The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-20
THE GaEATEsr OF MoNopoLrEs.


There is one trust which is an issue in
this campaign. In it's far-reaching conse-
quences it transcendsIaIl other trusts as a
full grown tornado transcends a summer
zephyr. 1t is the silver bullion trust. syn
dictate monopoly. Mr.. Bryan is its chief
promoter. not because he is a mine-owner,
but because he expects to reach the presi-
dency as It's champion. In 1896 the larger
part of the contributions to the Bryan
cause came from the millionaire corpora
lions owning silver mines. If he had been
elected the silver mine syndicate believed
that the value of their property would have
been doubled.
1t is an old story, but 1t has interesting
features now that the subject of trusts is
under consideration. Silver mining is a
monopoly in so far that those who have
been successful have formed corporations
that command millions of capital 1t
would take half a million men having only
capital of 500 each to form a company
that could do anything in the silver mining
business. That is, the silver mining indus
try is In the hands of limited number of
very rich men, some Of whom are several
times millionaires. Consequently in cham
pioning the cause of the silver mine syn
dictate Mr.. Bryan was not devoting himself
to the interests of the masses.
Most combinations or trusts seeking to
create monopolies do not ask very much
of the government. The Democratic sugar
trust asked but small fraction of cent
on pound of refined sugar. The silver
mine syndicate-Mr. Bryan being represent
alive in chief-had the audacity to demand
that it's silver bullion, worth less than so
cents on the dollar in the worlds money,
be stamped at the peoples expense, so that
forty-five cents worth would be legal
tender for dollar Other combinations
of capital seeking monopolies have simply
asked the lawmakers to let them alone;
but the Bryan silver trust asked the United
States to double the value of its silver bull
lion in legal-tender money. To all owners
of silver bullion the world over the 16~to-1
legislation championed by Mr.. Bryan Of
fered 500 in silver certificates for every $45
worth of bullion deposited in the mints.
but a few thousand rich people in every
country would have their wealth doubled
in the legal-tender money of the United
States by an act of Congressl Could there
be more barefaced proposition to enrich
the few at the expense of the many?
This. however. is not the worst feature
of the Bryan trust. Those dollars made of
As cents worth of silver bullion could never
be worth the gold dollar, the standard of
value in all the nations that are commercial
Garner, every savings bank depositor and
every farmer would be compelled to take
these really half value dollars for full
dollars because they would be the money
of the country. On the other hand.
the prices of all exportable merchandise
gold. Wheat, il dollar bushel in gold
I'm New York for export, would be worth
sl.25 or $3.50 in silver. according to the cur
rent price Of silver bullion. In time wages
might be changed to the silver equivalent
of gold. but it would take long time, as
was the case during the rebellion when the
irredeemable greenback lost half the pur-
chase power of coin. The wage-earner who
| is now getting full value money would be
| paid in dollars of less purchase power than
| he now receives. He would find that he
would pay at least a half more for bread
and meat and clothing with his silver dol
lars than he would pay if they were gold
| or redeemable in gold. In Mexico la
| Dor is paid in silver, but the prices
| of all imported goods, like flour, clothing
and iron utensils, are twice as much in the
legal-tender silver of Mexico as in the gold
| of the United States. Thus the first result
| OF Mr. Bryan's trust would be the reduc-
| ton of wages by compelling wage-earners
| to take dollars of much less value. meas
ured by the necessarfes of life. than those
| in which they are now paid.
Now, In most of his speeches, Mr.. Bryan
| stands by the silver millionaire monopoly
| Of 1886. He and his associates are the only
/ men in America who are openly advocating
| a measure to enrich the few at the great
| expense of the many. And yet they pirate
| about trusts and monopolies,