Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-09-10

others in this years campaign?
Answer-The question OF the restora-
tion Of the principle Of bimetallism In
our monetary system.
Q.-Why Is SO much earnestness felt
OIL the subject?
A.-Because lhe vote next November
will probably determine the question
finally one way or the other.
Q.-Is not the tariff equally an issue
In the campaign?
A.-No. there is no appreciable oppo-
sition to protective tariff. and all 9TH
ef Issues are lost In the great one Of
gold or bimetallism.
Q.-Explain the position of the gold
advocates?
A.-They insist that 1922 grains Of
gold shall constitute the measure of the
dollar. no matter to what point gold
may advance.
Q.-Why are they so welded to the
gold standard?
A.-Because 1t Is the English stand
ard, and England is looked upon a. the
most enlightened nation Of the world.
Q.-Is there any reason why we
should have the same standard q Euro
pean countries?
A.-None whatever. The monetary
system Of a country is purely = matter
OF Its own internal concern.
Q.-What influence has precipitated
the Issue at this time?
A.-The spe, G--.ive money influence.
Q.-What do you mean by speculative
money influence?
A.-Capital legitimately employed
has little to make or lose by the Ques-
tion Of the standards. A piece Of prop
pressed In English pounds or In French
francs or in American dollars. So in
vested capital represents the same in
trinsic value whether It be measured
by gold dollars or silver dollars. Only
large investors In money have any very
real interest in maintaining forever the
sold standard.
Q.-But would not change Of stand
ard be an injustice to them?
A.-The issue had better not have
been raised at this time. but as II has
been raised some injustice must be ex-
perienced on one side or the other.
Q.-Who raised the issue?
A.-The advocates Of the gold stand
ard. =,
Q.-What are their chief arguments? ?
A.-Denouncing the advocates Of bi-
metallism as populists. anarchists, ia
natics and cranks.
Q.-Are these denunciations justi-
fed?
oh
lists and statesmen advocate bimetal-
lIsn.
Q.-Does free silver carry with 1t the
destruction of the national banking
system, the restriction Of the powers
OF the government to preserve the
peace in times of riot and insurrection,
and other so-called populistic meas
ures?
A.-By no means. The remonetiza-
ton OF silver is legitimate question
Of craftsmanship with a solid basis Of
scientific truth underlying 1t.
Q.-Just what do the bimetallists con-
tend for?
A.-For the free coinage both Of gold
and silver.
Q.-what do you mean by free coin
age?
A.-The privilege on the part Of any
holder Of the precious metals Of taking
them to the mint and having them
coined into money without Limitation.
Q.-Then the term free" simply
means unrestricted as to amount?
A.-Exactly. II every coin contains
the full weight of pure metal and passes
at what it is worth, there can be no
object in limiting the coinage. The
more money we have the better.
Q.-But how about the expense of
running the mints?
A.-At present gold is coined at the
expense of the government. In some
countries the cost of coming is charged
to the person getting his metal convert
ed into coin. That would be a matter
for congress to settle. There can be no
objection to charge for coinage. There
may be advantages in it.
O.-Then free silver simply means
putting silver on an equality with gold
in throwing open the mints to its coin
age?
Alt does.
Q.-What do you mean by 16 to l?
A,-The present silver dollar has 16
times the weight of the gold dollar. The
expression 16 to 1 means the contin-
uance of the coinage Of the silver dol
lar at the present weight. or at 16 times
the weight Of the gold dollar.
Q.-But the present silver dollar has
but half the bullion value Of the gold
dollar, has 1t not?
A.-True, but Its depreciation results
very largely from its decentralization
Restore it's functions as real money and
1t will certainly advance.
OWN it return to a parity with
gold at the 16 to 1 ratio?
A.-Many good thinkers believe 1t
will. In any case the disparity would.
be but very small compared with what
1t is to-day.
Q.-What advantages are claimed for
free coinage?
At would break the existing cor
ner in gold and cause the dollar to re-
turn to its old value.
Q.-What would be the effect Of that?
A.-Prices for all products Of labor
would advance, business would revive,
debts would be more easily paid, labor
would be in greater demand, and
strikes and riots would cease. Pros
esrity wosaa1 - restored to the country.