The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-02
THE LABoRING MAN N
A Discussion of the Question from II
Workingman's Standpoint.

w. c. B. Harrison, in Goshen Post.
With all that has been written and
preached on the chief issue of the pres
ent campaign 1 have yet to find one lucid
reason why a laboring man should vote
for the free and unlimited coinage of silver
with the bald statement that his condition
is to be greatly benefited by the enact
ment into law of the Chicago platform,
and the farmer and laboring man are to be
especially favored by such legislation. This
claim is attractive enough TO arrest atten-
ton and should be Investigated. If there
is a class on earth that should understand
fully the propositions advanced by the po-
itical parties it is the one that tolls Inere
is but one position in this country WneTe
all men meet on a common level and that
is at the ballot box. 1t is here shat a man
expresses his political sentiment and votes
to bring about that which he believes to
be best for him and his country. The Ia
boring man is asked to vote Tor men VINO
stand pledged to carry out the Cnlca9o
platform and the platform adopted at 81;
Louis. If Mr.. bryan is elected we VIII
have our monetary system changed by the
free coinage of silver. If Mr.. Mckinley Is
successful our financial laws Will remain
the same as they have been Tor over
twenty years. 1t will require no STUDY 70
understand the money question from a Re-
publican standpoint. No changes are pro-
posed by that party, put sae D Sntirg on
the theory that values can be created py
legal enactment they propose to take away
coin into dollars free of expense all the
silver bullion brought to the government
minis at d ratio of sixteen parts OF silver
to one of gold. Or in other words they
propose to take So cents worth of silver
and coin into a dollar worth 100 cents. IL
is an old saying that you cannot create
something out of nothing but this is
what the Democratic party proposes 10 90.
Here, then, is a difference OF a. cents II
weight to make n 16-to-l dollar and the
dollar itself. Somebody must make good
to the man with the silver bullion lnis ~
tanned at it's present purchasing power TN
der free coinage, and the silver adVocates
saw it will, who is to make good the dis-
crepancy?
Is it not the producer?
And who is the producer?
The man who tolls, to be sure.
YES. but isn't the laboring mans dollar
worth Just as much as the rlch man ; VOL
lar under free coinage: dshS H0 ""'i
advocate.
To be sure. .;I.or
Rnt wait a moment. How mnGn sl intp
1oiiarsq He hasn't any, has he? All ne
has is his days work. Can he take %
cents worth of fon labor 20 Worth 1ng h'o of money?
No. nobody will claim he can DO that,
There The sis is enc 9ne t thinE Worth fin of a0 labor toGI into the
market and sell it for 81 cents under Tree
coinage. tho nr;ca of labor will raise"
saws the silver apostle.
This may be true in time, put II VIII ne
a good while doing It. II LII, VII b moi 11se will
in the hands of the man VINO mas i 20 a oe
aoinad into dollars. The man with $Z,uUJ
con ro TO Mexico to-day and purchase 4,0O0
silver dollars. When the minis are thrown
to free coinage he can get thenl
Coined into American dollars at a pront or
60 Gn0 can the laboring man take his S2,0U
U-ortb of labor to Mexico ana exchange IL
in a like manner? No, he cannot DO that-
~ = M * a commodity which cannot be
nIaced on the speculative market. II mas
no vaiue until it is performed and untortu-
no+eIv the laborer can deliver but a day at
y time Therefore he is the man VINO
would contribute more than any otner 10
make the silver owners % cents WORTH
Of bullion worth 100 cents. by, Duylhg your
labor with his silver dollar ne would De
enabled to defraud you out or nearly one
half your toll. = ~ 20
IF The government has the power 10
oraa+e alIes. and the Democratic party
horastIv desires to help the farmer and
iohoring man. why does ii not Tx the price
Of farm products and labor at an advance
Of "a ner cent? In this manner the classes
sought to be benented Woulu leei the IN
MIGRATING influence at once.
~ain If the United States government
bae the mower to regulate values independ-
ut Of other nations why does II not re-
dnca the bullion value of the gold dollar
10 that of the silver dollar and maintain
tbair naritv under free coinage OF both
metals AT the ratio of 16 to II
one proposition is just as logical as the
! can't get away from the thought that
+bara is a whole lot of ouncombe in this
fe-to-1 agitation and as a laboring man |
'an not take kindly TO the changes IN our
monetary system proposed by the Demo-
cratic party.