Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1899-07-21
FUNCTIONS OF MONEY.
EVEN THE DULLEST CAN UNI
DERSTAND THIS.
How Guernsey Market House Was Built
with Paper Made Reservabie for Ront
of Stalls-why the Bond Holders Fight
for Retention of Gold Standard


money question, writes DR.. c. F. Tay-
lor in the Medical World of Philadel-
phia. This incident illustrates clearly
that money is only system of keep
ing accounts, which also involves the
function of facilitating exchange. I'm
trinsic value" money is a useless
waste. In spite of the full and free
discussion of the money question all
over the country during the past few
years, there are yet many who say:
"The money question is too deep for
me-" "The money question Is too diffl-
cult for ordinary men; we should leave
1t entirely to the financiers," etc. TO
all these, wish to say, read the fol-
lowing simple and true story. Cut 1t
out and save it, and read 1t every time
that you doubt your ability to under
stand the money question. Whenever
yoN Dear a man say that he can't I'M
derstand the money question, read this
story to him. Our references to this
story have heretofore been rather brief.
We quote the following rather ex-
tended and possibly embellished form
of 1t from an exchange:
In the parish of St. Peter. Island OF
Guernsey, marketing was carried on In
Unprotected stalls around the Church
square. The losses to vendors by rains,
and the inconvenience to buyers, made
the need Of a covered market-house
keenly felt; and some public-spirited
citizen took the matter in hand to
have one built. An estimate of the size
of the house required brought its ap-
proximate cost in money to S22,0OO,
and to raise this amount of money be-
came the question with the promoters
of the scheme. 1t was question, how
ever, of easy solution, as they had
thousands of presidents. They drew
up a petition setting forth the need OF
market-house and desiring the gov
ernor to issue Understanding bonds,
to be negotiated in Paris or London for
the money wherewith to erect the
building. To said petition were ap-
pended the signatures of some three
hundred householders in the parish,
and committee was appointed to pre-
sent the same to Gov. De L'Islc Brock.
1t happened that while the people
were money worshipers-that is, be-
lieved in the omnipotence of money,
Gov. Brock, on the contrary, was
money-infldel that is, did not believe
that money was able to do the least
thing. Consequently, when the COM
mittee presented the petition, supersti-
| ton and science came in conflict. The
| governor set to work with arguments,
to prevent the citizens from going in
to debt and becoming tributary to
bankers in Paris or London. After ex-
planning to the committee that all the
money in the world could not make or
lay a brick, could not plane or nail a
plank in the proposed market-house,
with little effect, he finally struck the
right way, and reached their under
standing as follows:
"Will you permit me-" he asked the
committee, Ito place before you some
very simple questions?" Then, con-
tinuing, Have we the necessary num-
Der of mechanics among us to build
said house?" he asked. The commit
tee replied that they had, adding that,
owing to dull times, many workmen
were out of employment and would be
glad of job. This reply the governor
put down on paper summarily thus:
1--WE have the men," He then asked
about the materials, rocks, bricks, lum-
Der, lime, sand about tools, teams, as
we'll as all requisites to maintain men
and teams while the work was being
executed. To all these questions the
committee had to reply afTirmatiyely
because the whole were to be found in
the parish. The governor set down on
his list each in the order given. Hold
ing, then, the list in his hands, he, with
the full assurance Of being in the right
addressed the committee as follows:
Here you tell me that we have among
ourselves every thing needed to build
the marl.et-house, yet you desire me
to bond you to bankers TO-! material
which Is of no manner of use in the
construction Of the house. Strange
anomaly" ''It is true" remarked one
of the committee. that We lave mer
and materials, but We lack the money
to pay the men and to bur the mate
rails" Friends" replied the govern
or, when a man gets paid for worl
done or materials furnished. 1t means
that he has worked for others and solo
the materials. Is 1t your intention tt
build house for bankers? II so, ther
you are right in demanding pay from
those bankers. But, in such case, yo,
should not place yourselves undel
bondage besides. If those bankers pa!
you for the house, and hold you il
bondage also, demanding annual trib
ute, they will soon have both the hous,
and the money they paid you. 1t will
be no relief to say that We make tn,
renters Of the market-house pay tina
tribute to the bankers. The renter
will be part Of lis. and they will de
mand Of their customers that tribut
in higher prices for goods. So w
Jointly will have to pay tribute in per