The herald., 1896-10-13
MIR. HARTMAN REPLIES.


Editor Herald: In last Sundays Her.
aid, under the signature of James G.
Clark. appeared lengthy criticism Of
my position in the debate with Prof. w.
C. Bowman. To answer this criticism
the ample space of one half column has
, been granted me for which am grateful
to the editor.
Mr.. Clark's numerous but somewhat
contradictory statements are sandwich
ed with assurances OF esteem and per-
sonal friendship, which would be both
pleasing and amusing, were it not for the
painful fact that the intellectual, and.
If l may say logical, worth of his article
falls so far short of his most estimable
character.
During the debate 1 stated and en-
phasized many times that l thought one
would be a blooming idiot" who, in the
light of our experience, would insist that
the gold standard would give relief. Yet
| the gentleman has permitted his blind
prejudice and enthusiasm to hide this
| fact and in it's stead has led the public
| to believe that / was in favor of gold
AN injury to one is the concern of all"
| is it?
viii the free coinage of silver benefit
the wage-earning class? was the ques-
ton.
After vainly endeavoring to evade the
class struggle as stated in the question.
one is the concern of ALL the higher
socialism," one for all and all for one"
'one class cannot be uplifted at the eX-
pense of another class etc. he imme-
diately repudiates them all by insisting
that free coinage would "pecuEiarily
benefit the wage worker and strangle
the devastating money despotism."
Mr.. Bowman said, prices will go up as
the volume of currency increases" and
read John Stewart Mil as authority in
which case L insisted that the volume of
currency was not really increased since
the price of the commodity went up as
the value of the money went down. Mr.
Clark did not point out any fault in my
logic. He said the fault was not in my
head, but in my premises. He forgot that
this was Mr.. Bowman's premises. But
If my head Is right and the premises
which We're Mr.. Bowman's were wrong,
then both their heads and premises are
wrong, to which 1 am agreed. He says
by way of argument" on this point that
1 am seeing snakes"
Mr.. Clark says that no economic STU
dent will dispute my proposition. that
all wealth Is derived from labor, and
that the wages of the producer are less
than his product, thus leaving an accl-
mutation of products in the hands of the
few for which there is absolutely no
market" If this is fact, then 1t is ap-
parent that factories close down be-
cause they can find no market for their
surplus product; and for the same rea-
son factories cannot start because ev-
cry wage-worker will add all he pro-
duces over and above his wages to the
already existing glut and clog the chan
nels of commerce still more. Now, l
maintain that whether man Is paid in
silver or gold that this fundamental
fact will not be altered, except as wages
are increased or decreased. But MIR.
Bowman said wages would not increase
tn, To fnn nf,inn nf 1n1i-
ties" This forces the conclusion that
the laborer cannot buy as much with his
wage as before, and labor Is therefore
hurt; that the market is decreased as
the glut is proportionately increased.
Mr. Clark says the fault is not in my
head, neither is the fault with my pre-
misses, which he indorses, but he said
my conclusion was "singularly unique
'sophistry." Did you ever hear OF the
mote in your brothers eye?" Mr..
Clark said that we could not expect
Mr.. Bowman to confine his warm hu-
manitarian heart and brain to the strict
letter of the question" Hot or cold,
that is precisely what we do expect in
a discussion or criticism. Good i'm
pulses are no substitute for bad logic.
AS to my "martyrdom," Phillips"
Garrison" Davis" 1.-The right man in
ing corporation SPAR" lack of conf
dence," economic hope" insult to his
good sense" etc., I shall submit to your
consideration, as Mr.. Clark has done,
without argument.
His last flight 80 Job, why not de-
scend from your gauzy balloon and
cease firing your air gun at the spots on
the new-risen sun until after the Hanna
Mckinley funeral, when perhaps may
join you in the pastime." If I am in the
wrong 1 do not see why he should join
me. If free coinage is good thing be-
fore election it should be a good thing
after. ] cannot see why he should de-
sire to go up in a gauzy balloon, except
to fire that air gun Of his, which he evil
IDENTIFY has or he would not propose
such "pastime," and / am sure that
every one who has read his article will
be convinced that they have already
heard one of its premature explosions.
You will find out, Mr.. Clark, that neither
gold nor silver is the trouble.
JOB HARTMAN.
Los Angeles, Oct. 10th.