The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-10-20
AN OBJECT LESSON.
Showing the Effect OF Free Coinage Upon,
the Currency OF tho United states,

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The above diagram represents a
pocket argument which is being used
very effectively by speakers in expla-
nation OF the financial issues of the
campaign. The upper section, it will
be observed, represents the gold mo-
ncy of the country-ss0O. 100000. The
second section represents the silver mo-
ney OF the country,whose present value
Is $625,G00, OO0,t but which, should 1t be-
come deprecated by the withdrawal OF
the governments support under free
coinage, would shrink to one-halaf OF
its present value-thus amounting to
$31e, 100000. The third section repre-
sents the uncovered" paper money.
Its present value Is 1888 300, 900. but Us
1t would naturally share the deprecia-
ton which would come to the other
money of the country through free
coinage, Its value would be cut down
to $l9l ,G5G000. "a - {.
II the country should adopt the free
coinage of silver the entire gold money
would disappear, as it has done in 9TH
er countries having free coinage of
silver and as It always has done when
an attempt has been made to maintain
the free coinage Of two metals at 9TH
i
The object lesson which this card
presents Is to show at a glance what
would happen to the present currency
OF the country should free coinage be
adopted. This is accomplished as fol-
lows:
First, fold backward out of sight the
section containing the gold money,
which would disappearundcr free com
age.
Second, fold backward at the dotted
lines the upper half Of the section rep
resentlng the silver money, since It Is
apparent that free coinage would re-
duce the sllvers money to the CONNER
.clal value of the metal, which Is prac-
tically one-half Of tina value at which
the government now maintains 1t.
Third, fold backward the lower half
OF the section representing paper mo-
ney, which would be also deprecated
Nm an equal proportion. since the metal
lie currency OF the country would be
only silver coins passing at the COM
mercial value of the metal in them.
BY this process you are able to show
the enormous reduction In the value OF
the money of the country which would
follow the free coinage of silver, since
the government would not. of course
attempt TO maintain the dollars which
II would coin for individuals at any
more than the commercial value OF ane
silver put into It. III
BY this simple explanation 1t he,
comes apparent at u glance that the
money OF the country,@now amounting
TO Sl.Co0. 100000. would shrink to $685.
100000 In value, or less than one third
the present amount. 81 q.
This Illustration Is being used by
many speakers in the campaign, who
hnve provided themselves with strips
Of cardboard hinged together at tho
lines which separate the silver, gold
ana piper, and also In tire middle OF
the strirs representing the silver and
paper These strips OF cardboard are
usually covered with paper OF an ap-
prorr!ate color--ycIlow for gold, white
FOR the silver, aud green for the paper
money. The above diagram, however,
answers the purpose equally MS we'll,
and those who desire TO make use of
TIE Illustration III personal convcrsn-
ton or argument canedo so by using
the printed7slip, or, what would he bet
ter, by pastlng It upon strips Of card
bohrd Or heavy paper GU; to the proper
length and hinged together with strlps
Of cloth. which vii! make IL durable
and convenient for pocket use.