New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-15
CRIPPLE THE MONEY POWER.

If II be true that the tOiling masses and de-
serving poor are lust spilin' fer a fight" and
the only thing that stands in the way Of their
being gratlied is the cowardlce Of the money
power-as intlmated by the newspapers engaged
In administering the Government and conduct
ing the war-something ought TO be done TO
cripple the mallgn influence of the money
power. How to do this IS an interesting ques-
ton. One way, of course-and this was strong
ly advocated by one Of the newspapers con-
Quoting the war before the war broke out IN
its columns-would be for the toillng masses
and deserving poor to elect men TO Office who
would Immediately provide by law that the gold
dollars boarded by the money power should
pass for fifty cents, and the ffty-cent pieces
which the toiling masses and deserving poor
are loaded with should pass for dollars True
the toilers have once rejected this proposition
but that was because Mr.. William J. Bryan had
not had time to explain it to all of them, and
many to whom he did explain it did not under
stand IT, 1t was not because they doubted Mr.
Bryan's ability to cripple the money power that
the toilers voted against him. but because Mr..
Bryan had not made it quite clear that in Grip
ping the money power he would not disable as
well the toiling masses and deserving poor. But
TINT opportunity has passed, and the present
crisis will not permit the gripping Of the money
power to be postponed till the next Presidential
election. 1t must be done at once
And the only other way that suggests itself
IS that the toillng masses and deserving poor
20 boldly into the market and sell short" the
stocks in which the money power has invested
its ill-gotten wealth We assume, of course
that the toiling masses and deserving poor have
plenty of silver coins 10 put up margins; and
these coins. fortunately under existing laws
are as good as gold. For If they haven't any
silver now the enactment of law making fifty
cents IL silver worth a dollar would be- instead
of an advantage. a dead loss TO them The
money power would be sure TO pay them only
fifty cents In silver for dollars worth Of toll
That wouldn't cripple the money power. so to
speak for n cent" But If they take their
silver down into the Street. put II up on mar
gins and proceed to sell short" the stocks held
by the money power. something will he very
likely to come Of IT. II must be done OF course
with courage and persistence, and accompanied
with vociferation that the toiling masses and
deserving poor are bent on war, and determined
TO have ii AT any cost There need be no fear
but that the newspapers administering the
Government and conducting the war in its pres
ent stage will lend their powerful aid to the en-
terpr!se. They will increase the confusion In
the camp Of the money power by charging their
type and keeping up constant flow Of blood
red extras.
What then: Why, simply this: The money
power. attacked nj its most vulnerable point.
bewildercd by the noise Of the attack and
panc-s'rckon by It's suddenness. will begin
throwing overheard It's securities That VIII be
the harvest time for the toiling masses and de-
serving poor Wall Street VIII be their bargain
counter They can gather in at rldlculousIv
low prices the stocks which the money power
In its fright has thrown overheard The money
power will be crippled. and the tolng masses
and deserving poor Will he drinking champagne
and riding in chalses. The only drawback to
the scheme that now occurs TO us is that when
by this easy and straightforward process the
toling masses and deserving poor become pos