Evening star., 1935-09-30


depends on the price of copper. not
silver. Consequently they get little
right now. But they are working "a
days a month, whereas they were
working u during the depression.
To Joe stlver and gold are only
ornament ores to sell to tourists.
Copper is the real metallic base OF
his economic life, and, in fact, OF
nearly all stluer and gold mining
areas.
Joe's personal observations can be
confirmed by the sharpest mining au-
thority in the State Of Utah. Any
unquestionable authority will tell you
confidentially that the administration
could forget about gold and silver as
far as this region Is economically con-
cerned, If 1t would boost the price of
copper to IL cents a pound. ct is
now between 8 and 9 cents)
Paint Would Use Lead.
The New Dealers could also forget
about silver if they could induce the
people of the Midwest to paint their
homes, factories and stores, thus using
lead, of which silver also is an Incl
dental by-product.
The trouble is it is not profitable
to mine a lot OF copper and lead
Just to sell the stlper to the Gou-
ernment at subsidized price. 1t
might be profitable il the Govern
ment boosted the silver price to
its goal OF S1.29 an ounce, but tetD
mining operators here desire that.
1t uould mean the storing up OF
copper and lead, thus possibly in
fuencing the price OF these more
important commercial metals
adversely.
What the most prominent silver
authorities here want is lot less
than the silver Senators have been
contending in Washington. The mine
owners would be content to know
right now that Treasury Secretary
Morgenthau is not going to run out
on them. With sound business judg-
ment, they believe in stabilized
prices, rather than political prices.
A reasonable and gradual increase
in the Government fixed price would
help more than a big jump. Opera
tions now are barely profitable both
for the operator and the miner. What
both interested parties want to do
is to keep them on the profit side.
They will.
Townsend Movement Grows.
The Townsend crowd appears to
have swallowed the Huey Long and
Father Coughlin movements out
through the West.
A searching traueler Dill find no
substantial evidence anywhere OF
the political importance OF tOealth-
sharing or Coughlin organizations.
Undoubtedly they erist. but they
are not important enough to be
heard or noticed. For instance,
none OF the pdr;ous local political
experts in the Midwest knoUs any
persons associated Uith Long or
Coughlin in his area, or OF any
important activity by Long men
or Coughlinites.
The size Of the Long following in
Salt Lake City may be measured by
the fact that 400 persons appeared
at memorial services for him. 1t was
the first time they showed them
selves. Local observers were
astounded that there were so many.
Townsendites Feared.
The force which the most impor-
tant politicos now fear is the Town.
send group. Apparently the Town
sendites are still going nearly as
strong as ever since the adoption of
the New Deal social security program
carrying old age pensions and unem-
ployment insurance.
A Senator OF a Rocky Mountain
State reported that he received a.
900 letters from Toi0nsendites in
his State recently. KdnSdns also
are wondering about the ertent OF
the movement there, especially in
Uie,U OF the fact that $50, 900 persons
tUrote in the name of the goat
gland DR.. Brinkley on the ballot
there seDeral years ago.
Authorities here know the move
ment is extensive because numerous
meetings are being held, but precise
estimating Is impossible. Such strength
cannot be measured by any of the
usual political barometers.
Tour;ef nue;raS, no>u,s
The real booming industry of this
section has received no governmental
aid. 1t is the tourist business. Au-
thorities here agree that this year it
equaled the l928-29 record in size, If
not in spending.