The San Francisco call and post., 1913-12-10

From Thrifty Ballads (p. 16).
How familiar is the expression the
almighty dollar.
But it looks now as if the larger
piece of money is to be relegated to
the scrap heap and new one take its
place. namely. the almighty PENNY" !"
For the penny is a popular topic these
days. Besides. the arguments favoring
little Mr.. Copper Cents advent into
San Francisco are coming from every
section of the state-arguments writ
ten by the hundreds of contestants in
The Calls big 500 penny contest.
The contest hasn't closed yet. and
there is still time for those who have
procrastinated to sit right down and
write their views, telling in $50 words
Just what are the advantages of the
penny.
Don't let your neighbor get ahead of
you. His letter probably already is
1n. Come on, everybody write letter.
It might be the very one to win the
capital prize-a bag containing $50 in
pennies. Think of it!
Just TO inspire you little. here are
3 few of the letters that have been re-
eeived:
Here are some arguments in IA
ror of the penny that carry the con-
Tiction of understanding and sincere
depth Of thought:
Editor Penny Contest: The Call is doing
q great work a moral reformer, and
the work is more effective because the
teaching is by demonstration rather than
by precept.
Our most Characteristic American fault
IS extravaganza. part Of the national
thoughtlessness which is the basis Of all
our mistakes. Extravagance characterzes
all classes Of society each in its relative
F7po fha n--g. 4FE4 4ha a7+ ufa
our lowest denomination of coin. strikes
81 the heart Of money extravaganza.
Americans have brains. ability. initiative.
but few Americans have the habit OF
thrift because they think in terms OF
larger denomination. Give the penny
sctual value as a coin. and its poSsessor
viii waste fewer dimes aud dollars he
cause the dimes and dollars will represent
Just ten and a hundred times the value
OF the individual cent instead of being
coins OF low denomination in popular
thought
And by making rs money wise people.
the general use Of the penny may make US
more thoughtful in other things. Thrift.
like physical cleanliness. is au important
factor in self respect and seIf-resDect is
essential to personal honor. One has res-
son 10 hope that with thrift in things
financial. we will abandon extravagance in
speech and action 50 that political life
viii represent the collective reasoning OF
Intelligent individuals and not the impulse
- a mob which copies champagne ex-
1sience on beer income
The use Of the penny win lead US into
spirit or active democracy. Instead Of
the cynical reference TO the almighty dol
lar. We will have a phase OF deep
significance. the almighty penny Men
tion the almighty dollar and subcon-
kcously classify the citizens into innumer-
able grsdatiOns OF plutocratic caste, with
the highest and most envied class, the
'millionaires," whose very designation is
based on the dollar denomination. But the
common use Of the almighty penny" will
bring US all to common plane Of thought
and action. Let's boost the penny, the
moral agent which banishes false pride and
teaches US that man may be thrifty with
out being parsimonious. L. p
1872 Market street.