Rocky Ford enterprise., 1907-11-08
GIN G E X
8 " n p s
G. H. i

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Every well regulated newspaper
must needs have these days some
sage remarks on the financial situa-
tion, whether we know anything
about the situation or not. And who
does not know all about it after read
ing Dun's report, or the interview
OF newspaper reporter with ]. p.
Morgan or J. d. R.l ] heard Hon.
Billy Green tell ID. II. Green up in
the club room the other morning that
he didn't know anything about the
financial question because his hair
was too short. And ID. II. responded
that II his head were as soft as Bill
ly's he could raise hair to sell, As
j came away early didn't learn
whether either OF them took it ser
iously or not: but this money ques-
tion is becoming serious with many.
In fact the money question is serious
with good many people all the year
round, panic or no panic; and the
special interest in money Just now
ought to make this good time TO
offer some sage remarks on the sub
ject Of money in general even
though we may not know much
about money in particular.
A proposition that we dispense al
together with currency and return to
the age OF barter would be viewed as
the acme OF absurdity. and yet II ey.
cry actual product of labor was paid
for with some other actual product OF
like value we should have no panies.
Panics come OF the exchanges oi
chances on our getting something
,nth,no aud nAfhtnu for snmr-
thing. IL is the desperate attempt OF
men TO get enough of something to
relieve them from the necessity OF
producing anything. II every con-
sumcr daily rendered in some sort
of social service something like tho
actual equivalent OF what lie con-
sumes he would be filling his honest
place in the world. To whatever de-
gree 4 man gets more than he gives
OF the communal produe, he is a
penSioncr on the communal bounty.
lie is 4 parasite.
The man whose business is the IA
ciiiiating of trade by transferring
certificates OF yaiuc called money.
and other forms OF paper represent
ing actual vaiucs. is doing his part
of the worlds productive labor. lie
may he called banker II you will.
Just where he may cease to be n
banker and become 4 parasite Is more
difficult to tell than Is the case OF
the professional ioaicr. the tramp. the
mendiean,. who minglcs no measure
OF social service with his schemes for
subsistence. But all the way down
from the man who bets on the pros
pcctiye Valuc OF a irsns-eoniincnial
railroad To the stable boy who plays
a game OF craps" for Sunday pas
time. the scheme i one OF getting
something without giving anything.
And this scheme OF chances mcrEcs
so indciinabiy into the schemes where
we give a little for n great deal. and
these INTO those where We give act
ual equivalents, that the average
mind does not apprchCni anything
bn, the brood extremes: so society
sends the erap-piaycr TO prison. and
abuses tho stock gambler whom u
cannot reach.
II VIC dispensed with money some.
body would issue poker Chips, and
take mortgages on chattcls aud real
estate. aud the game would go on.
The men who live by their wits would
still live of tho men who live by
actually VVpuHCNNC lahNEa lhsA INV
VIC are going to separate the actual
aud productive labor OF the world
from the speculative chance Is qucs-
ton too hard for me. ! pass it up.
IL does rCrm absurd however that
We should regard the actual and hon.
est trade activity of tho world. or OF
the age. as an actual part OF the
gambling vocation, and mistake the
excitement of the game, and the re-
pcatcd raising of the stakes, for ma
tcrial prosperity" Yet so il is. The
man who abhors a game OF craps"
sees nothing wrong in taking chance
on tho speculative value OF town
lot. He sells and gets something for
nothing. He invests aHain-puts a
little more into the jack pot-ssking
nothing about the actual productive
power of the property, bu, trusting
Go the excitement OF the game TO give
him his opportunity to work the
trick. o no. that isn't the way he
talks about IL. We have different
yernaeular for diHcrcn, kinds of
games. But the trick of getting
something for nothing is all one.
Many good people do not know that
they arc even in the game. But
when the betting has run high
enough. somebody gets wise and pulls
out Of the play. leaving the non.pro-
fcssionals with the empty nut shells
ON their hands. They arc the last
fellows in. ard they must pay tho i'm
fjated price for the property. Then
they want rfcs1 and easy money TO
do /, with. Then tho cry goes up for
the free coinage OF silver. an issue OF
fiat money: or any old thing TO save
us from hard times.
SnrrhniN stirrssts thai The nrcs.