The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-08-31

that the intrinsic value of the metal in
dollar must be worth a dollar before
1t Is made dollar.
You mean, pa, that it must be worth
dollar as it is after?
Yes. that's it.
Is that what you call an honest dol
lar? ...,,
Yes. my son, that's the kind Of money
I believe in ,r,, a,.
Don't you believe in other kinds:
No, sir; don't . .-
How big would the honest dollar plan
make the silver dollar now, pa:
Why, at the present value of silver, it
would be about three and one-fourth
inches in diameter. l tell you, my son,
no cart wheels for me.
You believe in greenbacks, don't you,
pa?
Oh, yes, of course l do.
How much was the paper in that
worth before it was printed into a five
dollar bill?
Why, ah-say, I'm busy.
Pa, I'm seeking information.
Oh, we'll, about a cent. 1 suppose.
Now run away, I'm very busy. (Boy
goes out) That was a close call for
me. How the deuce is this a five-dollar
bill, the best in the world, made of a
cents worth of paper, and my. papers all
urging me to howl for an honest dollar?
My God, here he comes again
Say, pa, how big would that green
back of yours be on your intrinsic
plan?
Oh, run off now, that's a good boy.
| don't want to be a good boy. I'd
rather be smart one. Say, pa, it
would be five hundred times as big as
it is, regular blanket sheet, as it
were.
Well, run off now, I've got the head
ache.
copper in hundred cents, and only IA
cents worth of material in 90 nickels.
II this honest money plan, that the
money lenders are trying to fasten upon
the country, prevails, pennies ought to
be seven and one-half inches in diam
eter, and nickels about three and one
half inches AS it is, they are dishon-
est Any government that makes els
honest things Is dishonest, and a dis
honest government ought to be ever
thrown.
My son, that's anarchy; and
No, pa; that's logic. Either you must
drop that idiotic, absurd intrinsic idea.
or else hundred dollar greenback
should be as big as a barn lot.
Why, how ridiculous
Ridiculous, pa, it's id foolishness.
Why, if these fools destroy silver, where
will you get gold to pay that 81 900 you
owe? There isn't 500 in this town
ship.
Why, I don't know 1 hadn't thought
much about it. L
Isn't 1t fact, pa, that you have let
these bought and paid for newspapers
do your thinking for you? If you have
got think shop, why not use it a lit
tie? If you swallow the reasons they
give you for the low prices of wheat, wool
and cotton, you ought to have guard
ian, and
(Paterfamilias grabs for boy.) I'll in
trinsic you
(Boy slips out.)
Old man soliloquizes: Think shop. so
| cent wheat, intrinsic value. Is cent wool.
honest dollar, $1,000 mortgage, cent
cotton, 3A inch dollars, Jews, sheriff
sale, John Sherman-h-I and d!
I give it up.
ENTER boy) Pa, know what money
is.
How did you find it out?
Bill Smith told me. He found it in a
big law book. He says that the United
States supreme court decided what
money was long time ago.
Well. what is it?
Bill says that the court said: Money
is not substance; it is printed legal
decree"
Not a substance! A legal Decree!
That beats me. Now run away. You
can go fishing or swimming or anywhere
else, if you won't ask me any more ques-
tions.