Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-01-10
THE 200 CENT DOLLAR.
THAT is THE SIZE OF "a CHAINS
OF GOLD.
The Bankers Know This and Are Say
ing that Times Are Good - With
Them, Yes-Nith the People. 1t l.
Bosh.


From the National Bimetallist, Chi
:ago: The National Bimetallist is
neither "A gloomy pessimist nor vision
ary optimistic dreamer 1t aims to look
Of things as they really are. There
can be no measure of prosperity for the
American people that will not he joy
ously welcomed by this journal. AT
the same time il ought TO be manifest
to all who intelligently sean the stu
alton, that except by comparison with
the awful depression of 1898 and 1891,
there is no prosperity in sight 1t
should also be apparent that the condl-
tons indispensable for permanent pros
perity do not at present exist. Every
article which in flaming headlines her
aids the return OF prosperity is so
plainly intended TO kill off the silver
issue, that it should deceive nobody.
The Chicago Record of the 26th inst
contains long special from w. T.. Cur
It's under the caption Revival of Busl-
ness, The closest analysis OF the aru-
Gle fails to bring to light single fact
(which sustained the title. 1t is merely
feel and what they at present desire.
Mr.. Curtis begins By saying The New
York bankers are pay ing very little at
tention to politics and even less to the
subject of financial legislation by the
next congress. This is unmistakable
evidence of prosperity. While there
are certain laws that they would like 10
have repealed and amended, and GER
ain propositions they would like to nave
embodied in the statutes, they are gen
orally averse to all financial Legislation
for fear agitation and discussion Will
disturb existing conditions and retard
the Improvement that is felt in all lines
of commerce and trade. | find almost
universal confidence that good times
have come again; that the country is re-
covering from the long and severe de-
preston and is entering upon one or
prosperity that will continue for at
least a decade, and at the same time
there is an apprehension lest congress
may disturb industry and trade by un-
wise legislation or prolonged agitation
that would be quite as disastrous
When things are going right the men
who handle money want TO be let alone,
but when they are worried they appear
to congress for legislation. Just now
they would prefer to have congress adj
journ as soon as possible but they wish
that the presidential campaign could
be postponed"
So the fact that the bankers are pay
ing very little attention TO politics is
"unmistakable evidence of prosperity
Mr.. Curtis must have been studying a
new system OF logic. 1t does not seem
to occur to him that the bankers have
recently placed themselves upon ground
that gives them great advantages over
other classes. and that they may deem 1t
sound discretion on their part to lie
low for awhile and take no chances OF
losing what they have gained.
The bankers know that the very mo-
ment they ask for financial legislation,
they open up the whole monetary ques-
ton. revive the agitation which they
fear. and with the absolute certainty
staring them in the face that an averse
senate will thwart any scheme which
they may bring forward.
They think silver coinage has re-
ceived a heavy blow, and If they can
now prevent a renewal of the "agita-
ton" il will die. So for the present
they are anxious to let well enough"
alone Hence the claim that good
times" have returned, and there must
be no discussion of financial matters.
They seek to disseminate the belief that
any further discussion OF silver" win
check the advancing tide of prosper
ity." Prosperity as easily checked as
that must be mere shadow.
No banker has ever explained. mono
ever will and none ever can explain
how the complete restoration of silver
to it's former right of coinage could de-
stroy the prosperity or retard the pro-
gress of our country.
That Mr.. Curtis understands the
bankers instincts is conclusively shown
by the statement: when things are
going right Chat is for them, the men
who handle money want to be let alone.
but when they are worried they appeal
to congress for legislation.
No truer words were ever written.
Every panic in Wall street has been
marked by the most frantic appeals of
that great money center to the national
government for help. And the help
has generally been forthcoming.
Under such circumstances the bank
ers are ready to accept almost any kind
of monetary legislation that promises
Immediate relief. But when they are
relieved, partly by government aid. and
partly by calling in their loans-thus
squeezing everybody else-they point to
their plethoric vaults as proof that there
is plenty of money and denounce free
silver coinage as a scheme for the de
basement of the currency and the repu-
diaton of debt"
When the farmer complains that un-