The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-09-09
AMERICAN SILVER WILL NOT
BE ACCEPTED IN PAYMENT FOR
FARES ON THIS CAR.

These signs were printed and posted
about one month ago. They never would
have appeared Ind not the hand OF Il
great pnllilca. party been lifted, rs It
was In the Chicago convention, to mem
ace sound money.
Only In the hotels and rum shops Is
United States money freely accepted.
The hotels have so many American
guests coming and going nj hours when
the shops OF the money brokers are clos
ed that they cannot discriminate against
our coin and bills. Tourists returning
% the states are glad to get II in change
when they pay their accounts. and for
that reason the hotels DO not get an 1ccu-
mutation OF United States currency.
They can Accommodate patrons from be-
low the border line and at the same time
suffer no serious Inconvenience in TAX
Ing our money at par.
As for the rum shops, they are alike
all over the world. 4 man with any
thing bearing a resemblance 10 or suG-
EeStlnG money Is reasonably certain Of
getting Z drink II he wants 1t.
This afternoon | went Into 4 store on
Dorchester street, few doors from the
Windsor hotel. and made trihIng pur-
chase for the purpose OF testing the pro-
prietOr on the money question.
! throw United States silver dollar
on his counter. He smiled and pointed
TO 4 conspicuous sign which announced
that as money II was under n decided
cloud IN his establishment
WHY" asked.
THE primary reason" he replied. as
because my bank won't tnke II. l have
in my safe now over 5000 In American
silver and bills that | don't know what
to do with. l don't want to send It 10 n
money broker, because l tonk It over my
counter at one hundred cents on the dol
lar. and can't afford to pay to 10 per
cent for exchange.
Before Bryan was nominated nj Chi
cago everything was all right. We
knew your dollars were rs good as ours,
md the banks never hesitnted about
taking them. When Sent to my hank
for money would get American dollars
Unfortunately with Canadian.
All IL Changed.
NOV 1t is different. don't believe
you Americans are crazy enough to elect
Brynn. but the bare possibility Of It has
made all the trouble over here. We can't
afford TO take any chances. even II they
ARE remote. My bank won't take your
money for deposit. even at a discount.
They tell me to send 1t 10 n money brOk-
or and get Canadian money for It.
."Of course. have TO take nm American
coin now and then even yet. because
can't afford to run the risk OF offending
n good customer who presents It, When
! do take II. though. am merely pIlng
uD stuff In my safe that cannot get rid
of.
But | wouldn't take United States
= 81 bill from my best customer on
trifling purchase and give him Canadian
bills and silver in change To exchange
TINT bill would cost more than the profit
on the transaction"
put my American silver dollar back
In my pocket and paid him with a Ca
madam coin.
Then went into the shop mex. door
and made another purchase I produced
q Mexican silver dollar and handed II TO
the clerk. explaining that 1t was Mex
lean coin and nskinE him II he would ac-
cent It,
The clerk looked suzzlcd and shook his
head fOubtfully.
II don't know, but III nsls the prOprIc-
tor" he said
The proprietor game and locked Mt the
coin with contempt and at mo with sus-
plciOn. I think yet he suspected that
was trying to work some new confidence
game on him. Captain O'RrIen never
eyed n crook he couldn't quite Identify
with q sharper or more wary Eaar.
nv. ! won't take IT," he snapped
THAT'S no dollar"
Take IL for what II Is actually worth
then" I suggested.
NO. | cGtl't take II ut ALL" he replied
In y way that left no doubt OF his firm
ness OF purpose. 81 don't know what IT'S
worth and | don't want to know It
lint worth more than half n dollar
anyway Perhaps yhu don't know" he
added. with an air Of wisdom, THAT
Mexican money Is on EIlver basis"
That gave me an opening.
Perhaps you don't know" 7 said
"thnh there Ia not only more silver. but
better silver. IN Tint coin than In n
United States silver dollar"
81 wouldn't take n United States silver
dolfnr. either" he added quickly DO
you see that sign? didn't include
Mexican silver because you are the first
man to offer me = piece of It. They
aren't bringing those things M here to
circulate. nre they? hcHr they IRE In
porting them Into the states by tho bar
rel. to Influence the election. n AmcrI-
cans bring Mexican silver dollars up
here ana think they can spend them IN
this country they ARE making mighty
big mistake" ~
Only Since Hrynn's Rise.
"lIavc you always refused TO accept
United States money!"
No, we took II before thtt man Bryan