The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1896-07-01
A CIRCUS DOLLAR.
IT PERFORMS 4 WONDERFUL FEAT IN
PAYING DEBTS.

PAYING DEBTS.
illustrates the Rapidly With Which Good
Money Can Circulate--And That Quality
+. Moro Important Than Quantity.
In his recent great speech in congress
the Hon. James T. McCleary, Of Mime
sofa, told the following story to illustrate
the fact that quality Of money is more
important than quantity and that the
power Of even a small amount OF good
money to circulate rapidly, pay debts,
settle balances and to facilitate ex-
changes is almost limitless:
When was small boy, saw some
thing that shall never forget. 1t was
at circus The clowns and some other
employees arranged themselves in cir
Gle. Let us say that there were 20 OF
them in all. No. / said to No 2, Il
owe you 81; I'll pay up as soon as l
can" No. Q made this statement to No.
3, No. 8 to No. 4, and SO on around the
circle, No. 20 saying it to No. /. No. l
showed his hands into his pockets, and
with q look Of pleased surprise pulled
out,sl. Turning to No. 2, he said: Il
didn't know that ! had that dollar.
Here's so much on account" No Q took
the dollar, and with similar language
passed it on to No, 8. and 80 1t went
around the ring. No. 20 passed 1t to
No. /, who received it with o smile and
started to put it into his pocket, but in
stead he turned to No. Q and said, Il
didn't expect to be able to pay you the
balance SO soon, but here 1t is. !" And 80
it went around the ring finally coming
back to No !, who with satisfied
smile put it into his pocket.
To the little boy who looked as l did
thirty odd years ago this was simply
the funny work Of clowns, to be laughed
at and forgotten 1t was not forgotten,
however, and to the man older grown
and charged with the serious considera-
ton Of the affairs Of great nation it IL
Illustrates the profoundest truth in
finance. What is that truth? 1t is this:
Under proper conditions the working
power Of a dollar is beyond all human
computation
Twas very much surprised to hear this
afternoon man 30 prominent as my
friend from Tennessee Mr.. McMillinl
speak as if money paid for taxes was
lost to circulation. have often heard
men speak rs il they thought that there
must be as many dollars In existence as
there are dollars worth Of business to
be transacted What would a farmer say
to an agent for bushel baskets who
should attempt to convince him that he
needed as many baskets as he expected
to raise bushels of crop1 The farmer
would feel that his intelligence had been
insulted, and justly 80. He knows that
he can use the same basket over and over
again, and the quantity measured in a
given time will depend on the speed
with which the one handling it works.
And then, il properly used, 1t is ready
to do as much more.
So with the yardstick, the pound
weight and the dollar Each can do an
almost infinite amount of work II prop
erly used. What are the conditions Of
highest efficiency in money? Under what
conditions can given amount Of money
do the most work? Let Us examine our
illustration.
The dollar in the circus ring did the
work Of $40 in Ave minutes and was
just as capable Of accomplishing as much
more in the succeeding five minutes.
Why was this? Simply because 1t moved
promptly.
Now, let US examine the matter lit
tie more closely. Why did 1t move so9
Why was each one so prompt to pass the
dollar on7 Because he felt good-that is,
he felt honest. He felt that when he
owed money and had it in his pocket the
only proper thing for him to do was to
pay up. Moreover, each had confidence
in the other. There was feeling of re-
spect and good will among the men in
that ring This is one of the conditions
under which money does its work most
effectively.
What is the other condition? Why
Vss each man willing to accept the dol
Sar in payment of what was coming to
Aim7 Because he knew that it was q
good dollar He knew that whenever he
wanted to use it, whether 1t hight be
that day or not for ten years, it would
be just as good as when he accepted it.
Suppose, on the other hand, that each
Of the men had dollar in his pocket,
but that they distrusted each other, each
fearing that il he let go Of the dollar
that he had he might not soon get an
other, although money was due him.
and suppose that each was afraid to &C.
oept the money Of the other, fearing
that 1t might not be good when he
wanted to use it: that 1t would depreci-
ate on his hands-what would be the
ResultI Why, of course. each would keep
in his pocket what money he had, and
each would continue to owe the other
that is, the money would accomplish
nothing.
In other words, sir, with good money
and mutual trust 81 did the work Of
$40. while with questionable money
and distrust $50 could accomplish moth
ing. In other words, the quality Of
money is immensely moro important
than its quantity.
The Tilimsn Programme.
The following is Ben Tillman's plan
OF campaign as laid down In his speech
last night:
First The silvefites should do their