The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-14

no roight to ordher me TO move on. Ofm
exercisin' me constitutional roight wnin vi
stand here alkin'-
Now you have been bothering me for
two or three days, and II you don't look
out I'll run you in
Run me in, will yes? Not much. Yes
can't make a case. IL yes thry thot OIL
be after givin' ye a good shakin.'
The officer respected the age of the old
freshman. and made no active demonstra-
tons toward placing him under arrest Inc
Washington-street merchant threatens 10
give the iron railing a coat or fresn palnt
TO put an end TO the annoyance he claims
to suffer.
Since such decided efforts have been made
to suppress the curbstone orators at tne
Delaware-street crossing the crowds nave
taken to the Forum at the postofhce cor
ner. Large groups of men stand aoout
the arguments of some free-silver or sound
money men. as the case may be- 1t ire
Quently happens that a half dozen men pro-
pound questions to the champion IN sucn
quick succession as TO make his head fairly
swim. A thing that seems TO be especially
worthy of note Is the fact that the senti-
semblages. When the discussion of the
money-craze became so general, In most
crowds several men would be found crying
for silver. In front of the postoffice all
afternoon yesterday a different condition
was noticed. The advocacy of the silver
cause seemed to be carried on by four or
five men. and they were trying 10 answer
questions at a ratio of about Is to 1. They
made statements at random. quoting sta
tistics which they knew could not be veri-
fed or disproved. but on the main question
the question every man seems TO be ask
in~g-"how will free coinage benefit me-
they We're silent as the stone tagging under
There were two young men who spent the
entire afternoon on that corner. arguing Tor
more money. Both are thoroughly satu-
rated with the theories or Harvey. but are
nonplussed when some old man who has
lived and voted in the United States Tor a
half century springs personal recollections
on them.
A MAN OF COMMODITIES.
The younger of the two is a sanguine-
faced, pop-eyed young fellow. possibly
t~wenty-eight years old. Who wore light
clothes. a faring lavender tie and a large
blue button on his coat lapel with the
free-silver trade mark-16 to 1-emblazoned
in silver.
Everything is a commodity" he declares
Knowingly. Your labor is a commodity.
and you labor to get other commodities.
You don't work for money. Money is only
a commodity, and you want ii TO exchange
for other commodities. There is not enough
of this commodity in circulation. Gold is
a commodity and silver is a commodity
When people tire of the commodity song
and begin asking questions, he generally
finds himself up a tree, and appeaiS 10 an
e other young Wan man Tor w the " nsn u co, Ine
slightly frayed at the points, a black club
tie and a soft brown hat, crushed down in
the middle. He has an abundant supply of
business cards, giving his name and ad-
dress, which he insists on thrusting into
the hands of every doubling Thomas, i'm
ploring him to come to my office; l want
oh, bother your Office" is the reply he
generally receives.
The card man has a string of figures at
lis tongues end that would ~startle a light
ming calculator into dumb amazement.
unfortunately however; he does 81, not pre-
doubters 10 the newspaper offices, where he
assures them they can search the files"
Mint, down at the State library. The card
man regards Secretary Carlisle with par
ticular adherence. because he chooses to
pay off the governments obligations in
gold, a course Of action which he declares
10 be discrimination against silver.
why does the Secretary do that?" in
Quired a listener.
Because he is a friend of the gold
bugs"
policy or the government TO pay gold when
it is demanded, although the law may stip-
uiate that the obligations are payable in
coin-either gold or silver. Why? Simply
to maintain the parity of the two metals.
Were Carlisle TO refuse to pay gold, or
were the government TO become unable to
pay gold, confidence in silver would van
ish and the enforced parity which is now
maintained would become impossible; silver
would sink to its commercial level, and be
worth In purchasing power just what it is
The man with the blue button declared
yesterday afternoon that he had never
heard a goldbug talk.
They're all in their Offices, studying the
question" shouted some one on the out
skirt OF the crowd.
That's right" said the blue button man.
They don't know anything about this
question. ] am just aching to get to ask
some of them a few questions. 1 want to
hear what they have to say"
Pardon me-" said a quiet sort of a man,
evidently a commercial t~raveler. May l
ask you a question:"
Certainly; what is it?' And he of the
blue button seemed TO think he could an
swer any question in the world.
You seem to have given this question
some thought" said the travelling man
quietly. Now, what / want to know is
this: How am l to profit by free coinage?
How will 1t put more money into my pock-
et?"
Your labor is a commodity
hobby again. Can't you give me a plain
answer"
This should not be a selfish question:
said he of the business cards, coming to his
friends rescue. You should not look at 1t
IN a selfish light
81 shouldn't, Ell? 1 think that is the only
light in which 1 or any other voter should
That's right" cried a half dozen voices
at once. taking up the laugh against the
unselfsh, patriotic agitator.
There was a temporary lull In the dis
cussion. but IL was taken up again later
and continued all afternoon. Indeed, a
to go to supper. and they talked long after
midnight.
ATT THE pOSTOEEICE.