San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-08-10
A PLAIN TALK TO JOHN SMITH.
In Which He Is Shown How Free Coinage
VIII Injure Him.

This means you, John Smith 1t
makes no difference what your calling
may be, if you are workingman the
question which now confronts you is of
the very greatest Importance to yourself.
your family and your friends.
This question is: Will you, john
Smith, vote for the candidates who favor
the free and unlimited coinage of silver
at ratio of 16 to 1? You are asked to
do so on the ground that free silver will
make you more prosperous. You know
that you would like to get higher wages,
have better house to live in, wear bet
ter clothes and be able to provide more
comforts and luxuires for your wife and
children, and, being a hardworking
man who has not had much time to
study financial questions, perhaps you
are inclined to believe that there's some
thing in this talk of cheap money for
the workers. If so, here are some points
for you to think over:
This free silver agitation did not start
with you, John Smith. 1t began with
the owners of the silver mines, who
wanted to get higher price for their
product. They were cunning enough to
see that the people would not listen to
barefaced scheme of special favors to
one small class, SO they went to work
to convince the farmers that prices of
farm products are too low. To them
they said, eff prices were measured in
cheap silver dollars, you would get twice
as much money for what you sell. "
They did not tell the whole truth, that
the farmer would also pay twice as
much for everything he buys, and so
they soon found themselves with a con-
siderable number of followers Then
they tried the workers. To them they
said: Free silver will give the country
more money. More money will give the
workingmen better wages. If you want
more wages, vote for free silver"
In the first place, John Smith, you
will notice that when the silver mine
owners and their agents are talking to
the farmers they don't say anything
about increasing wages. This is because
the farmer wants to get his labor as
cheaply as possible. Then, when they
talk to you, they keep mighty quiet about
raising prices. This is because they
know you don't want to pay high prices
for what you buy. Yet it is as certain
as that two and two make four that if
goods are measured in 80 cent silver
dollars your bread, meat, fish, vegetables
and everything you eat, your clothes,
INV III
yeu spend your wages, will be just twice
as dear as they are now. This is not gold
bug lies. 1t is what the silverites say
when they are talking cheap money to
the farmers.
Now. John Smith, do you SEQ what
free silver means? And do you want a
system under which the price of every
thing you buy will be at once doubled?
Are you willing to vote for certainty
of being paid in cheap dollars which
have only half of the purchasing power
of those you now get? The 16 to
shouters will tell you that your wages
will be doubled and that if your en-
ployer does not at once give you twice
as many dollars per month or week you
will simply have to ask for more pay.
Do you think you will get it, John
Smith, You know how hard it is for
the workers to get even slight advance
In wages You know that there are
many idle men who would be glad to
take your place if you went on strike.
Can you afford to take chances with a
scheme which is certain to double your,
| living expenses for the sake nf the bare