(4) The privilege of taking silver bullion to the mint and having it turned into coin on the same terms that are granted to the owners of gold bullion.
(5) Yes.
(6) The Public Debt, at the time it was contracted, was payable in lawful money. The same motives which led the money-Kings to impair the credit of the Greenback with the “Exception Clause,” led Congress to change the law to the effect that the bonds should be payable in Coin. This of course meant either silver or gold, at the option of the Government. Another step was taken and the bonds are now payable in gold.
(7) Because, under the rulings of the Secretary of the Treasury, the Gold Reserve can be drawn upon to keep silver and paper currency up to the Gold Standard. I presume that National Bankers prefer to keep their gold because it is the money of final payment.
(8) Commercial usage, and the banks. Foreign coins have no legal status. Their value and currency is a matter of private agreement.
New York, December 24, 1905.
Honorable Thomas E. Watson, Thomson, Ga.
Dear Sir: In your “A Call to Action” in January issue, you have forstalled my wish, in part only.
As soon as a reasonable number respond by sending their names to Mr. Forrest, I want you to sink all personal desires by asking Messrs Hearst, La Follette, Folk, Douglass of Mass., Johnson of Minn., Garvin of R. I., and such other men as you know to be loyal and true, and insist upon their coming to the conference, as it is high time that all good men and true, combined to destroy the Grafters.