The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1913-09-18


IN existence for the past fifty years,
and adding additional claws by which
the favored class can pull more
that it is the Aldrich plan worked
greater privileges than the almost
universally condemned Aldrich plan
proposed, Or the present system
does.
The question is: Shall the volume
of money in general circulation be
controlled by the government in the
interests of the people, or controlled
by private banking corporations, in
lators? This question towers above
all other political questions, like
mountain above mole hills. With
periodic frequency, since 1898, bank
panics in the United States, have
rocked the land with financial con-
vulsions. They have become histo-
ric as the panics of 1898; 1910;
1919; 1926; 1897; 1847; 1857;
1857" 1873; 1882; 1898; 1907.
All these panics were brought about
by the bakers for sinister motives.
Each one destroyed billions of dol
lars of property. The bankers be-
came enriched, the people impover-
ished. ''The lrigands throve, the
people perished.21
The panic of 1893 was the most
cold-blooded conspiracy between the
National bankers and the National
Administration known in all history.
The whole country was impoverished,
and the West and South were made
to this country, and for the govern
ment to discriminate in their favor
and against all other citizens is
crime. Why should usurers be pre-
ferred to honest citizens? There
should be some way to protect hon
est citizens from being forced into
partnership with undesirable ones.
Where does Congress get it's power
to establish banks, Ito issue bonds,
and permit private corporations to
issue money to pay for the bonds?
Their holdings Of the bonds, which
were present to the banks, the peo-
pie must pay interest on. This gives
the banks eight and nine per cent
on their loans; besides, the people
are taxed to redeem the bonds. If
Congress has the power to do these
things, it has just as mt Oh power to
establish laundries, breweries, sa-
looms and gambling houses,-and we
might go further. Any of these
Things would be innocent amuse-
ment, compared to the havoc
wrought by the National banks. The
discrimination and special privileges
at present accorded the banks are
unconstitutional, illegal and unjust.
1t is discriminatory, which is forbid.
den, as I shall presently show.
respectfully suggest that for the
proposed bill now before Congress,
a bill be prepared which shall in eff
feet embody the following: Repeal
the National Bank Act. Repeal the
Exception Clause in the law creating
the greenbacks. Also the law MAX
ing the greenbacks redeemable in
gold. Retire all government bonds.
If in innocent hands, pay them; if
in the hands of banks, cancel them.
They paid nothing for them. Retire
all National Bank bills. Provide that
neither gold nor silver shall be used
for money. Metallic money is an in
strument for crucifying the human
race. We are large producers, of
both metals, but they cost more to
produce than their coined value. Let
the government weigh and test all
gold and silver brought to the mints,
and let it be done free. Let the
government stamp attest the weight
and fineness of the bullion, and let
both metals stand upon their own