The Lamar register., 1896-07-18
The Money Standard.

for the benefit OF the common people,
against the money power and banks
Not one OF them have ever given any
valid reason for such statement. not
even the able populist organ Of Prowers
county. They do not seem to deem it
necessary, relying upon the popular
prejudice existing against corporations
and mouied interest. 1t is one OF the
pillars in the populist temple. They as
SORT that the money power and the banks
own and control vast majority OF all
the money and property in the country,
and that free silver viii change all this.
Please give us aTcasOn for this statement.
We are willing to be convinced. The
people have for years been waiting for
prosperity upon glittcring statements Of
this kind and II has not come. They are
getting suspicious
II silver Is made the unit Of value, all
OF our circulating medium must be re-
deemed IN silver. We DO not believe oven
popuiist viii contradict that, ana II the
money power, so called, own or control
all the money at present, what Is to pre-
vent them from owning all the silver. It
l. not theory but a condition that the
people want They have beeu waiting
up0u a theory for several years now, and
the result to say the least has been very
discouaging. To us after careful re-
search the conditions seem 10 be about
this: That tins same money power own
and control very nearly an the silver
mines us well as the gold. What few are
left they can obtain very quickly II they
desire 10 do 50.
For years there has been in this coun-
try cry against class legislation, aud 1t
has been one of the leading plunlzs in the
platforms Of the democratic and populist
parties. Now they suddenly change front
and ask the people 10 strike Oh at least
one thirll of tie yHlue ot all the property
la the United Stazes, and FOR what! For
the exclusive benefit Of few wealthy min
ing men. X Is a great stake these men
are playing Tor and il has already cost
them vast sums OF money. For twenty
yrs rs they have maintained a powerful
lobby at Washington, and printing bu-
rcnus ali over the country distributing
free silver literature Most Of the silver
and gold mines produce both metals in
varying degree, and they ask you to make
fifty cents ia sllvcr worth one dollar and
one dollar in gold worth two IL IL a two
edged sword, and viii cut both ways.
The laboring man VIII be rudely awak-
ensd to the fact tnut he must work Just
as hard and Just as many hours for sill
yer dollar as he does now for a gold one,
and that il viii buy only about half as
much OF anything. He has been lighting
for years through labor organizations
aud unions, has engaged in strike after
strike 10 maintain the price OF his days
work from a reduction OF ten per cent
even. VIII he vote now to cut it TO one
half at one fell sWpops Wait and see.
The farmer viii find the value Of eve
rything he has to sell also reduce at least
nnc-haif and probably more. Why. Be
the election Of free silver president and
congress will preciPitate upon this coun-
try the worst patio il has ever known.
For years all Of cur securities, or a ma
iority of them, have been drawn interest
and principal payable in gold. That will
mean nearly two dollars for one in inter
est and principal and IN taxes too. This
country will be turned into one vast col
lection agency. No extension will be Civ
en-, but every creditor win want his
money while he can get it upon a gold
valuation. Let every man who has note
or mortgage to pay study this matter
very carefully. He has nearly four
months in which to do SO. Lei every
laboring man do likewise.
You will lind that the silver advocates
have different story for the farmer, the
laboring man, the manufacturers the bus
mess man, even for the banker. IL is go
ing to help them all. but in different
way. 10 the farmer it will increase the
price OF the products he has to sell, the
IL I'm h