The farmers' union., 1891-08-20

How the People Vote to Rol, Themselves
and Enrich the Money Kings.

and Enrich the Money Kings.
We often hear the remark that "a
dollar will buy more provisions now
quence the farmers and laborers are
in better condition than ever. The
trouble is not 50 much in the prices
paid for goods as it is in the inability
of the farmer to pay his debts con-
tracted when money was plenty. To
illustrate this question let us suppose
that banker holding q $500 mortgage
against farmer goes out to collect his
annual interest.
The conversation would be about as
follows:
B. Mr.. Farmer have called to-day
to collect my yearly interest. 1t is due
in ten days and must have it so l
can forward it to New York.
+. looking downcast as he thinks
of the grocery bill past due, and the
winter clothing to purchase for The
comfort of the family Yes. yes, how
much is it?
B. How much is il? Why forty dol
lars, of course. Eight per cent. on
$500 and You will also add 25c. to pay
express charges, on portion sent to
New York
+. But so will buy you twice as
much victuals as that sum did when
that mortgage was given, there
fore
j. (Startling.l What,
L. And, therefore, ! say, you ought
to lake less; and /
B. What take less Rob lis of our
interest? Would you have the nation
al credit impaired, and ruin our stand
| ing in foreign countries? You are an
anarchist and communist, and | must
see Mr.. Pinkerton.
+. No, no! But I do not propose
| any robbery, my dear sir.
b. But it is robbery to refuse to
pay the full amount of my debt.
L. Please be reasonable. ] mean to
act justly by you. But one dollar now
is worth as much as two We're when
| that mortgage was given.
Is. That won't do, Mr.. Havseed, so
hustle out that forty.
+. But, l repeat, you can buy twice
as much for dollar now as you could
when the debt was made.
! Il. Well, and what is that to you ?
/ want my interest and my interest l
will have. want nothing more than
my lawful interest; here it is in the
mortgage.
+. A few years ago I could pay
that with twenty bushels of wheat
now must sell fifty bushels of wheat
to pay it.
| b. l know nothing about bushels
of wheat; all know is dollars, and ]
want my money.
+ But our labor and our products
and our lands are lowered in price, and
it can't be fair for your wages and i'll
come to stay up to the full amount
and compel us to pay it.
Is. l See you are an anarchist, and
must report you to the Pinkertons.
Enter the farmers wife. wecpingl
Farmers Wifc-Mr Banker, don't hav,
the Pinkertons here. My husband
will pay YOU all he has got. We hav,
lived as carefully as we can. and hav,
seldom had so much as calico dress
and we have not been able to fix tn,
children for school The farm product
sell so cheap. that. with my egg none,
and all, We can't pay all the demand:
against us.
B. Not pay. Not pay'
| +. l cant pay without money. ant
/ have sold all my crop, and everything
could spare.
b. What lie. isn't that your team
standing vonder?
+. But if sell my team how can
make living for my family?
b. What have to do with you
family? Here Is my mortgage al
legally signed up, and l want N.
money.
+. But if I were to sell my team
could not get what it cost me a few
years ago.
b. That is nothing to me. l dix
not make the laws that took th
money ont of circulation. and max
prices SO low.
+. Who did make those laws?
B. You ought to know. You hclpe'
, to elect the men that did. They wer
the nominees of the political parties.
know how they got nominated, but yo1
dil the voting.
F. tGct.iug his eyes OPEN Wei
-bc-.--Cre<ton (Ia.) In
dtstidi 1n,cficdn.