The Republican journal., 1896-10-22
The Decentralization OF Iron.
A Crime that WAS Committed Two Thousand zeal

| ASUs
Alexander P. Hull of Atlanta, Ga, is
a strong 16 to 1 man. He does not be-
lieve in half way measures. The free coin
age of silver is too tame for him. He is
willing to see the silverites and to 60
them 100 points better. Here is his de-
claration, proposition and arguments:
'Having been deeply impressed with
the arguments of Judge Crisp, Bryan,
Stewart, Jones and others, and especially
grieved, shocked and Mortified by the
awful crime of 1871 SO luridly depicted
daily in the columns of the Atlanta Con-
stitution and other silver organs, | have
changed my views on the money question,
and am ready to maintain the propositions
following, in Joint debate or newspaper
controversy.
81 accept the arguments of the advo-
Gates of silver and agree with their rene
dy, as far as it goes. However, it does
not go 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. / am in favor of free
and unlimited coinage of pig iron at
ratio of Is to with gold by the United
States alone, independently of all other
other nations, and can prove by the best
authority that such politics on the part
of the United States will raise prices
put plenty of money into circulation,
and give the honest debtor a chance to
pay his debts. thereby making the whole
| country prosperous.
''Now, in the first place, it may be
urged by some who do not understand the
subject of standards of value that free
cninoua ct would A.
price to ratio of 16 to 1 with gold. To
them l reply that the stamp of this gov
eminent, and the legal tender qualities
of the iron dollar would instantly make
the bullion value of pig iron the same as
the mint value, for who would part with
an ounce of this precious metal for any
thing less than the mint value?-( Stewart,
Jones, Bryan.)
Again, it may be urged that our mint
would be overcrowded with pig iron. |
reply, that the price of pig iron, having
been raised from $50 ton to ratio of
10 to l with gold the world over, mo one
would especially care to carry it to the
mints, since the mint price could be o.
tanned anywhere in the open market =
(Atlanta Constitution.( Next it may be
urged that gold and silver might go out of
circulation. | reply first, this is a mere
assumption of the tools Of the money
power, which they cannot verify. '-(At-
lanta Constitution.) Second, suppose
that gold and silver do 90 out of circula-
ton, is there not plenty Of pig iron to
take their place and give the people plenty
of money! -(Bryan.) And third, such
an assumption mixes the ideas Of circulate
ing medium and standard Of value; gold
and silver would still be in potential
money metals, though not in circulation.
and would lend their help toward raising
prices and causing general prosperity. 80
(Crisp.)
Then again, it may be urged against
the pig iron standard of value that wages
would not rise in proportion to prices
The reply is, wages will be compelled to
rise, since no man would be fool enough
to work for one dollar day who could
make 81, 900 per day by picking up rusty
nails and old horse-shoes and carving
them to the mint for coinage. '-(Hull
In addition. it may be urged by the
and the Bond street Shylocks' that we do
not alone go on pig iron basis without
an international agreement TO such
dastards as dare to lay a limit to the pow
er of the American people to do what they
please, independent of all other nations,
l hurl their cowardice and lack of patriot
ism back in their faces Bryan.
''The crime of demonetizing the iron
took place about 1900 years ago, when
certain 'goldollators' and 'silverites. in
order to increase the purchasing power of
| their i'll -gotten wealth, secretly, and like
thieves in the night, got the demonetiz-
alton act passed, repeating the good old
coinage act of I.ycurgus, the friend of
! our ancestors daddies.' 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 wheel barrow Atlanta
Constitution.
"a ruinous fall in prices followed the
demonstration of iron, and has continue
ed for upwards 1000 years. | have cal
culated the loss entailed upon honest peo-
pie of this world by that ruthless act, and
the figures are so enormous fear a revo-
luton will ensue if the people learn how
greatly they have been robbed. But the
facts are facts, and the best way to right
wrong is to meet it squarely. The loss
is $50, 900, 900, 600, 900, 0O0 600, 900, 900, :
900, 0OO." Coins Financial School.
Sin conclusion, 1 insist that the free
coinage of pig iron will do everything that
is claimed for silver, and infinitely more
| The people will be rich and prosperous
| The once poor man can pay his debts with
| his old stove. Railroads can declare divi-
dends on old rails and worn out rolling
stock. The small boy can pick up old
nails and horseshoes enough to support
the family. In fine, poverty and debt can
no longer exist Atlanta Journal.