The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-11

can maintain. II Bryan is elected. and his
views 20 into force, the parity OF gold
and silver at the ratio OF 10 10 i.
10 the farmer the argument Is advanced
that before silver was "demOnetized' and
had purchasing power equal TO gold, he
could set Tor q busnel OF hls wheat, say
81 or SL-J, that since the "demOnetiLd-
ton OF silver by the act OF 1913 gOiq mas
steadily enhanced III value until IL now
has "a purchasing value OF nearly as much
again as silver, and that consequently, at
present. he can only get from % TO %
cents a busnel Tor his wheat, thus work
INK q great hardship on him. Tho 70. &C
OF any such argument as this (eyen were
10 trle), is destroyed by the fact that the
farmer gets gold for his wheat, ana GER
talLly its purchasing power Is as great IN
the hands of the farmer as 1t IS in the
hands OF the banker or anyone else.
Let US consider for a moment the mean
ing of that fayorite word "demonetize,
OF the Silver Party. According TO the
highest authorities IL means: ITO deprive
OF current value, 10 withdraw from use,
as money" Adopting this definition with
out fear OF its being cOntroyerted, Des
20 state a few facts, and then ask the
reader whether or not silver has ever
been demonetized in the United States:
Up TO 1853, We had coined, IN eighty years,
since the foundation of the Government.
sS.O3123S in full lesal-tender standard sill
yer dollars, up 10 June 81, 1896, we had
dard silver dollars; up TO 1913, we had
coined S6i,5u. 14A2O in silver dollars, half
dollars, quarters, dimes ,etc. up 10 June
90 1896 We had coined $500 i9S 1910 IN sill
Yer dollars. half dollars. quarters, dimes,
etc, not including 9Zi I'm trade dol
lars: I'm 1913. we had only Sls.04 for each
individual. in lss6. we have S2i.35 for each
inhabitant Shall We 20 back TO where
we were2
The fallacy Of the arguments advanced
by the supporters OF the Chicago platform
are manifest on every side, and II Is not
10 be wondered at that they do not care
10 engage i'm joint debate with those who
represent the sound money. or real Dem
ocratic side Of the question. The present
agitation Of our financial system Is sui
dal TO all branches Of industry, and by
none will the tamperng OF the free-sil-
Yer Populist party with our currency be
more keenly felt than the laboring
classes. In the language or Daniel Web
ster. "He who tampers with the currency
robs labor OF its bread. He panders in
deed 10 greedy capital, which Is keen
sighted and may shift for itself and he
beggars labor which Is honest. unsus-
ptctin- and too busy with the present TO
calculate for the future. The prosperity
Of tho working classes lives, moves. and
has lts being in established credit, and
steady medium OF payment. AT sud-
den changes destroy IL. Honest industry
never comes I'm for any part OF the spoils
in that scramble which takes places when
the currency OF a country IS disordered.
Did wild schemes and projects ever bene-
ft the industriOus2 Did violent fuctua-
tons ever do good 10 him who depends
on his daily labor for his daily bread?
Certainly never. All these things may
crafty rrl ediness for sudden gain. or the
rashness OF daring speculation, but they
can bring nothing hut injury and distress
TO the homes Of patient Industry and hon
est labor"
/ shall support Palmer and Buckner. the
regular Democratic nominees.
Yours, very truly.
T.. BEVERLY SLATER.