Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1891-05-12

Money, while the same quantity of it passe
| up and down the kingdom of trade, is really
standing measure of the falling and rsin
value or other things in reference
| truly in them only. But if you increase o
| lessen the quantity of money current in ira
| tic in any place then the alteration in value
| in the money.
| Abraham Lincoln said:
| If a government contracted debt with
| certain amount of money in circulation an
| then contracted the money volume befor
| The debt was paid, it is The most heInOu
crime government could commit agains
| the people.
Many other authorities could b
| quoted. among whom are Grover Cleve
land and Roger Q. Mills, who have add
ed the weight of their testimony in sup
port OF this theory, but it seems to b,
such a well established principle in poll
tical economy that the wonder is tina
any intelligent man can be found VIII
will deny it.
Q. How does the Alliance propos
that the government shall put thi
money in circulation.
A. By loaning it on real estate ant
the non .perishable products of the farm
at low rate of interest not to exceed
two per cent per annum.
q. If an increase in the volume O
money would enhance the price of thu
products of labor would it not also in
crease the price Of everything else
what person had to buy as well as
what they had to sell?
A. 1t would.
Q. How, then, would it assist the
farmer and producer since it would re-
]uire so much more money to buy the
necessities of life?
A. For those who produce more thar
they consume the question is easily an
swered. The surplus which they have
to sell, in excess OF that required foi
their support, will buy more money tt
'lay up for rainy day." or to apply If
the payment of debts or taxes. Again
an increase in the volume of currency
and consequent rise in prices, is equlva'
lent to decrease in the expenditures
of the government, of transportation
rates, of saleries and fees, of interest
and principal of debts and of taxes.
Q. In what way will it effect all
this?
A. Because it increases the price Of
Vic VI dllNi UlIO ~ OoUSNl
does not have to part with as much Of
his property to buy money with which
to pay all these things.
O. But is this not anjustice to the
creditor or the men who hold the evil
dences of Indebtedness in their hands?
A. AS a principle it is. In this case
it is not.
Q. Why?
A. Because the debtors in this
country represent its bone and sinew.
They are acting in self-defense. They
are not responsible for the present con-
dition of things. The creditors through
corrupt legislation, have forced them
into this situation. 1t is question OF
''y6ur life or mine," republican or a
plutocracy. The policy of contraction
pursued by the money power, under the
dishonest and damning plea of an
''honest money" has forced the people
into debt trade, and as result, perma-
nent indebtedness. They THE creditOrs)
alone are responsible for the situation.
If the re-establishment of an honest
equity between the debtor and creditor
conveys back to the debtor some of the
property unjustly taken from him, it is
no more an injustice than restoring
that much property stolen in some
other manner than legalized theft
Q. You say that an increase in the
amount of currency in circulation, will
be equivalent to reduction of salaries.
Would this not be an injustice to those
whose salaries would be thus affected?
A. No. Immediately after the war;
when money was plenty and the prices
of the products of labor brought double
what they do now, the people had no
difficulty in securing the services OF
officials at the same price they now pay.
Although the policy of congress has