Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-04-17
WILL SILVER BE REMONETIzEDl

Many OF tue + lnduCldl JOuIndlb are
giving glowing accounts of the rise in
price Of silver and predict that it is
the metal of the hour"
The Hughes and Dier's Market
Forecast of April 8, 1918, says
Silver. the highest priced Of
the fuctuating precious metals,
as distinguishable from the rare
metals. is now focusing the at
tention of the world on an ad-
vancing market With the pass
ing Of the month Of March silver
advanced from 85-86c an ounce to
9SJhc an ounce. In three days the
metal made a clear jump Of seven
cents an ounce.
Silver is returning upon the
crest of the wave, and 81 prices
for metal are now looked upon
in the light of conservative
prophecy. IL would appear that
the actual economic position oc-
cupied by silver in connection
with the great international out
look precipitated by the war is
at last asserting itself. We would
not be surprised to see the price
of silver reach $l.20 an ounce,
and automatically bring about
reconciliation of the metal as a
necessary requirement of the vast
enterprises of reconstruction
which would follow the devasta-
ton caused by the greatest of
world wars.
Not long ago the heads of the
United States. Mint called a meet
ing i'm the West to determine
problems of increasing mining
capacity. Large producers of sill
yer from Tonopah, Bingham,
Butte, Occur de AleneO. Arizona,
and other important sources of
silver supply were called into
council to ascertain if a price of
81 an ounce would be satisfactory
to all concerned. The Govern
ments of the United States and
Great Britain had been taking
time by the forelock and fighting
against the unmistakable evil
dences of a runaway market for
silver, providing heroic action was
not taking place"
United States Senator Thomas, of
olorado predicts that silver will be
following the war. He
lys:
THAT when the war ends the
total public debts of the belliger-
ent and neutral European nations,
which have been obliged at all
times to keep on a military basis
with great expense will be far in
excess of $100.O00.000,000 The
annual interest ON this indebted
ness at 5 per cent represents
$4,000, 000, 600. which, added to the
cost of government operations,
will mean an annual tax upon
their producing masses of not less
than S7.500.000 eco. This is much
more than the total productive
wealth of the countries concern
ed and means reputation unless
silver comes to the rescue of
gold. Even then the nations will
have to stagger along under a
great load for many years. At
and rate, the choice will be pre-
scented them of Reputation or pay
ment in silver and the holders of
these national securities will, of
course. prefer the latter
We believe silver will be remone-
zed for the reason that the inter
SITS heretofore responsible for its de-
and debasement will be
,und among the champions of that
fetal through the stimulus of self
lterest. Besides this, after the war.
hen the armies will have been paid
n. the problems of reconstruction
i'll be pressing for attention. The
atoms now at war will then be fight
lg for markets for their own prod
cts in other countries. the chief pop
lations of which are already on a
liver basis. We see no reason why
liver should not come into its own
gain.