Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-10-27
DEPRECIATING THE DOLLAR.

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| United States will be called upon to
settle by their ballots the great question
of what the future financial policy OF
our nation is to be is drawing near.
One weeks from today and the contest
for this campaign will be over. But
we would desire to admonish i'm our
humble way, the voters of this country
to consider thoroughly the question be-
fore casting their ballots.
1t is proposed by the free silver party
to inaugurate radical change in the
monetary system of the nation. The
great question is whether or not it
would be wise to make this change.
The contention which the republican
party makes, and which is admitted
by the friends of silver, is that the pur-
chasing power of the dollar will be les
sened. There is practically no differ
ence or controversy between the two
parties upon this point. Proceeding
from this basis, that the adoption of the
free coinage of silver will raise the
prices of the produce of the coun-
try, and that the buying powerof money
will be decreased-it is then question
of whether or not it would be best to
vote for the adoption of the proposed
project. And it is this matter we pur-
pose for the moment to discuss.
In Winneshiek county, as well as in
every county of the nation, there are
those persons who by years of ceaseless
toll have accumulated competence.
Every dollar of that money represents
to them SO much of honest industry,
hard labor and unceasing thrift. They
cannot afford to vote to decrease the
value of this, the result of their hard
earned savings. They cannot afford
to destroy one-half Of the power of
their money. Yet this, according to
the admission of Mr.. Bryan, is what
is proposed to be done. Men and
women who toll from sunrise in the
morning until the golden orb hides it's
face behind the horizon of the west,
and have thus toiled for years, will not
vote to depreciate the value of their
labor.
Then there are thousands of people
who carry polices in life insurance
companies and mutual associations.
The money which will be paid to them
and their beneficiaries will have lost
half it's value. 1t will perform but
half the functions which it performs
now. Can the holders of these policies
afford to vote for a policy that will do
this? The effect of a depreciation in
the value of the currency will be equal.
ly baleful upon those who have invested
their money in Building and Loan AS
sociation. 1t required on their part a
greater effort to secure that money. 1t
represents to them hard labor and earn
est efforts. Yet if our money is to be
deprecated, and it's purchasing power
lessened, it will not be as valuable
when tits paid back to them as when
it was paid in. No person who en-
ploys energy in the acquisition of
money can be benefited by this cheap
ening process.
What is true of these cases is equally
true of all other cases. A good dollar
is better than poor dollar. A poorer
dollar by about one-half will be the re-
suit of an inflated currency. A poor
dollar always rebounds to the injury
of the producers and laborers. The
bankers and money loaners can stand
the strain, but the poorer classes of peo-
pie cannot. Every voter should tarry
long before aiding to bring about the
result which Mr.. Bryan says will fol-
low. 1t is a matter which deserves the
best thought of every citizen who two
weeks from today will help to decide
the question.