The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-05-05

of both gold and silver. 1t is also twice
as hard for these outside of the order
to pay the price of admission. When
we look over the reports Of the various
jurisdictions and see the thousands of
b.others whoa g being suspended from
the benefits of the order by their ina
bility to pay their dues, it is simply ap-
palling. The order now pays out for
relief about three and one half million
dollars annually. If the present cor
ditions continue it is only a matter of
time when there will have to be made
a sliding scale-this sliding scale will
be to decrease the number Of dollars
paid for the relief of members and fam
lilies of deceased members or increase
the dues of members-that the present
ratio of dues is as high now as the
members a pay goes without saying.
Then the only thing left will be to de-
crease the benefits. 1t is argued that
we should have only the kind of money
that will pass in all parts Of the world.
IN OGI1ALR Cbn DO "OSO4O Oul SO1A
eagles as now coined are not accepted
at their face in all countries of the
world and never have ~been-never will
be. 1t is more difficult to pass gold
money in the United States than it is a
piece of American silver. Another OBJ
lection urged against the use of silver
is it's weight. While a silver dollar is
much heavier than q gold dollar, it is
also true that a laboring man can carry
home all the silver dollars he can ever
hope to obtain for one weeks wages,
and if any of our laboring people should
desire to make a European voyage they
will not object to paying the necessary
exchange for money that will be &C
copied or bear the necessary discount
at the other place. What the American
people want is enough money to keep
the laboring classes employed and
transact the business of the country,
and any money coined by the United
States is honest money, and it is Ger
tainly unpatriotic to stamp any of it as
anything else. When the greenbacks
weref stiesued blythe government there
were these who said it was both dishon-
est and unc Institutional, and yet a pa
triOtic people accepted them as money.
After a third Of a century the green
back is still accepted and no one wants
them more than the banking fraternity,
who we're the original DIRECTORS to their
issuance. If a bill passes the next
@ Jngress restoring silver to its place in
cur currency, i. g , free coinage of gold
and silver at a ratio of Is to l, a patri
otto people will accept both for all de
mands and our idle members can then
find employ ment and be able to pay
their dues. Every Odd Fellow in Amer
lea should work and vote for free coin
age of both gold and silver"
Che editor Of Souvenir may or may
not know that some of our highest eff
Gals are Old Fellows. 1t would seem
that by pursuing q financial policy SO
detrimental to the welfare of the great
Order and it's membership, individually
and collectively, they have created
more than enough trouble to cause
their dismission from the lodges, for
they ara certainly violating every iota
of the obligation. The Ocder is ~fraternal
and non-political, but there is not one
principle about it that does not oppose
what those high officials are doing. At
any rate, there are not many lodges
where such men would nOtU be received
as members. EDITOR.