Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-10-20
DECLINE OF FREE SILVER.
Sharp Criticism Of Organism from
Missouri.
PET THEORIES VANISH.
Eek plantations of Si1verites of the Ups
and Downs of Prices are
LaughabIe.

Shall the state of Missouri, in the year
1893, vote again for the free coinage of
all Silver offered at the minis at the ratio
Of 16 to 1? This is the main issue pre-
sented in the Democratic state platform.
1t is not only put forward for another
trial at the polls, but distinctly empha-
sized. Free coinage is declared to be nee
essary to the future prosperity of the
country. Moreover, the platform advises
that a currency coalition be made with
Spanish America to use silver in antag-
onism to the gold standard. Missouri is
asked to support a cause which was de-
feated in a national election and has been
losing ground ever since. No reasons are
given why the fifth state in the Union
should stultify itself in this manner. The
only explanation is that Democratic lead
ers in Missouri have identified themselves
with free silver, and as Bryan, with the
aid of over 10000 Populists, carried the
state in 1895, another effort is deemed
advisable. It is always assumed by the
Bourbon element that partisan obstinacy
counts for more than political intelligence,
and so the verdict of Missouri this year
is to be on free silver, unless the Demo-
cratic platform is all wrong.
AS to the decline of free coinage as a
political issue, the evidence is mountain
high. Events have destroyed the main
arguments on which it was founded One
of the most seductive theories was that
when silver fell off prices in general
went. down in sympathy. There was as
serted to be an organic relation between
silver at an arbitrary valuation and the
course of the markets. When silver
sagged, it was claimed, the barometer of
all business sunk also. In an era of low
prices this idea made an impression. But
ATS falsity is too plain now to be denied
by anybody. The silver explanation Of
the ups and downs of prices raises a
laugh in these times. On July 10, 1896,
the day after the adoption of the Chicago
iplatform, Mr.. Bryan's newspaper pub
tished list of prices to show their ex-
trcme decline. Silver was then 60. On
the same day of the present year the sill
yer.quotation was less than 30, heavy
falling off But other articles had largely
advanced Taking the same dates, wheat
had gone up from SO to 80, corn from
16 to 25, wool from to Is, and beef
cattle from $4.15 to $3.50. Changes
throughout the list were in the same di-
rection, with the almost solitary excep-
tion of silver.
Another free silver argument was based
on an alleged deficient supply of gold.
The worlds production of gold this year
will be 1915, 100000, against S24OOOO, 900
In 1897, which was also an immense in
crease. The gold reserve in the United
States ..eaSury is more than S243, 600, 900.
1t piles up beyond the wishes of the Off
Gals If Bryan wants his regiment paid
in gold, the so-called 20Oc dollar he has
only to say the word. His organ at Lin
coin, edited by his secretary, recently sus-
pended for lack of support. Democratic
platforms in the Eastern states dodge free
silver The ST Louis Democratic dailies
never mention it editorially. Senator Kyle
of South Dakota has just announced his
abandonment of free coinage. Even in a
state like Colorado, almost unanimous for
free coinage in 1896, the silver men are
split into half dozen factions. Yet the
Democratic leaders of Missouri insist that
Gree silver, in spite of it's general deca-
~gdence, is still good enough for this state.
Their idea of Missouri is that it never
learns anything and plods along at the
Wheels of the same old Bourbon ring from
generation to generation.-St. Louis
Globe Democrat