Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-09-25
A PLAIN TALK TO woRKlNeMEN.
The ABCof the silver Question.

The 4 II c Of the Silver Question.
Let us not get mixed up with COM
pick matters in connection with the free
silver idea.
Let US not befog our brain with ar
guments about the crime of 1878 or
bother with tho many theories which
the advocates Of free silver are giving us.
But let us take a common sense view
Of the situation.
Now, to start with:
Suppose Bryan was elected and the
free coinage act had been passed and
that free coinage was an actual fact.
Suppose that silver could be taken TO
the mint and coined into silver dollars
at the ratio Of 1G TO 1.
How would that affect us?
We haven't got any silver bullion.
A whole lot Of people who own silver
mines have it, and so they could have
it coined into IS to l dollars, but not
having any ourselves we could not have
a solitary, single dollar coined under the
free silver act.
Now, suppose, however that all the
silver mine owners and others who had
silver took it all to Washington or Phil
adelphia or to some other United States
mint and had it coined into 10 to l
dollars, and
Suppose so much had been coined that
all the silver in the world was made
into l6 10 dollars, and
Suppose that every one Of these dol
lars was piled in one heap right on the
next block, and
Suppose every single one Of them was
worth 100 cents here and everywhere.
What good would they do us unless
we had something we could trade by
which we could get one?
Well, we have something to trade;
everybody has.
Some have labor, somuch for dollar.
Some have lumber, so much for a
dollar.
Some have sugar or potatoes or hams
or coal or something else, all so much
for a dollar.
We have advertising and subscrip-
lions. so much for a dollar.
When we want one Of those silver
dollars, we cannot 90 and take it. They
don { belong TO US. They belong to the
men who took the silver to the mint TO
be coined.
If we took one, it would be stealing.
If we asked for one for nothing, it
would be begging
If the owners gave US one for nothing,
it would be a gift
If we borrowed one, it would cost US
interest, and so
Most Of US, to get one must trade la
Dor, lumber, sugar, coal, advertising or
something to get it.
This is absolutely and honestly so,
isn't it?
Well, being so, why do we take any
chances on the dollar?
We can get gold now.
1t is worth 100 cents on a dollar
everywhere.
So we have supposed the silver to be,
but
Suppose it isn't.
What then:
What is the use of taking a chance
unless we can do better? A silver dol
lar won't be worth more than 100 cents
will il?
We are getting that now.
Let well enough alone.
Some say duty compels Democrat TO
back up and vote for q Democrat. You
have Bryan's word that he is no Demo
GRAFT Let him deny that he said it.
Some say it is pretty bad now. We
might as well take a chance. 1t can't
be worse
What kind Of tomfoolery is this?
Are things bad III business way?
Let us tell you something to try.
Vote down this crowd Of repudiators.
Tell the world in trumpet tones in
November that we want the best money,
that we will take 10 other, and business
will revive.
Let the capital out that Bryan and
his followers have scared under cover,
and prosperity will come.-Lumber
Trade Journal.