The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1916-11-02
VOL. x. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1916 NO. SO.

be restored In this country which pre-
vailed prior to the war. This conciu-
sion Is reasonable, it Is common sense.
Now, what was the condition during
the first fourteen months of the VIII
son administration, so far as prices
Of the metals were concerned?
The price of silver was below so
cents per ounce, lead was 3h cents
per pound, spelter was s cents per
pound and copper was II cents per
pound These figures are recalled
from memory and will not be disput-
ed. But we have the actual figures
for the month of January. 1915, five
months after the breaking out of the
European war and when the metal
market was just beginning to respond
to the war demand. During the month
OF January, 1915, the average prices
of the metals were as follows: Silver,
ass cents per ounce; lead, 81 cents
per pound; spelter, 6.3 cents per pound
and copper Is cents per pound. From
that time the prices continued to ad-
vance in response to the ever-increas-
ing demands of war. Compare these
figures with those of today when war
still wings Its wide desolation" in
Europe Silver, 87.S cents per pound;
lead, IL cents per pound; spelter 10
cents per pound; copper, 27.25 cents
per pound, At times these prices
have been even higher than these fig
ures indicate, and to contend that
they are due to any other cause than
the war is too ridiculous to receive
serious consideration.
And it is just as certain that when
the war ceases the prices will return
to the old low level as that the pres
ent high level is due to the war. There
has been no increase in consumption
of these metals at home except in
those industries which are manufact-
uring munitions of war, and this con-
sumption will of course end when the
war ends. How, then, can any sane
man look forward to a continuation
of prosperity for the metal miner
when normal conditions are restored
in this country except through a
change of administration which will
encourage home industry by an ade-
quate protective tariff law?
That the people of the Occur
dAlene district realize the Importance
of such law and desire it, there can
be no doubt, and yet many of them
appear blind to the fact that a vote
for Wilson and for democratic con-
gressmen is direct expression
against the thing they want. Why
not let your vote register the real
sentiment of the district? We are all
agreed in wanting high prices for the
metals and high wages for the wage
earners. We are also all agreed that
the home market for the metals is the
one upon which we must rely in nor
NAL times. 1t should, therefore, be
plain that in order to get the high
prices and high wages, the home mar
kets must be protected against the
metal product of poorly paid labor In
foreign countries. The Underwood
tariff law, the law enacted by the
Wilson administration and which has
the unqualified endorsement of the
democratic party, does not give that
does not encourage home
and does not insure high
wages or any wages. In fact, under
is operation at least one of the larg-
,st mines In the Occur d'Alene district
'losed and others were on the verge
# doing so when hostilities begun in
europe.
These are the actual, indisputable
acts which confront the voters in
;hoshone county. A vote for Wilson
nd democratic congressman is a vote
or low metal prices, low wages and |
lie mines. 1t is up to you, Mr.. Voter.
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