Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-10-22
HIGHT OF CONTRACT.
10 Be Abridged by Bryan and His Popo
Demo Party.

10 Be Abridged by Bryan and His Popo-
Demo Party.
The Cordage Trade Journal OF Oc-
tober l discusses q part Of the Chicago
platform which has not thus far re-
ceived the attention which It merits
that part which proposes 70 take away
the right Of private contract The jour-
nal says that mo industry Of any size
can exist without the use Of contracts,
agreements for the purchase, sale, de-
livery Of and payment for goods. It is
hardly necessary to point out what this
means in the cordage business"
1t then explains how rope manufac-
turers make contracts with brokers,
and brokers with foreign growers OF
manila, or sisal, for their raw mate
rials, Having made these contracts,
they are in q position to make contracts
with large jobbers and rope dealers.
Continuing, the Journal says:
Contracts are necessary to the sue
cessful transaction Of business upon
any scale above that Of the very small
retail trade, where goods and money
pass between buyer and seller simulta-
neously. Mr.. Bryan would, II presi-
dent, give his approval to laws which
would prohibit business men from
specifying what they shall sell goods
for or what they shall pay for goods.
thus seriously restricting the right OF
contract. His first nomination-in Chi
cago-was based upon his acceptance OF
a platform which contained the follow
ing plank:
ave. demand that the standard silver
dollar shall be q full legal tender, equally
good with gold, for all debts, public and
priyate. and we favor such legislation as
will prevent for the future the demoneti-
cation OF any kind Of legal tender money
BY private contract
His populistic nomination in St.
Louis carried with it this plank
1--WE demand such legislation as will
prevent the decentralization Of the lawful
money Of the United States by private
contract
POSSIBLY the United States supreme
court will uphold such legislation--it
sustained the validity Of the legal ten
der act--and-what? Mr.. Bryan does
not tell the people whom he addresses
tri-daily. When he gets near the sub
ject it is only to say something like
this:
"'When anyone tries to give you an oh
feet lesson with Mexican dollar, tell MIN
that the Mexican dollar Is not legal tendel
In this country and that our silver dollar Is
and under free coinage will continue to be
and no one will be allowed to contrac
against it.'-W. J. Bryan In Newark, sep
TENDER 2S,'
This not only shows the purpose o
the man, but also gives IN intelligen
man a very clear conception of Mr.
Bryan's skill as a logician. II he knew
ANYTHING at all about commerce--th'
likelihood of which he so glibly talks o
interfering with--he would know thu
the execution OF his plan would caus
an instant cessation Of commercial &c
tivity. which would be followed by
, resumption upon a restricted and al
tioue basis. Methods which the com
mercial world discarded generation
ago would have to be brought into us
for carving on business under the cor
\ ditions which the adoption Of MIR. Br.
ans two absurd propositions would in
' nose.
"Where would the hemp come iro'
Q for next years binder Irvine to tie tn
! farmers wheat? The United State
where silver dollars worth less than II
cents would be legal tender, could nj
: furnish the material. All prices no
ouoted are for gold. No matter no
much farmers wanted Irvine, when
was no longer possible to make col
- ~ 40, n,,,tvn lnpt VI
h"e' '" P"' Hi