The record-union., 1894-04-18
WHEAT AS MONEY.
New Scheme Projected by Inventor
Edison.

Edison.
WASHINGTON, A April 17.-Inventor Edi-
son has monetary scheme which beats
the fiatists, the silverites and the goldites
all hollow. Somebody has been calling
the attention OF the Treasury Department
to it. Mr.. Edison proposes to make wheat
the money of the future. He would COM
press it into cakes of various sizes and
have it represent different denominations
by weight. Then there would no longer
be a question of wheat being depressed as
the ratio between gold and silver varies.
Wheat would be the medium of eX-
change, and, therefore, the true measure
of value. The volume OF currency would
vary with the needs of the country or of
the world, as the case might be. There
would be no chance for middlemen to
make profits out of the variations of ex-
change and barter, and sales would be
reduced to first principles.
The great advantage which the wizard
claims for this scheme is that wheat
money could be eaten. 1t would not hap
pen, as was the case during last summers
panic, that people who counted their
wealth by the hundred thousands would
hardly be able to get enough money to
pay for meal at the restaurants. There
would be no object in people piling up
their compressed wheat cakes in the
safety deposit or rather the warehouse.
for fear of the failure of banks; and it
would be impossible to get loan of a
few thousand wheat sacks except at ex-
orbitant duties. Inventor Edison is said
to have new process Tor COMPRISING
the wheat without destroying any of its
nutritive qualities, and its use as money
would not interfere with its usefulness as
food. In some parts of Scotland oatmeal
cake is good for nights lodging, but as
TAR as known this is the only attempt
practically to apply the Edison principle
to finance.
The Populists in Congress are little
shy of giving their Endorsement to the
plan of wheat money until they have
made thorough examination of its
merits. They seem to think that In
ventor Edison is poklng fun at them. but
it is asserted that he is not, for he has
elaborated this scheme with much pa
tience.
NATIONAL GRAIN CONGRESS.
Large Attendance at the Convention
at Wichita, Kansas.
WICHITA (Kas.), April 1.-THE National
Grain Congress which opened here to-
day is largely attended by grain men
from all over Southern Kansas and Okla
homa, as well as delegates from South
Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas,
Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa and Mime
sofa.
The objects of the congress is to formu-
late plans to secure an outlet for Southern
and Southwestern products to the Gulf
of Mexico. The New Orleans delegation
is a strong one. and they are working
hard for the Crescent City.
Colonel Day OF the New Orleans PicGy-
une made remarkable speech in favor OF
the commercial and social relations be-
tween the West and the South. 1t is de-
clared by all here to be the equal TO the
famous speech delivered by Henry Grady
at the New England dinner.
Governor Lewelling of Kansas and
many Southern commercial organizations
sent kilograms of hearty congratulation.
Many valuable papers outlining the me-
cessity for a commercial alliance between
the South and West were read. y per-
manent organization was effected, as fol-
lows: President, ex-Mayor George w.
Clement of Wichita; Vice Presidents, ).
A. Jones of Florida, FL. Austill of Ala
bama. J. E. Hall of Louisiana, Mr.. Grimes
of Oklahoma, c. +. Potts of Kansas, Geo.
Schoule of Nebraska, Colonel Wigglns OF
Colorado. d. C. Inboden of Texas, J. II.
Anderson OF Minnesota. and David Mey-
ers of Iowa: Secretaries, Colonel West OF
Alabama and A. c. Jones of Kansas;
Treasurer. a. w. Oliver OF kansas.