Evening star., 1896-08-22
DEBATING MONEY
Silver Coinage Discussed at a Public
Gathering.
QUESTIONS FROM A SILVER MAN
An Address for Sound Dollars by
Mr.. w. w. Curry.
N O y E y y ID 2 r c. E S

An interesting discussion of the financial
question occurred last night al Typograph-
cal Hall, under the auspices of Excelsior
Assembly, No 2672. X. of L. The main
participants were Mr.. Z. c. Phelps in be-
half of silver coinage, who, as explained by
Chairman E. NJ. Blake, is "a per diem
wage worker and has always held rank
among the toilers." The part of the gold
standard was sustained by Mr.. w. w.
Curry of Indiana. who was introduced by
Mr. Blake as possessing "a national repu-
tation, and being honest and sincere in
his convictions"
We have discussed the financial ques
ton among ourselves for years." said
Chairman Blake, "and our membership is
practically a unit in favor of silver. While
We can at any time find in our ranks
champion of silver, are forced to go out
side of our membership to find a supporter
of the gold standard
AS | look over this audience" said Mr.
Phelps. Il do not see the faces of anar-
chists, repudiators or revolutionists 1 see
teiligent faces, faces CT men and women
who think for themselves. Speaking CT
anarchis Is, when l heard that John Most,
the chief of all anarchists, had declared
for gold, felt our prop had gone from us.
When Bourke Cochran, the man who was
born in q foreign country, who is not of u.s.
and who never earned a dollar in his life
denounced us. / feared the result. But
when Willie-our own Willie Breckinridge-
denied democracy, then / felt there Were
three of kind. John Most, Bourke Cochran
and Willie Breckenridge, and that We would
not miss them.
Il declare that money is a national insti-
tuition, ordained by the government for the
Use OF the people Money is a manufac-
tured commodity. made by machinery
Stop the machinery and you shut up the
shop Money derives its value from the
immutable laws of supply and demand
Money measures commodities and COM
modities measure money. Who is benefited
by high money, dear money? He who has
money to sell, just the same as high prices
of wheat benefit the man who has wheat
to sell Shrinkase in values means losses.
losses mean bankruptcies bankruptcies
mean chaos and unemployed men.
Mr. Phelps Questions.
Now, L will close my opening remarks
by propounding to the gold advocate a
few questions, which 1 hope he will an
swer:
Has gold or money gone up, and, If so
would expansion of money or circula-
ton revive trade?
Can the price of labor be kept up with
the price of the products of labor going
down?
would drop to a silver basis, that is, the
dollar would be worth 10 mora than the
substance of which it is made, how are
the owners of the substance the silver
barons.' to make AZ cents on every dollar?
Was it the increased production of Sill
yer that caused it to fall in value?
Would be in any danger of a food
OF foreign silver by adopting free coinage
and. If so. what harm could come to Us
by it?
Did the coinage act of 1892 operate so
that silver kept gold from the mints and
drove 1T from circulation. as is claimed?
Did the coinage act of 1884 drive silver
out of circulation. ard. if so, why?
Would II be a violation of faith or re-
pudiation to pay the public debt in silver
II we SO elect, and if SO. would it have
peeh reputation any time since 1870 to
nave so paid the debt?
II the bankers could go easily prevent
the bonf issue which seemed imminent a
lew days ago. could they not have pre-
vented the others? Can't they force an
otner as soon as they like. and II SO, are
you In faVor OF perpetuating a system