Intermountain Tribune ISSUED EVERY THURSDAY BY T. L. DUGGER, EDITOR 3ND PROP SUBSCRIPTION, IN ADVANCE....... $1.25 AT END OF YEAR _________ ______ 1.50 SIX MONTHS ................. ......__ .......... .75 ADVERTISING RATES: Local advertising, per line........... 5c Display advertising, per inch..... 10c Display advertising, long time, see manager. Extended marriage or death notices per line................. 3c Special rates on long time display advertising. THE VALUE OF GOLD The Tribune has always supposed that when the gold standard was adopted, its value became as fixed as the laws of the Medes and Per­ sians. The Oregonian’s teachings has always held out this idea. To talk about a, double standard, 16 to 1 etc., was equivalent to waving a red flag before a bull, in the Ore­ gonians estimation. To talk about greenbacks as a standard, was the worst possible nonsense. But in last Friday’s edition of that paper, we are informed that the value of gold is fixed by the law of supply and demand—the same argument advanced by W. J. Bryan in 1896. A correspondent to that paper asked “What fixes the value of gold.” The following is the Ore­ gonians reply: “The governments of the world are the only legal coiners of money. The value of gold is not fixed by them, but by the relative value of gold and other commodities. When the supply of gold increases in, greater proportion than that of other commodities, prices rise be­ cause the relative value of gold has fallen. When the supply of gold decreases, or when the supply of other commodities increases in greater proportion than that of gold, prices fall because the relative value of gold has risen. In fact, the mere declaration of the Govern­ ment that a certain quantity of gold is a dollar or a pound does not fix its value, any more than the declaration that a certain number of pounds of potatoes constitutes a bushel fixes their value. Value of gold is fixed by the law of supply and demand” Mr. Bryan never claimed more than the Oregonian concedes. That is to say, the volume of money regulates prices. A small volume means low prices for commodities and a larger volume larger or higher prices. When Mr. Bryan preached free silver, 16 to 1, the volume of money percapita of both silver and gold, was less than $13. Now the volume of gold money, alone, is nearly three times that amount, It has taken the Oregon­ ian nearly twenty years to ascertain this fact and be honest enough to acknowledge it. ternetation. Only small and mean politicians deal otherwise. It is now conceded by all news­ papers and honorable public men and politicians, that all the good is not incorporated in the interests of any one political Darty, nor all the bad in the opposing party. Most men have concluded that there is some good in the worst of men and, conversely, some bad in the best of men. The drift of modern reform politics is. a fairer and honester judgment of the motives of men. The partisan newspaper which continues to / misjudge or miscon­ strue the words of a political op­ ponent is soon to become a thing of the past. The reading public will soon refuse to tolerate misconstruc­ tions, for purely partisan advantage. The future editorial conduct to the newspaper must show a disposition to give even a political opponent a fair hearing. In fact partisan poli­ tics in accord with the practice of a few years ago, has been relegated to obscurity, let us hope, never tox be revivified. THE FINAL ACT CONSUMMATED President Wilson called congress to meet in Special session, to con­ sider the reduction of the tariff schedules, ¡early last April. No other work of special importance has been undertaken during the six months the body has been in ses­ sion; at least, not until the tariff bill had been disposed of. It is expected that President Wilson will attach his signature to the measure, this week. The people have been demanding a reduction of the tariff for many years. In the campaign of 1908, both political parties promised re­ vision. President Taft,, who was elected, understood, as did the en­ tire country, that tariff revision meant tariff reduction, but a repub­ lican congress thought differently and gave the country the Payne- Aldrich tariff, which carried the highest protective duties the coun­ try has ever known. This so enraged the people that they drove the republican party from power in the executive' and legislative departments of the government. President Wilson and a demo­ cratic congress have given the country a tariff reduction of an average of 28 per cent. It is not expected that the measure will please all, for it will not. The bill is not perfect, nor will any tariff law be perfect in the eyes of all, no matter what the duty rates may be. But it is a step in the right direc­ tion and the new law will please a vast majority of the people. A democratic president and congress, must be given credit of, at least, making their preelection promises good. About the 10th of this month, an enormons charge of dynamite will be fifed, on thè Panama canal. This charge will remove the final obstruction, seperating the Pacific and Atlantic oceans at Panama and EDITORIAL RESPONSIBILITY marks the successful conclusion of the greatest, engineering fete in the It is a fact that the tendency of history of the world. The Suez all respectable newspapers, is to­ canal, connecting the Mediteranean ward a higher moral tone and to a and Red seas, had nothing but sand truer representation or interpreta­ dunes to contend with. The Pana­ tion of the thoughts and utterances ma canal has had solid rock and mountains to overcome. In effect, of public men. This is probably due to the grow­ it doubles the value of the United ing independence of newspapers and States navy and will add, at least, 10 cents to every bushel of wheat a less partisanism. Only a few years ago, partisan produced on the Pacific coast. It newspapers did not x hesitate to opens up a vast new field for our grossly misrepresent or misconstrue lumber forests and places the what a political opponent might Pacific coast, practically, on price say. The respectable newspaper of level, for commodities. With the to-day does not do so. In reports Atlantic no section of the world of the utterances of public men, will receive greater benefit from there is a growing disposition to the gigantic enterpnse, than the deal fairly and give an honest in-j Pacific coast. If the election to occur in Mexia this month, shall result in pacifica tion for that unhappy country President Wilson’s policy will haw won, hand? down. All that th world desired was for these fire; disposed people to quit killing eachother and allow the abundan rich resources to be developed President Wilson did not ask fo: more and the fact that all civilize« countries coincided with his judge ment had much, if not all to d< with Huerta’s retirement from th« presidency and, let us hope, a fail election be held. Sweet Home needs electric'li, badly. If for any reason th« Wadtli franchise fails, our citj should either take charge of th« matter municipally, or look else- where for some body to take of the matter. Slaughter in Boys Suits I have 30 suits of boys and lads clothing, retail price $7 to $20 per suit. To close them out these suits will be sold at just ONE-HALF THE ABOVE PRICES Now is the time to fit your boy out with school suits ... —-W e also carry a complete line, o l = General Merchandise/ Groceries, Hardware, Etc. Oregon Blue Book A copy of the Oregon Blue Bool for 1913-14 has been received bj the Tribune from Secretary of State Olcott. It contains a brief histori­ cal sketch of the state by P Joseph Schafer of History of University of Oregon, the Constitution, names of the state, district and county officers, as well as a statement of the func­ tions of the several state officers, departments, institutions, boards and commissions. Federal depart­ ments represented in this state are included therein, as well as informa­ tion' respecting the appropriations by the last legislature, summary of taxable property in Oregon, legisla­ tions 1912, vote for state officers 1912, measures'submitted under the initiative and referendum since the adoption thereof in 1902, politica subdivisions or districts, population and many other matters of general interest' Copies, without charge, will be mailed to such persons as may re­ quest the same. J. H. Keeney, this week, purchas­ ed 23.55 acres of land from Fred Nothiger, situated between this city an