New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-02
SERMONS N CHIPS.
The AlnccI

There are certain Western congressman. 1t Is
said who are addicted 10 draw poker, a prevalent
pastime of the interior which combines business
with pleasure IN such harmonious proportions a. to
make II naturally captivating for adventurous
statesmen. Now, there severe economical
theorists who discountenanco all mixed indus
tries of this general character because the
element of speculation enters INTO them
So absorbingly. and because they are cs-
scptially unproductive. But draw poker can be
utilized rs an instructive illustration by Congress
men and Others who wish to familiariz, themselves
with some of the elements of financial science and
those statesmen in particular who are meditatlng
an assault upon the Resumption Act might proiita-
bly, consecrale an evening now aud then to an eX-
hanstive study of the practical workings of certain
established methods of the game
The financial operations of draw poker are carried
on under the best conditions with token currency.
The tokens which constitute the circulating me-
dunn are usually small discs of ivory, but any
cheap and convenient substitute for value cur
rcncy will answer and four or rive industrious gen
tlcmen who have casually drifted together in a re-
gon remote from the appliances of more advanced
civilization have been known 10 engage IN "A pros
porous game with currency of white and black
beans But however cheap tho material, it repre-
sents value and for the purposes of the game lt IL
money. Ii n players pile has melted away until 1t
In too small for audaclous speculation ~ the way
of a bluff he borrows Of his neighbor, and he Dor
rows chips He sees the amount yenturcd by his
competitor in chips and goes him better III chips of
some denominations or he straddes a white bean
blind and allows that 1t costs HIM two black beans
TO come in. All these transactions familiar
to the average Congressman that no rarely pays
heed to the fundamental principles of the currency
issue which are involved III tue game. and perhaps
he is cXcusablc, because bis mind is usually pre-
occupied with some burning question of the
moment. "a, for instance, whether it would
be more judiciOus to draw three cards To his PAIR
or Niger with his ace and discard only two. But
even Congressman would understand, If he sur
rendered himself to little brooding Thought, that
his chips only pass current and help hln To clean
out his uuwary adversary renuneratiyely because
they are rcdcelnablc. And he would acknowledge
that all zest in tho game would vanish
from tho board, III tho case of i'll
starred play rs whom a streak OF hard luck
had temporarily consigned to the debtor class. II
there should ever intrude suspicion that the gem
tlemen who kept the bank were liable to repeal the
Resumption Act which was tacitly passed when
the chips or beans were originally uttered and
made a egal-tender for an ante or a raise.
There IL no need Of carrying out this interesting
sqnare-t oed and gamey Congressman, with whom
1t is a religion to put up or shut up Will at once
apprehend how many fruitful analoSles can be
drawn from this pcril0us sport with telling effect
against the so-caed arguments in favor of ire
deemablc paper money. He will at once imagine
a banker at the game who has convenient
access TO an unlimited bag of beans, with which
he snrreptitiously initiates the currency from time
TO time as his pile vanshcs, until the volume of
beans has swollen beyond his power of redemption.
OF course this overissue sets the wheels Of industry
in motion, aud temporarily stimulates the game
INTO q drunken excitement which may appear like
genuine prosperity. But the Congressman knows
better aud iOresces the disastrous panic which must
follow when the triumph of the man with full hand
Is poisoned by the knowledge that at best
he can only rake in deprecated beans. Or perhaps
our Congressman will try to construct in his mag
nation "a still more depressing situaton-a game of
poker with fat chips. Immature and irresponsible
citizens have been known to play poker for fun
that il, they have endeavored to play hollow
simulacIum of the game with irredeemable
lucifer matches, which, by recognized hc-
ton, were made to do duty as the
representatives of ghostly pennies. But the trans
parent fraud invariably made shipwreck of tho
game and Initiated oil it's moral processes Adult
citizens who remember the sins of their youth will
recall the demorazing effect OF this perversoR OF
fundamental principle. What wild and restless
aud reckless speculation it engendered How
all severe and serious effort was smit-
ten with palsy No hope no dread, no
stern discipline no anything to stimulate the CEN
trail energies of the soul! OF course sensitive Con-
gresham cannot long give hospitable harbor to
sueh painful memories. But may not hope that
when next the Hon. Daniel Voorhees, takes hand
at a social bout OF legitimate draw poker. he will
open the spacious chambers of his mind to receive
with meekness and docility the sound hard-money
lessons which the game 80 forcibly suggestsf
II la