The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-04-28
Waiting FoR a .BLizzAKo.
Novel Way 81 Rcfuting Gold Bug Ar
gument.


were counted among the ..solid citi-
zens'' Of prosperous town in South
ern California some years ago.
Anderson kept q general store,
was justice of the peace, postmaster,
and was considered authority on all
matters political, as we'll as some
others. In politics he was q John
Sherman Republican.
y Steve Long ran carriage shop
to the satisfaction of his many, Gus
toners, and in politics was one Of
those crafty irrepressible, Peter
Cooper Greenbackers.
Many tilt he had with Anderson
relative to greenbacks and gold basis,
writes AL. Farmer in the Chicago Ex-
press, and it was generally admitted
by the Longing listeners who whit
tied up Anderson's dry-goods boxes
that Steve generally got the best of
the debate.
One day the mail arrived later than
usual. and as a result the crowd on
the shady side of the store was un-
usually large.
Steve had pretty thoroughly con-
vinced the audience that greenbacks
were worth 100 cents on the dollar
because the entire property of the
United States was behind every one
OF them, and not because of the
800, 600, 600 of gold in the treasury
held for their redemption which, he
commended, should be in circulation
among the people.
with what the crowd considered q
'scrusher."
''You say your green backs are at
par" said Anderson, because the
government is behind them; but sup
pose the government should fail
where then would be your green
backs? They would not be worth
the paper on which they are printed,
while the gold remaining in the
treasury could be taken to England
and disposed of as bullion at very
near it's face value.''
was so general and hearty that the
crowd hardly noticed his retort that
when this government fails there
will be precious little gold left in
the treasury to ship to England
Anderson was in a good humor and
closed the sdebate" with the remark.
Steve, you are first-class carriage
maker but mighty poor politician.
AS if to make amends for this
''crusher" on poor Steve, who was a
great favorite among 1.-THE boys" An
derson continues:
new carriage; want little the best
turnout to be found in this country
Never mind the cost; you know about
what would suit me-"
Il think do,'' said Steve. ..Sup-
pose | make a drawing of the kind of
carriage think would suit you. and
bring it around for your approval?"
''All right, bring it around
The next day Steve Long was on
hand with his drawing" of Ander-
sons carriage. 1t provoked much
comment, rather unfavorable for
Steve.
Come out and look at yer kerr
ridge, John" shouted Nick Simpson,
81 tell yer, it's a stunner!''
YES" said Anderson, turning the
pencil sketch toward the light,
''that's a fine looking-but what the
is this slowed away underneath;
what's this gearing. between the
wheels for. Steve?"
THAT said Steve, sis q pair of
runners. Don't you see? BY simply
working this lever you can raise the
wheels, drop the runners upon the
ground, and there you have the slick
est cutter that ever chased string
of sleigh bells.''
Eyes, yes, Steve; but who wants a
cutter down here where we never
have any snow-never so much as a
frost, even?'
But if there ever should come a
BLIZZARD" said Steve, this contriv-
ance would be mighty handy vehicle
to have around, l tell you.''
''Steve, you're crazy" holly re-
plied Anderson. seeing by the winks
and mods among the boys that there
was joke out somewhere ''No-
body but a fool would make a
horse draw that cutter gearing around
forever waiting for blizzard to come
SO that his owner could have q sleigh
ride"
And nobody but the same kind of
fool, quickly replied Steve, would
favor boarding up 500, 600, 900 in the
treasury forever waiting for the gov
eminent to fall SO that this gold
could serve some useful purpose. I'll
tell you, John; when this republic
busts up you can jump into carriage
like this and take a sleigh ride to
San Francisco on your way to Eng
land to dispose of your gold bullion. -
The ''boys" didn't stop laughing
even after they commenced smoking.
Anderson says it has taken more than
$50 worth of cigars to knock out that
'.cutter" story.
hear that Steve Long ran for the
legislature last fall and ON the Peo-
pies party ticket, and came near be-
ing elected. Perhaps some who read
this have heard him tell of ..Ander-
sons carriage" that only needed a
California blizzard to make it SER
viceable as frst-class cutter.
It IL Rebellion!