The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-22
ALL II CAN DOIsTO MAKE MATTERS
WORST.

We were discussing the general condi-
tion OF affairs "a day or so back with
a most csumable citizen of Richmond
who said that ho was really unable 10
determine whether he was for free silver
or not. A change. said De. must come
rom some quarter or ] turn with horror
from the suffering that Will Dee Witnessed
ia this city, only O. day or two back.
said he most excellent man. whom 1
know and know To- De a thoroughly skilled
workman, came 20 me and said: "Sir
what arm ] 10 dot / am without work
ana nave been unable 10 get any Tor
weeks. my wife and children are well
nigh starving. and although 1 am as
orderly and conservative a man as lives
in Richmond, / am almost prepared 10
become an Anarchist" Now. said our
friend, what is 20 Doe done under such
Circumstances? There must DE change.
our reply 10 him was that no relief
could possibly come from dcbas.ne the
countrys money. that the present UNI
happy condition OF things had arisen from
the destruction of confidence caused by
the attack ON credit that was involved In
tho threat 20 pour out into our money
system an unlimited quantity OF silver
dollars worth only fifty cents each.
We pointed him 20 the condition OF
things that existed here Ga the spring Of
1898. whom the panic that free silver
caused was brought ou the country.
AT that time every industry in Richmond
was working on ul time. AN OF our
workingmon had regular and steady en-
ploymcnt az good wages and an OF them
were happy and coutent,I Tie Rich
mond Locomotive and Machlnc-Works
wero employing a thousand men. and had
orders for engines on hand that would
have kept their entire force al work for
more than a year. but the threat Of
paying dollars with silver dollars worth
only hfiy cents alarmed mon who had
money due TO them. they began 20 call IN
their money while they could get entire
dollars. confidence became impaired the
panic set IN. and whenever since a chance
TO restore confidence and draw capital out
again into employment has seemed 20 be
az hand. cree silver has reused up
and shaken itself. it has announced IN d
loud voice that II win yet control this
Government: capital has taken fright
again and has retired and The country
has gone on continually from had TO
worse. with the certainty that II VIII
continue In the same career until the mao
attempt TO make men take nifty cents
when "a dollar is their due. is abandoned.
You must recognize wc said. that The
present state OF matters has been Wrought
about by men with money becoming
alarmed lest they should DC compelled 90
change their dollars into hali-douars.
Some men 80 on with enterprises m
spite Of this rlroat IN the hope THAI
Il will ho no more than threat But
as matters progress towards a point mat
indicates "a greater probability that this
threat may be realized. moro men become
alarmed and more capital As Withdrawn
from business end AS more capital Is
Withdrawn work for worGngmcn dc
creases. and suffering grows. You can
never. therefore. wc said to our friend,
arrest the downward course Of things by
increasing the probability that men VIII
rave 70 take hAlf-dollsrs for dollars.