The Wichita daily eagle., 1895-06-08
ANOTHER GoLDBua WIPED OUT.

To the Editor of the Eagle.
A fair answer to each one Of the follow
ing questions (Which are intended to be
perfectly fair and many OF which can be
answered in a single worD will aid your
| readers materially in forming judgment
upon one phase of the silver question:
90. Is not one of the strongest argu-
ments for the immediate free coinage of
silver at 16 to 1 based upon the gradual
fall in the average price of commodities
since 1873 as compared with the price Of
gold?
40. We've heard so.
Q.-(O. How great. in your judgment.
has been that average fall in prices during
that period?
A.-(2). Awful.
Q.-(3. Has the effect of this been to
rob the debtor class?
A.-(3). Now you're talking.
90. Is not the free coinage argument
largely based upon the idea that. while
justice requires a debtor to pay his debt
in dollars as valuable as those he received,
it is an injustice to compel him to pay 1t
in more valuable dollars?
A.-(D. OF course; also, you bet.
90. Does not the compulsory ac-
ceptance of payment OF debt in less
valuable dollars from those loaned injure
the creditor just in proportion as 1T bene-
fits the debtor? And. on the other hand
does not the necessity of paying a debt
in more valuable dollars injure the debtor
just in proportion as it benefits the credi-
tor?
A-(O One question at time please.
90 Is decrease in the present pur-
chasing power of the dollar one of the
results which free coinage is expected TO
produce?
40. You seem to be on.
Go. Is it expected, at the same time.
to maintain the present debt-paying power
of the dollar by virtue of legislation max
ing it a legal tender for all debts?
40. This reminds US Of a story.
OF either of the last two questions is
answered in the negative you can tear up
the balance of this sheet; but if they are
both answered in the affirmative. as Har-
vey and Bryan would answer them, then
I respectfully ask the following further
questions:
Go. In the case Of three different
debts, the first contracted before the fan
IN prices began. the second contracted
after one-half of the fall In prices had
taken place. the third contracted SO re-
Gently that there has been no material
fall in prices during the time it has run.
what reduction in the purchasing power
of the dollar, in each case respectively.
would. in your judgment be necessary or
proper to enable the debtor to pay his debt
with Justice to himself and his creditor?
A.-(9. See Robinson's Analytical CAL
culus," page 1873.
Q.-(0. If the dollars under limited free
coinage at IS to / are sufficiently reduced
in value to avoid tie robbery Of debtors
in the payment of debts five, ten or twenty
years old, how do you propose to avoid
the robbery Of creditors which would re-
20 Ga 6nl
lars in payments of debts more recently
created and during the existence of which
there may have been no fall in prices
whatever, or where the fall has been SO
slight as to be wholly out OF pr Dportion to
the proposed reduction in the dollar?
A.-(s). If you feel this way about it,
Carter's Little Liver Pills ought to
straighten you out.
Q.-QW. II the fail in prices during the
time certain debts have run is a ground
for compelling creditors to accept pay
ment of such debts in dollars sufficiently
reduced in value to overcome the fall of
prices, what is the argument for compell-
ing a totally different set of creditors to
accept such dollars in payment Of a totally
different set Of debts, during the running
OF which there has been no fall in prices
or a. least no fall in anywise proportioned
| to the reduction in the value Of the dollar?
A-Q0). Shakespeare said: Loan oft
losses both itself and friend" That was
in 1900. England is still in fairly pros
porous condition.
Q.-(lD. Have you any definite informa-
ton as to whether the greater number
of debts to be settled under the proposed
law are debts in settlement of which tac-
! cordng TO the theory in question), justice
would be done to the debtor; or whether
| the greater number are more recent debts.
| in settlement which Of which the person
| who loaned the money or extended the
| credit would be robbed?
AID. Run and play now.
Q.-G0. Nearly all reasonable men will
| join you in favoring the largest possible
use of silver as standard money consist
| ent with the maintenance OF the equal
! purchasing and debt paying power of all
| our dollars. But there are great many
| people, debtors themselves. who would
hesitate 10 approve of a scheme planned
and executed in such way as 10 work
great injury to vast numbers of innocent
people all over the country today.
A-(l9l Thanks