Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-10-13
SILVER AS THE
FARMERS FRIEND.
FREE SILVER WOULD HELP THE BIG
FARMER BY CUTTING DOWN THE
WAGES OF HIS HIRED MEN.

A Cool. Calculating Farmer Explains the
Situation To His Wife-He Thinks He
VIII Gain Nearly 1000 by tn. sixteen
to One scheme-HaIf of This VIII Bs
Taken From the Wages of His Farm
hands His wIfc shocked mt the Idea Of
Cheating Their Hired Help VIII DO Her
Best To Prevent Bryan's Election.
Farmer--I reckon this free silver's
about the hest friend Of Us farmers
that's come cur way since the war Al
lowing Bryan's elected all right this
year, | Gale late I'll be worth nearly
81, 900 more next year than now.
Farmers Wife-Nonsense, Harvel l
don't believe silver's going TO make
folks rich. One'il have to work for
living if Bryan's elected just as hard as
if he isn't.
FL don't deny bat what you're
heads level there, Jane. Some folks
will have 10 work harder, but it won't
be us farmers. We'll come out on top
with free silver. That's sure's shooten.
+. W.-What crazy notions in your
head now anyhow D'you think farm
ers are smart enough to make laws
,hat'll take money cat Of other folks
pockets and put il into theirsi
F.-P'r'aps not, but They're going TO
try it. Is'pose you don't see how free
silver'll help us, but do.
+. W.-If you'll take my advice,
you'll not bother yourself 20 death try
ing to get rich by free silver. III war
rant it won't work as you calc late.
FIJI tell you one way it'll help
me, Jane. You know that II we get
free coinage we will have silver dollars
worth bout 80 cents-same's Mexican
dollars now.
+. WI thought Bryan said that
silver'd be worth just as much as gold
when we get free silver.
F.-Yos, that's what he says III the
east SOS he won't scare the millhands
and savings hank folks too much. But he
don't talk tina, way out here, because he
knows that ain what We n after. We
want cheap money, SOS prices Of wheat,
corn and pork'l be twice as high, same
as i'll Mexico
f. W.-Supp's'n they are. Wouldn't
you have 20 pay twice as much Tor
clothes aud groc'r'es aud everything else
you d have 70 buy: II you got g. instead
Of 81, you d have 10 spend 81 instead OF
Isl. It'd b. ~ broad rs it is long. IL
that's the way silvcr's going 20 make you
rich, you'll never get rich.
F.-But wouldn't have 10 spend "
for every 81 | spend now. You know. we
have at least two hired men the whole
year and three 20 five more from April
10 November, besides the hired girl for
most Of the year. Do you reckon I'm
going 20 raise their pay when We get
free silverl
f. WI s'pose so. Why shouldn't
you?
F.-Just because wouldn't have %.
Praps after year or so Id give EN-
81 or s. more month, but nothing
like double what they re getting now.
| | calc'late I'd save between $500 and
81 900 in wages-not quite 80 much on
John and Dave, because they board with
Us. and of course the prices Of some Of
the things they eat would 60 up, but
| I'd save bout half on my day hands
who live and board at home. That's
how iigger it, and it's 'cording TO the
| opinion Of Governor BOies and other big
silver people. They say farm wages Is
too high for profits and that silverll
bring 'em down.
+. W.-And so that's why you re for
free silver, Harvc Grimes, want To cheat
your poor hired hands out Of half their
wages. men who now can hardly keep
their families out Of the pOOrhouscl
thought it was them Wall street shy
locks and goldbugs you're after with
your free silver stick and that you re-
trying 10 square accounts with them
rich fellers. bat II seems
F.-Hold up there, Janet Free silver's
going to save us bout 8 900 OH what l
still owe on that $1,000 mortgage.
Who d'you think lose that?
F. WI don't care who'd lose II.
'Tain't right TO cheat anybody, but
wouldn't say word so long's 1t S some
body who could afford To lose it, but when
il comes 10 cheating your poor neighbors
it's time TO put stop TO It. l don't
care If you never get that other farm
paid for. | guess we won't starve on
this old farm. I'm going TO tell John
and Dave aud all the others just how
free silver will hurt them, and I'll get
them all to vote against Bryan. The
idea Of such farmers as you trying TO
elect Bryan to cut down the wages OF
your hired men, I'm ashamed Of you, l
ann