The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1892-05-27
FIAT MONEY
How . Missouri Farmer Got Left on Money
That Was Not Fiat.

How . Missouri Farmer Got Left on Money
That Was Not Fiat.
The discussion of the money ques-
ton just now reminds nae of a little
circumstance that occurred back in
1880. writes j. r. Miller in the Chi
cago Sentinel was living in Slater.
Saline county, Mo-. and at the head
and also the foot-of a Greenback
newspaper. 1t so happened that one
day while was sitting on nail keg
taking notes for my paper. promi-
nent farmer and hard money Demo-
ocrat came in and called for dollars
worth of coffee. will add just here
that the nail keg was in a grocery
store and the grocery man read the
Sentinel Well to go on with my
story, the coffee was duly weighed
out and the farmer planked down a
trade dollar on the counter.
That's worth 80 cents said the
grocery man.
Ninety cents!" and the hard money
farmer glared over the top of his
.spectacles at the grocery man.
That's the size of it." said the
grocery man.
But perhaps you are mistaken in
the dollar" said the hard-money far
mer. Perhaps that's the kind of a
dollar you are thinking about" and
he fshed out standard dollar from
his wallet and showed it under the
grocery mans nose.
That's worth 100 cents" said the
groceryman. as he tossed it into his till.
Then the hard money farmer got
upon his hind legs and paved the air.
''You fool" said he. don't you know
that there is seven and a half more
grains of silver in that dollar on the
counter than the one you just got?'
Il know all about that said the
grocery man.
Then why amt it worth more
than the other dollar?' asked the
farmer.
Because it don't have the fat "
said the grocery man..
What do you mean by :iat?'"
asked the farmer.
Il mean the fat of law; the decree
of the United States government
said the grocery man.
Whats the difference in the read
ing on the two dollars" asked the
farmer who was evidently getting in.
terested in the matter.
This" said the grocery man, hold
ing UP the standard dollar this
says United States of America. One
Dollar which makes it worth 100
cents wherever our flag floats. but that
dollar there on the counter says
United States of America, Trade DOL
lar which makes it worth only its
bullion value or whatever you can
get for it.
The HI you say!" said the
farmer. as flood OF
light began to penetrate his be-
nighted brain.
But this dollar says In God we
Trust" he continued as he picked up
his trade dollar:
Yes" said the grocery man, but
you can't trust Him for more than 80
cents on that dollar while Uncle
Sans dollar is always worth 100
cents"
Then Uncle Sam is bigger
man than God Almighty" said the
farmer
He is when it comes to making
said the grocery man.
We'll I'll 60 over to the bank and
see. have been saving them for a
long time. because there was more
silver in them. and would be worth
more, and I thought I could get
premium on them after awhile; but
instead of premium I have lost just
20 cents on the dollar and will lose
at least one dollar on that jar full
But see now that it is not the stuff
that makes the money but the law;
this thing you call fiat that gives the
money value"
Now you are in this thing" said
the grocery man.
'Oh. the light begins to shine"
said the farmer.
Let her shine" said the grocery
man..
That's what I will" said the
farmer. land when I get home l am
going to give the hired man handful
of these things to kick me all around
the barn and out the big gate; and if
ever vote the hard money hard
times ticket again I want someone to
fill my hide full OF bird-shot :"
..Amen, said the grocer. And the
old farmer was ever after one of the
most jealous greenback men in his
county.
He Patient.