The Green Forest tribune., 1896-10-29
4 PLAIN Talk 10 WoRkINoMEN
The A D G OF tho Silver Question
Clearly Put

4 PLAIN TALK TO NORklNGMEN
The A D G of tho silver Question
Clearly Put.
Let us not get mixed up with complex
matters in connection with the free
silver idea.
Let us not befog our brain with
arguments about the crime of 1873 or
bother with the many theories which
the advocates of free silver are giving
us.
But let us take common-sense view
Of the situation.
Now. to start with:
Suppose Bryan Was elected and the
free coinage act had been passed and
that free coinage was an actual fact.
Suppose that silver could be taken to
the mint and coued into silver dol
lars at the ratio Of sixteen to one.
How would that affect US?
We haven't got any silver bullion.
A whole lot of people who own silver
mines have it. and so they could have
it coined into sixteen to one dollars,
but not having any ourselves we could
rot have a solitary, single dollar coined
under the free silver act.
Now, suppose, however, that ell the
silver mine owners and others who had
silver took It all to Washington or
Philadelphia or to some other United
States mint and had it coined into
sixteen to one dollars, and
Suppose 50 much had been coined
that all the silver in the world was
mede into sixteen to one dollars, and
Suppose that everyone Of these doll
lars was piled in one heap right on
the next block, and
Suppose every single oae Of them
was worth 100 cents here and every
where.
What good would they DO us unless
we had something we could trade by
which we could get one?
Well, we have something to trade,
everybody has.
Some have labor, so much for q dol
lar.
Some have lumber, SO much for a
dollar.
Some have sugar or potatoes or hams
or coal or something else, all so much
for n dollar
We have advertising and subscrip-
tiens. so much for dollar.
When we want one of those silver
dollars. we cannot go ard take it. They
don't belong to US. They belong to
the men who took the silver TO the
mint to be coined.
If we took one. it would be steal
ing.
# we asked for one for nothing, 1t
wouE be begging.
# the owners gave us one for moth
ing, it would be gift,
If we borrowed one. 1t would cost
rs interest, and SO
Most Of Us, to get one, must trade
labor. lumber, sugnr, coal, advertising
or something to get II. f
This is absolutely and honestly 60.
isn't it?
We'll. being SO. why do we take any
chances on the dollar?
We can get gold bow.
1t is worth 800 cents on the dollar
everywhere.
so we have supposed the silver to be,
but
Suppose Il ISM?
What then?
What is The use of taking chance
unless we can do hetter7 A silver doh
lar won't be worth more than 100 cents,
will it?
We are getting that now.
Let wef enough alone.
Some aay duty conpels democrat
to hacl: up and vote fer n democrat
You have Bryan's word that he is 90
democrat. Let him deny that he said
IT,
Some say II is pretty bad ROW. we
might as well take a chance. II can't
be wo1-+a
WHAT kind of to1afoolery is tlis2
Are things bad in & bl2sness way?
Let rs hsll yon something 10 try.
Vote down this crowd OF repud atcrs.
Tel the world IN trumpet tones IN
November that we want he best money.
that we will take no other, and bust
ness VIII revive
Let the capital ont that Bryan and
his followers have scared under cover,
and prosperity will come. Lum Der
Trade Journal.
Strange Bec.feI1oyrs.