Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-04-13
NOT A SINGLE VOTE.
After Holding a Long and In.
teresting Debate
FARMERS CONDEMN Mr.. BLAND
A. he IL Represented In HIS Savss Bill
"A Lively Discussion on Silver
The Wool Mill Project.

At the meeting of the West Michigan
Farmers' club held yesterday after
noon in the city hail. President Pear
sail was in the chair and Secretary Stay
ton recorded the proceedings. The
meeting was largely attended. . larger
number being present than for come
time. The question for discussion WAS.
Resolved, That the silver bill now be-
fore congress ought to become law"
Mr.. Linderman opposed the bill, for
as he understood the provisions of the
bill, il WAS framed in the interest Of
the mine owners. 1t provides that the
| government shall take eighty cents
worth OF silver and make Q dollar OF 1t
| for the miner.
| Mr.. Wextherwax, in his argument on
the question, said: 'Dees the govern.
ment lose anything by coming silver
for citizen except onc-fifth Of per
| cent, the cost of coinage, Is IL honest
10 pay debt in paper when the intrin.
sic value of dollar bill isn't worth one
cent? IL we intend to keep silver ~
circulating medium, we should certain
| ly place 1t on an equality With gold.
believe that those states which nave
bi-metallio standard are certainly the
most prosperous, and il IL quite IS de-
sIrable for our government - for
others.
| Money Compared.
Mr.. Linderman-We will compare
kinda of money. A greenback COSTS
only few cents, while the silver Tor
the Same dollar costs 20 cents. don't
sl.r. hall
one man 80 cents and another man 20
cents. 1t seems 10 me that the govern
men should not be obliged to care for a
private citizens property. even II 1t be
silver, and let the individual have sill
yer certificates to sell as money.
T.. l.. Briggs-I think only those who
have to cell are in favor Of free silver
coinage. If silver is 10 be coined freely
it will drive the gold out OF the country.
The banks are now surrendering their
circulation and receiving back their
bond, worth now Sl.24, which makes
q fine margin. Why have farmers left
the old parties and gone into the alll-
ance? think it is because they want
more money to be placed in circula-
ton. The main question now IN con-
gress is how can our party be success
ful this fall? An over production OF
the cotton crop laet year has led TO an
attempt to curtail the production this
year. Free silver would probably in
crease the price.
Cheap and Dear Dollars.
Mr.. Linderman--I don't believe any
individual should have the right to
coin his silver and have the profit. Let
the government have the benefit of the
difference. If 20 cents will make u
dollar then we shall all share IN the
benefit.
K. Award don't think those who
want free silver want to demonetize
gold; but they want a cheaper dollar.
AS money silver 10 not convenient to
[ handle. But the strife between those
who want u cheaper dollar and those
who want dear dollars is simply to flood
the country with lawful dollars, even
if they be made of silver. do not see
the justice of atiixing the price of u
gwen amount of silver anv more than
for the government to fix the price OF
| wheat. do not think it is right for 20
cents worth of silver 10 be made worth
100 cents simply by an act of congress.
Favors Making a Profit.
Mr.. Weatherwax-Twelye of the
principal countries use silver
standard, the rest q gold standard.
Gold countries do most of their bust
ness by exchange, very little gold is
transmitted. l do not see that the
gold we have sent to Europe has caused
any trouble here. Our best trade here
after is 10 tie south and not east of us.
Ii we don't have gold, we cannot
maintain the credit OF our greenba OK s.
Ii We can make 80 cents ON dollar s
worth of silver, / see no objection TO
making all We can. II is 4 fact that
gold and silver must be 1sed for .
circulating medium. l don't believe
that either the people or the govern
ment would suffer If all the gold and
silver offered should be freely coined
into circulating dollars.
President Pearsall-I believe that the
two metals should be made equal be.
fore the law. But surely We do not
want silver principally to handle ~
money. 1t is far too bulky.
Mr.. Voigt was called upon, and said
he had something better than silver 10
talk about. He presented . SACK Of
wheat which he said came from Buda
Pesth; and he asked the farmers 70
tell whether il was epring or win sef
wheat. Opinions differed, but ali pro-
nounced IL q very hard berry, and
many thought il looked inferior to the
wheat grown here. Mr.. Voigt said 1t
made the best -four in the world.
Defends the Constitutiou.
Secretary 5layton-we all know that
the inexoi able laws of supply and de-
mand always have snd always must II Z
the price Of eli kinds OF labor and com.
modities, money included. do not
believe that tho term regulate the
value thereof" as expressed in the
constitution with reference to coming
money, was intended to give to con
gress the power TO regulate the price OF
money by increasing or diminishing
the amount coined; but that 1t was IN
tended to and did confer tho power 10
fix the relative value Of our coins o.
different metals. and OF foreign coina.
| ~ compared 70 our own. believe tina,
the government should not be . pur-
chaser of metals to coin into money.
don't believe the government should
provide vaults for storing or police for
watching any mans silver any more
than il should care for my squashes or
your sheep.
At the conclusion Of The discussion .
vote was taken on the Bland silver bill
aud il received no supporters.
ID. i. Clay presented the project b.
erect . WOODEN mill IN this city before
the club, and after the matter had been
| DISCUSSED the following resolution wss
| sdoufed by the club. Resolved That ID