The independent., 1903-05-07
STRANGE SILENCE

issue, 1T is strange that the
democratic party LIS not alive to the
present situation. Congress at the
last session provided for the purchase
of enough silver bullion to coin five
million new pesos for the Philippines.
AS soon as the government began to
purchase, the price OF silver bullion
began to rise-but the great demo-
cratic dailies took no note OF the fact
editorially and in their headlines over
the press dispatches announcing the
rise in price seemed to be imbued with
the idea that ii was sun spots or some
equally occult thing which had started
silver on the up grade again.
The following, quoted from the
Philadelphia Public Ledger. is worth
noticing:
Washington, D. c., April 2S.-
Since the last government pur-
chase Of silver, on Thursday last
the metal has gone up cents,
and treasury officials are begin
ming to apprehend further ad-
yances in the price. There were
475,O00 ounces bought yesterday by
the director of the mint, at an
average of 54.46 cents an ounce.
Some was bought at 541s and some
at 54.375 ccEts.
The average is 5 cents above
what was paid when the first
purchases were made, on account
of the new coinage for the Philip
pines. The increase was unex-
pected by treasury officers. They
fear that silver may go above the
coinage value of the new coins
to be provided for the Philippines.
The advance is not likely, it is
said to cause the island govern
ment any serious losses in values,
because the large quantity of Mex
ican silver On hand will appreciate
as bullion goes up.
Should silver go up 5 cents more
an ounce pesos will be boarded in
the Philippines, it is believed. The
explanation given at the treasury
of the advance in price is that 1T
is caused by the purchases to pro-
vide the 100000 new pesos for
the Philippines.
Populists always insisted that the
real question was and is the money
question--not simply the question OF
silver-and any man with an ounce
of brains must have known that with
Uncle Sam in the market for several
million ounces Of silver, the price was
sure to rise. Why doesn't some dem
ocratic paper break the silence and
say something about silver?
What is the use of ever holding al
election in any city or state wher.
there are two or more parties if ev.
cry man is to always "vote 'el
straight?" One election would set
tie the whole matter for generation
at least. If the republicans had the
majority they might as we'll meet ant
name the men to hold offices among
themselves and the remainder Of tht
community not bother themselve:
about government at all. The fact Il
that this country is not governed b!
the men who ''vote 'er straight bu
by the Independent voters, the mer
who are not slaves to any party. There
is nothing more disgusting to sensi
BILE person than to hear a man boast
ing that 81 am democrat" or "I an
a republican" That is simply to an
nounce that he has no principles O
his own and he is led to the polls witt
a ring in his nose by the few men wh'
manage party affairs and make plat
forms.
The rate of wages and the 'labo
cost" of production are two entirel
different things. For years The Inde
pendent has insisted land the sound
ness of the assertion no man who ha
Investigated the question could truth
fully deny) that the labor cost of pre-
duotion In the United States is les
than that in any other nation. Tha
las resulted from the superior intellt
eence of American worlmen and Ia
bor-saving machinery. The claim tha
we must have a high protective tari
to equalize the cost Of production be
tween this and European countrie
has no foundation in truth at all. Ey
cry man who has ever employed labC
knows that the highest price worl
men are very often by far the cheaI
est.
SSSSSS>S$
The supreme court of New York hs
handed down an unanimous decisio
4 In 1ox ~ FRO, ol, Sc,