The news boy., 1896-03-21
AT 1T AGAIN.

The professional platform writer
is again in evidence and the politi
clans will again try to deceive the
people by adopting meaningless plat.
forms that will cover any and all
cases. Last week the Republican
State convention of Ohio Incorporated
in its platform the following finan-
cial plank:
"We contend for honest money; for
a currency of gold, silver and paper
with which to measure our exchange
that shall be as sound as the Govern
ment and as untarnished as its honor,
and to that end we favor bimetallism,
and demand the use of both gold and
silver as standard money, either in
accordance with ratio to be fixed
by an international agreement, If
that can be obtained, or under such
restrictions and such provisions, to
be determined by legislation, as will
secure the maintenance of the pari-
ties of the values of the two metals,
so that the purchasing and debt pay
ing power of the dollar, whether of
silver, gold or paper, shall be at all
times equal.
There you are Mr.. Republican
voter. 1t does not matter whether
you are a ''free silver crank" or a
goldbug, you can construe the above
to suit your case and stand squarely
upon that platform. But, at the
same time, you must remember that
the fellow whom you elect has also a
right to his construction of what is
meant by the above plank. The
above is the plank upon which Nc.
Kinley was indorsed as Ohio's choice
for the Republican nomination for
the presidency, and it is more than
likely that the Republican National
Convention will adopt similar mon
ey plank.
If the Ohio convention favored the
gold standard, why did they not say
so in plain language? 1t reminds Us
of candidate for representative ir
Scott county who declared himself
for free silver, probably, for the first
time in life, but neglected to state
whether he favored it at 16 to ] OF
30 to l. See?
But let US examine the Ohio planl
and see what there is in it. 1t reads
"We favor bimetallism and demand
the use of both gold and silver a
standard money" To the average
reader this would seem to mean bi
metallism pure and simple. But i
does not. If they had used the word
primary money" or redemption
money, instead of standard mon
ey," then it would have had a rea
bimetallic ring to it.
In order to carry the deception still
further they demand that the ''pur
chasing and debt-paying power of tn
dollar, whether of silver, gold or pa
per, shall be at all times equal.
This is only possible when all none
| is representative or token money eH
cept that upon which the representa-
, tive or token money it based. Fo
: instance, so long as silver, paper
checks, notes, or any other represer
, tative money are redeemable ugold
, just so long is the purchasing c
: debt paying power of the dollar
, whether of gold, silver Or paper, "th
, same. They all represent gold an
are just as good-so far as trade
concerned.
Let US 90 still further into this d.
? ception. If gold and silver were bot
, primary or redemption money, tn
chances are that silver would, q
times, command premium. 1t
, not-nor can it be-disputed that
, silver dollar was worth S1.O3, g
r measured by gold, when silver wa
y stricken down in 1873. 'Why?" yo
may ask. Because there was d.
mand at the large factories ft
D change. A paper dollar commando
the same premium.
Then it is plain to see why thes
n ''sound money" Judas Iscariots a
n ways demand that at all times "or
q dollar shall be as good as every otht
: dollar" 1t is impossible, except c
;. a gold basis. An experience of nea
t ly century has taught us that upc
bimetallic basis at ratio of 16
= l, gold never gets higher than silve
i but that silver, at times, command
e a premium.
SFNATOR VeSTS term will eXDil