Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-10-10
GOLD VS.. SILVER.
Here Is u Merchant Who Investigated For
Himself and Knows What Is the Matter.

Here Is ~ Merchant Who Investigated For
Himself and Knows What Is the Matter.
One of the most encouraging inter
views on the money question was that
recently made in Chicago with Frank
II. Cooper of the great dry goods firm Of
Siegel, Cooper 81 Co of Chicago and
New York, aud known the world over
Mr.. Cooper has just returned from -
trip to Europe, and toa newspaper man
he expressed his opinions on the iinan-
cial issue as follows:
II am yet somewhat on the fence, but
can't see anything but good to result
from the free coinage of silver. True, il
Will benefit the mine owners; il will
also benefit the miners; give them
work, and benefit the west. II will
giSe the farmer money; il will make
better prices for farm products; il will
make the farmer a buyer i'll our markets
Times can he no worse than they are
at present. Our currency is not expan-
sive enough for the demands Of the peo-
pie. France has $40 per capita of money
in circulation, and its people are pros
porous and happy. We have but SEQ per
capita. We need more money. and tree
silver coinage will put an end TO bust
ness stagnaiion.
Our factories are closed and our
artisans aud mechanics are out of work
More money will make higher prices,
better demand for goods and revival
of prosperity.
Goods and produce are too cheap
because people have no money to buy
them. The depreciation i'll prices on
some lines of goods has been more than
80 per cent i'll the past six months. Can
merchants and manufacturers stand
thisy
'The Wilson bill that reduced the
tariff on goods about 10 per cent, exec pt
OH wool, which is made free. is not the
cause of all the hard times
Do you think that putting back the
old tariff would cause return of pros
perity:"
There are many ways to view this
matter. The poor and the middle classes
pay all the taxes | believe the multi
millionaircs should pay their proportion
/ believe i'll a graded income tax as a
partial panacca for the ills we have
fallen into
with free silver the price of wheat
and corn would enhance i'll value at
once Dollar wheat for the farmer
makes him look at his clothes. When
they are fraycd he buys new He r..
furnishes his house. if il is needed. and
so helps 10 start the furniture factories
going again. Ii is so III all lines More
money, the greater demand for goods.
"A single gold standard would hiring
prices still lower and more failures and
more disaster for the people 1t is hard
to say what is exactly right. We are
partially upon bimetallic basis now,
and that l. III !. measure our salvation.
Take that away, and where are we?
Contract our currency To $l5 or $l3
per capita, and the result wruld he such
rs no one could figure Talking cf free
silver, our mints coull not turn ont over
500, ,O00, 900 per year. less than$ toevcry
inhabitant. Would that food the coun-
try: 1t would restore prices, confidence
and resuScitatc business. That's about
/ think, what free silver would do for
us. This question is near u the people,
and they are carefully discussing il. We
want 10 take care Of ourselves first.
European countries are ;Jln to take care
Of themselves