Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-06

situations, and makes special examina-
tons OF them when deemed necessary.
Tests of the weight and fineness of coins
struck at the minis are made IN the assay
laboratory under his charge. He pub
fishes quarterly an estimate of the value
Of the standard coins of foreign countries
for custom house and other public pur-
poses. An annual report is prepared by
the director giving the operations Of the
mint service for the fiscal year. and CIV
ing the statistics of the production of
the precious metals in the United States
and the world for the calendar year."
What manner of man is this who plays
SO large part in the fiscal affairs of the
world today? His is a personality worth
considering.
Napoleon said that every soldier Of
France carried a field marshars baton
in his knapsack. Equally, II the rec
ord of Mr.. Roberts life be considered,
every newspaper reporter carries.
along with his wad of copy paper.
fame. distinction and high position.
Mr.. Roberts Is one of those news
paper men in whom Lyman w. Gage
discovered latent financial genius and
gave it a chance to flourish. Frank
Vanderlip. president of the National
City Bank of New York, is another.
Born in Delaware county. Iowa, in
1857, and educated in the common
schools. Mr.. Roberts was Just ap-
preaching manhood when "greenback-
ism" swept like prairie fire over the
middle west. Whether specie pay
ments should be resumed January l,
1879. was the issue of the day in poll
tics. Political discussion was at white
heat.
A budding newspaper man, Mr.. Rob-
erts had to know about the subject
for IT was far more interesting to the
readers Of the Fort Dodge paper for
which he was working. than any other
subject He studied. he delved and he
dug and presently he was better in
formed on the whole subject of cur
rency than any of his neighbors. And
then he kept on studying. Greenback-
ism passed away. specie payments were
resumed, the people of the country
passed on to the consideration Of other
things, but Mr.. Roberts had got the
blood. 1t was his fad.
Currency legislation did not bulk big as
q subject of popular interest for years.
Meantime, as proprietor Of the Fort
Dodge Messenger, and. for a space. as
state printer OF Iowa, Mr. Roberts had no
great use for his special knowledge on
the subject on which he had specialized.
Then. in 1893, came the repeal Of the
purchasing clause of the Sherman law
and the free silver issue was precipitated
on the country. Again, as in the days OF
greenbackism, the people began to talk
distractions about money. The discussion
grew and grew, until 1t eliminated in the
famous campaign Of 1896 with its battle
cry of Free and unlimited coinage Of sill
yer at the ratio of Is to l without the aid
or consent Of any other nation"
Mr. Roberts was in his element An
earnest advocate of the single gold stand
ard and equally earnest in his opposition
to debasing the currency. Mr.. Roberts
battled manfully against the free silver
tide.
1t will be recalled that Harvey's book.
Coins Financial School," was the text
book of the free silverites. MIR. Roberts
wrote reply to It called Coin at School
in Finance" He took a copy TO Chicago