor