The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1896-08-13
WHY NOT?

The following from the pen OF A. +,
Hull OF Atlanta, Ca, is commenced to
the thoughtful consideration OF those to
think that all that is necessary to con-
vert anything into current and vaiuapie
money is for the government TO stamp
it as such, and declare its value, by law
The argument in the following excerpt
is cast in parallel lines with the argu-
nent for free silver coinage at the ratio
of sixteen to one; and the verv word.
and methods OF the use OF such words
are gwen by Mr.. Hull in defending the
orepostrous proposition OF the Tree coin
age OF iron. How it is;
accept the arguments vi the advo-
Gates of silver and agree with their rem
edv as far as 1t goes. However, It does
not po far enough. Let us have plenty
OF remedy-in fact, enough to make debt
and poverty things OF the past-relics
OF the dark ages. l am in favor OF the
tree and unlimited coinage OF pig iron at
a ratio of 10 to with gold by the
United States alone, independently OF
OF all nations, and can prove bv the
hest authority obtainable that such Il
policy on the part of the United States
will raise prices put plenty OF money
in circulation AMI give the honest
debtor a chance to pay his debts, there
by making the whole country prosper
Gus.
Now, in the first place, itmay be urged
by some who do not understand the
subject Of standards OF value, that
free coinage act for iron would not
raise it's price to ratio of 16 to with
GOLD. To them l reply that the stamp
otths government and the ,legal-tende,'
uuali:1es OF the iron dollar would in
stantlv make the bullion value OF pig
iron the same as the mint value. For
who would pars with an ounce OF this
precious metal tor anything less than
the mint valued" (Stewart Jones and
Bryant
Again, it may be urged that our mints
would be cvercro wded with pig IRON.
reply that the price of pig iron having
been raised from $3.50 a ton to ratio
16 to with gold the world over, no
one would especially care to carry 1t to
the mints, since the mint price could be
obtained anywhere in the open market
ATLANTA Constitution.)
Next, it may be urged that gold and
silver would go out OF circulation.
eply, first, This is mere assumption
of the tools of the money power which
they cannot verify ATLANTA Constitu-
tion) second, Suppose gold and silver
do go out IF circulation, is there not
plenty of pig iron to take their place and
give the people plenty OF MONEY
(Bryan). and third, Such an assump-
ton mixes the idea of circulating med
ium and Standard OF valne, that gold
and silver would still be potential mon
ey metals, though notin circulation.an
would lend their help toward raising
prices and causing general prosperity
(Crsp)
Then again, it may be urged against
the pis.iron standard OF value that
wages would not raise in proportion to
prices. The reply is, Wages would be
com PEELED to rise, since no man would
be fool enough to work for $1.OO day
who could make 81 900 per day picking
up rusty nails aud old horsesnoes and
carving them to the mint for coinage
(HulD.
The Crime of demonetizing pig iron
took place about 200 wears ago, when
certain .goldiolators' and 'silyerltes, III
order to increase the purchasing power
OF their ill-gotten wealth, secretly and
like thieves III the night got the demon
citation act passed repeating the good
old free coinage act OF Lycurgus. To-
day China is the only country on earth
honest enough to coin iron, and there
the happy laborer can carry home the
wages OF his honest toll in a wheelbar-
HOW, "A t1arta CopStitutj0nl
A ruinous fall in prices followed the
characterization of iron, and has contin-
ued tor upward of 1000 wears. l have
calculated the losses entailcd upon the
honest people OF this world by that
ruthless act but the figures are so enor-
nous fear a revolution will ensue il the
people learn how greatly they have been
robbed. But facts are facts, and the
best way to right wrong is to meet 1t
squarely. That loss is sol 600, 600,
600, 900, 09o, 900, 900, 900, 600, 600
(Coin's Financial SchooD.
In conclusion, | insist that the free
coinage of pig non will do everything
that is claimed for silver and Infinitely
more. The people Will be rich and pros
porous The once poor man can pay his
debts with his old stove. Railroads can
declare dividends on old rails and worn
out rolling stock. The small boy Can
pick ZIP nails aud horreshoes enough to
support his family. milne. poverty and
debt can no longer exist!