The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-03-01
SEN. GROSS
DISCUSSES
DEFLATI0N
Resolutions introduced Failed
to Pass House as Result
of Party Vote

In Il written communication to the
Tribune Mr.. Gross has presented
various arguments in regard to the
resolutions which he offered to the
senate but which failed to pass the
house. In the following article the
senator explains his views on the
subject Of dcAation, the farmers
condition. and what values:
BY SENATOR GROSS.
A tree usually falls because it is
defective at the base. The business
structure of Russia fell. The bust
ness structure of Germany is liable
to fall and the business structure Of
the entire world is recognized to be
in a prccarious con Sition. hold that
it is because Of defects in the founda-
ton 1t is not founded on the rock
eternal Of justice but rather on the
sand of injustice.
A Defect in the Foundation Of Our
Business Structure.
Our varying unit Of value, the dol
lar, is a defect in the foundation Of
our business structure. a carpenters
square which is continually changing
in length or measuring power could
not satisfactorily measure distances
and II dollar continually changing in
value cannot satsfa. .orily measure
values.
illustrations.
a bushcl Of wheat measured in
units of value one day may require
one hundred cents or units of value
to measure it and year from that
, time it may require seventy five
cents to measure it, not because the
wheat has changed. but because the
units of value have changed. A farm
worth $4,000 is mortgaged A,r So
coo. or onc-half Of its value, and de-
hation occurs and the dollar is in
creased in measuring power till the
five thousand units of value are
stretched until they measure the en-
tire farm. The farmer has lost his
equity and the money power till the
five thousand units of value are
stretched until they measure the en-
tire farm. The farmer has lost his
equity and the money power which
controls the value Of the dollar by
increasing or decreasing the amount
in circulation has extended its claim
to take in the entire farm.
The Duty of Congress.
1t is the duty of Congress to coin
money and to fix the value thereof.
Congress has failed to fix the value
Of money and has given that power
over to the moi>y kings. Congress
should take back the control of
money and steady it's value by con.
trolling the supply as the money pow
err now does. The difference would
be that Congress could control money
in the interest of all the people and
the money power now controls it in
the interest of themselves.
Another Method of Attack.
A fundamental principle of justice
would require that contracting par
ties should share equally the results
of defation. The debtor now stands
the results of dehation because the
dollars or units q his indebtedness
are increased in measuring power so
as OF measure greater portion of
his property. If the money power
was obliged to share with the debtor
the results of defation, it's interests
would Immediately be enlisted to pre-
vent defiatiOn and, as it has the pow
or. we would have no deAation.
The Local Situation In the United
States.
AgricultuD, and business arc pros,
trated. The values Of the dollars Of
the indebtedness of the American
farmers has been artifcially in
creased till they in two short years
we're made to extend over some SILL
OO0,0O00O0 worth of the farmc RS
property, the NEST stupendous sp-
preparation Of property in all his
tory.
Duty Of the Legislature.
Burdened with the results of this
"orruptly legalized, gigantic robbery.
the people send their representatives
to Congress and the legislatures.
begging to be relieved of this injus-
tice and both Congress and the lcgis-
laturc fail completely to take sim
gle move in the right direction, and
we tare forced to the conclusion that
they do not know enough or that they
are under the complete domination Of
that money power that is fast en-
Shaving the people.
In our Legislature. and probably
in Congress, these last two state
mcnts need only apply to the COM