The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1923-01-18
USE SILVER DOLLARS
HELPS METAL PRICE
SHOOTS SILVER BILL
Local Banker Approves 1t and
Shows Beneficial Result
Will Follow Enactment
SHOOTS SILVER BILL

"RIENDS of silver can accom-
- plish much toward populariz-
ing the metal and greatly ex-
tending its use by asking foI
silver in preference to one and two
dollar bills. This of course has re
application to this district where the
people use silver in all transactions
involving less than IS, but in other
parts of the west one and two-dollar
bills have almost driven the silver
dollar out of circulation This con-
dition is probably due almost alto
gether to the attitude of the banks.
Not that they are prejudiced against
silver or are opposed to its use, but
because it costs much less to ship in
paper dollars than silver. In this
city, where the use of silver is univer
sal, the banks generally receive
enough silver dollars in the regular
course of business to meet the re-
quirements, making shipments of sill
yer into the district unnecessary.
Shortage During the War.
Discussing the efforts being made
to bring about a more general use of
silver dollars, NJ. J. Flohr, president of
the First National bank, said that they
always pay out silver dollars and that
money in smaller denominations than
IS. This preference for silver was
strikingly demonstrated for a time
during the war, when there was a
shortage of silver dollars, probably
due to the heavy expectation of silver
ing that period Mr. Flohr said the
bank was forced to use paper one and
two dollar bills and customers al
most invariably accepted them under
protest. Mr.. F'lohr's attention was
called to the bill recently introduced
by Senator Smoot. of Utah, requiring
the government to pay the express
charges on silver dollars shipped from
the mint to banks of the country,
this bill being designed to restore sill
yer to a wider circulation. He thought
the measure a good one and express
ed the opinion that it would accom-
plish its purpose if it becomes a law.
Banks that use paper dollars in pref
erence to silver simply because the
charges are less will
turn to the use of silver
when it is delivered at their doors
without cost Mr. Flohr regarded this
as an important step in behalf of sill
yer, and hoped to see it followed up
by an educational campaign that will
result in a widespread and permanent
popular demand for silver dollars.
Help Maintain Price.
The time is approaching when do
nestle silver will be deprived of the
protection of the Pittman act. The
price will then be determined by the !
aw of supply and demand, and any |
movement that will increase the de-
nand will necessarily tend to advance /
he price In the case of a wider use
# silver dollars the advantage will /
lot be limited to strengthening the /
rice, for even more important will
,e the influence its wider use will ex-
1T in increasing the prestige Of sill
er as a money metal. If every friend
f silver at home and when travelling,
hould make it a rule to demand sill
er in change or in payments of less
han SIS II would not he long before
he benefits would be apparent and
he minis would be working overtime
o supply the demand for silver dol
lrs. To the people of the west, and
those even remotely con-
ected with the mining industry, the
nlarged use of silver dollars as
latter of first Importance and the
Movement to that end should receive
heir active support and cooperation.
demand silver dollars.