Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-04-09
Published by REQUEST
Conversation Between a Farmer and Me
chanc About Sound Money.

\ farmer returning one day from
town, where he had been to deliver
load of wheat, sold for GO cents BUSH
el, overlook mechanic and invited
him to ride. He got up in the wagon,
and as they drove slowly along the
country road. the following CONVERSE
tion occurred:
Farmer-"Whv are YOU not at work
today ?"
Mechanic-"Im laid off; I've been
laid off more than half my time for
the last two or three years times are
so hard. and seem to be getting worse
| hear that YOU think that free coinage
of silver at Is TO would be a bene-
fit
Farmer-'Ycs; We believe that It
would; we know that it would raise
the price of wheat and other products
which would help us farmers; and ex-
pererce shows that when We are get
ting along well all other industries
benefit by it,
Mechauic-"Yes; | believe that,
but they say that free coinage would
debase our currency.
Famer-"It would make our mon
ey cheaper; that is what we want;
the trouble now Is that our dollars are
too dear, it takes too much labor and
products of labor to get one of them
Mechanic-"But they say that We
would have, If we adopt free coinage,
a dishonest dollar. and we ought to
have honest dollars, sound money,
good all over the world Don't You
believe in sound money!
"Farmcr-"Yes; | believe in sound
money, but not the present doubled
priced money | believe in sound
money, but not so sound as TO be be-
yond the reach Of the average citizen.
| believe in sound food, but, If all Of
us were obliged to use one article Of
food. | would not like it to be- canvas
back duck or terrapln, for then most
Of us would starve believe IN sound
clothing. but, If all men were obliged
to wear one kind of cloth, would not
like that to be broadcloth, for then
most of Us would have 10 60 naked
Sound money. according to the bank
ers idea, ike canvas back duck and
broadcloth. is very good thing for
bankers and millionaires, but most
two expensive for ordinary people like
YOU and me. \ poor man Ginning IN
with millionaires and bankers, about
sound money and honest dollars, re-
minds me Of the woman who started
out to buy a dress. She had only
five dollars but she was determined TO
have only the finest quality, which
she asked for. The clerk showed her
some very fine silks, one of which she
selected. and then she inquired the
price. Ten dollars yard, sald the
clerk. oh : said the woman, i have
only five dollars for my whole dress.
Well, nam ! can sell you very nice
cloth dress for that, SAID he. No,
said she, i won't have anything but
the very best quality and which would
be recognized as such throughout the
civilized world. i can sell you
half yard Of this silk for your FIVE dol
lars, said the clerk politely. We'll,
said she. cut it off : and she paid five
dollars and went out happy, She had
sound goods, her half-yard Of silk
would be recognized as such through
ont the ciUilized woTLd, but it wasn't
Of much use for a dress, for she hadn't
enough Of it to make an apron as big
as Eve made out Of zig leaves"
Mechanic-"I think | understand
you you mean that we ought not to
have a money 50 sound, that isr 60
dear, that the mass Of the people can
not get enough Of it to provide them
selves with the Hecessaries and COM
forts of life !"
Farmer-"Yes that's it."
Mechauic-"And, under the pref
ent single gold standard, money is too
dear, and that is the cause Of the hard
times and the suffering and want which
so many are enduring?"
Farmer-"That is the principal
cause
Some very good stories, not recent
ly in print, If ever, we're brought out
at several Of the celebrations on jan