Decorah public opinion., September 22, 1896, Image 1

About Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928

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Vol. 2
SPuAAic QjpArutyri'
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E. It. ACERB,
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Decorah, lowa.
E. P. JOHNSON,
County Attorney,
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Dkcobah. lowa.
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O. R. WILLETT. N. WILLETT. W. WILLETT.
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Stayer Opera House, DECORAH, lowa.
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Office over Welser’s Drug Store.
DECORAH lowa.
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Decorah, lowa.
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persons wishing to go north to Burr Oak,
Prosper, Hesper, Locust, Mable and Spring
Water, leave an order at the Stiles House.
STAR
REPAIR Co.
Repairers of and Dealers In
Organs, dewing nachlnes and Bicycles.
Supplies of all kinds kept In stock
SSDt
AT TRZCINSKI'S
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for a Hair Cut
or Bath.
Razors Sharpened
Shoes Shined.
HAIR CHAINS and SWITCHES
made to order at
TKZCINHKI’ »,
Near First Nat'l Bank.
Decora!) JJtuiltc #pinio«.
Chicago, Milwaukee * St. Paul Railway—
Decorah Branch.
Passenger depot comer Water and Day
streets. Telephone 56a.
Depart. Arrive.
Ot. Paul, Mplls, Sioux')
City, Kansas City Vfl0:15 a. m. f4:25 p. m.
and St. Louis)
Omaha, Sioux City,')
Cedar Rapids, Chi- V*2:25 p. m. 112:45 p. m.
cago A Milwaukee.)
£ ub “ffl. }*"<-»• * *•-■
* Daily, f Daily Except Sunday.
Burlington. Cedar Rapids A Northern
Train No. 52 (passenger) leaves Decorah at
3:35 p. m. and No. 54 (FreigLt)at 6:30 A. M.
No. 51 (Passenger) arrives at 2:10 p. M.,and
No .53 (Freight) at 5.-00 P. M.
The 3:35 passenger makes close connection at
Cedar Rapids with through trains to Chicago,
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points beyond. All trains^ daily except Sun
day. C. 8, RICE, Agent.
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Jnsnrance.
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ASSURANCE.
REPRESENTS
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Security, of Davenport.
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Westchester, of New York.
The Manchester, Manchester, Eng.
Northwestern Mutual Life, Milwaukee.
Office iu Steyer’s Block, Room 1,
Water street, DECORAH, lowa.
Dank.
Winnesheik County
BANK,
Capital, 5i00,000.00.
Individual Responsibility, 5300,000.00.
Strongest Bank in the
County.
C. J. WEIBER, Pres.
MRS. L. A. WEISER, V. P.
E. W. HOLWAY, Cashier.
OLE P. ODE, Ass’t Cashier.
DECORAH
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All Classes of Laundry Work,
Also Cleaning and Dyeing.
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THE PUBLIC OPINION,
Decorah, lowa.
DECORAH, WINNESHEIK COUNTY, IOWA, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1896.
RAILROAD TIME CARD
SPu&dc O^iniiyn
PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY.
By AKERS A GREEN.
Official Paper of the City of Decorah.
OFFICE—4II WEST WATER STREET, UPSTAIRS.
TELEPHONE NO. 15.
Republican National Ticket.
For President
WILLIAM McKINLEY
of Ohio.
For Vice President
GARRETT A. HOBART
of New Jersey.
Republican State Ticket.
For Secretary of State
G. L. DOBSON
For Auditor of State
c. g. McCarthy
For Treasurer of State
JOHN HERRIOTT
For Attorney General
MILTON REMLEY
For Railroad Commissioner
E. A. DAWSON
For J udge of Supreme Court
SCOTT M. LADD
For Elector—Fourth District
AMOS BABCOCK
REPUBLICAN COUNTY CONVENTION.
A delegate Republican convention is hereby
called to be held at the Court House In Decor
ah, on
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24th, 1886,
at the hour of IKX) o’clock p. m., for the pur
pose of nominating candidates for county
officers to be elected this year, viz:
County Attorney,
Clerk of Courts,
County Auditor,
Recorder of Deeds. . _
Also by the delegates from the Ist and 3d Su
pervisor Districts, a candidate for County Su
pervisor from each of sahf Ist and 3d districts.
Under the usual apportionment such con
vention will be constituted as follows:
Bloomfield 6 Canoe 4
Military 6 Bluflton 3
Washington 3 Orleans .4
Jackson 3 Highland .7
Frankvllle fl Hesper 6
Springfield 8 Burr Oak .5
Cal mar 8 Freemont 4
Sumner 3 Decorah—lst ward.... 5
Glen wood .7 “ —2d * ....3
Madison 6 “ —3d “ 4
Lincoln 3 “ —4th “ ....3
Pleasant 5 “ —outside 9
By order of Republican Co. Central Com.
W. R. TOYE, Chairman.
L. B. WHITNEY, Secretary.
WHY IT IS 16 TO 1.
“Why 10 to 1?” asks an exchange,
and the State Register answers the
question thus: Because many years
ago, before silver was as abundant as
it is now, that was the commercial
ratio between gold and silver. It was
adopted as the ratio of coinage, in 1837,
in this country, l>ecause one ounce of
gold was worth as much as sixteen
ounces of silver. The commercial ratio
was not exactly that, but it was nearly
that. Since that time we have dug
millions of ounces of silver out of the
mines of the world. Silver has be
come more abundant. As it has be
come abundant, it has also become
cheaper. That is the way it is general
ly with products. The more abundant
they are the cheaper they are. When
the apple crop is large you can buy a
bushel for a few cents. When the
crop is small a bushel may cost you sl.
Silver is only a commodity, just as
apples are a commodity. It is subject
to the law of supply and demand. No
government can set aside those laws.
The supply of silver has increased
greatly since 1836 or since 1873. The
demand also has been increased, but
not so fast as the supply. The supply
is unlimited. The demand is neces
sarily limited. In consequence the
price has fallen. Today one ounce of
gold is worth as much as 31 ounces of
silver. But the free coinagists advo
cate that it ought to be 16 to 1. In
stead of adopting now the commercial
ratio as the coinage ratio they are in
sisting that we shall adopt the com
mercial ratio of 30 or 50 years ago.
Sixteen to 1 has been talked until
many actually believe that there is
something sacred about it. There is
nothing sacred about it. It was afmere
artiticial ratio. It was adopted because
one ounce of gold was at that time worth
as much as 16 ounces of silver, and for
no other reason. It was 16 to 1 and 15$
to 1 before it was 16 to 1. Those ratios
are just as sacred as the ratio 16 to 1.
There is just as much reason for advo
cating them at the present time. We
may live to see the time when the
ratio between the two metals will be
1 40 to 1, but we doubt it, for gold pro
duction is increasing rapidly.
A DEMOCRATIC VIEW.
Editors Public Opinion
I understand that you propose dis
cussions on both sides in your paper
upon the issues of the day. As you
run a Republican paper your generosity
is commendable and I embrace the
opportunity to start the ball on the
Democratic side.
On the 3d of next November a
president of the United States is to be
elected and what is the issue? Here
tofore it has been the “robber tarifT’
which varies about four percent be
tween the McKinley bill and the Wil
son bill. Either one would furnish
revenue enough to run the government
if properly carried out, and is all the
people ask. But today another issue
has arisen that overshadows all others.
It is the question of w hether the money
of this country shall be as our fathers
fixed it for over eighty years and up lo
1873, and under which the country
prospered without a parallel in the
world, or shall the few who have a
corner on the money of the w orld dic
tate what particular metal shall or
shall not be the standard of the en
tire money system of the world. These
few men have become immensely
wealthy and as “the more a man has
the more lie wants” they see the way
clear under a gold standard to hold the
destiny of the flnancies of all countries
1n the hollow of their hands. When
we advocate the principles of our fore
fathers and demand bimetallism, we
are met with the charge of lunatics,
fools and anarchists; is it possible or
probable that three-fourths of the peo
ple of this country, who are as honest
and patriotic as any class of men on
earth, are desirable of bringing ruin
and desolation to this fair laud, and to
the homes where they have spent their
most happy hours; where their child
ren were born and reared and the word
home “even with a mortgage upon it”
is the dearest word in the world to
them? But, says one, you want dis
honest money. Romans XII: 17 says,
“provide things honest in the sight of
all men;” Webster says, “fair in deal
ing with others, free from trickishness
and fraud;” these are some of the defi
nitions of honesty. Now, let us see
how they compare with the gold
standard. This government has in cir
culation $360,000,000 of greenbacks re
deemable on demand in gold, to say
nothing of the billions of other obli
gations payable in gold. The redemp
tion of greenbacks would take nearly
one-tenth of all the gold in the world
and w henever in case of a war or
when the goldites feel like increasing
their pile by a few millions all they
have to do is to gather up the green
backs and put the screws to Uncle Bam;
but the poor man is absolutely help
less and can do nothing but scratch
around for the “filthy yellow luchre”
to satisfy their demands and keep our
credit good abroad. To keep our credit
good we have borrowed $260,000,000 in
the past three years, and who is bene
fited by it? Are there any more men
employed? Are taxes any lower? Are
our coast defenses any stronger? No.
Then who is benefited? Why, we have
kept our credit good with England and
Wall street at a cost of $260,000,000 and
a bonus of from $10,000,000 to $15,000,-
000, which principal and interest the
people have got to pay. But if only
one deal we might stand it, but the
law says greenbacks when redeemed
shall immediately be put in circulation
again. 8o the same may be presented
for gold every four weeks and we are in
the toils of an endless chain with the
money power at the windlass and all
the gold on earth if in our possession
could uot release us from its deadly
embrace. And yet gold is called honest
and sound money wheu we have uot a
dollar in the treasury but what is bor
rowed and its payment is a matter of
uo little uncertainty. The only money
we have (as there is no gold in circul
ation) that is based upon honor and
business principles is the silver dollar
and silver certificate. That certificate
passes just the same as gold. The
government says pay to the holder the
number of silver dollars this calls for
and it has every dollar in its vaults
ready to pay without getting on its
knees to England or any body else to
borrow the money. That is sound aud
honest, but the promise to pay in gold
whether much or little when it ain’t to
be had is a gigantic fraud and humbug.
We hear a great deal about a fifty cent
dollar, aud the Intrinsic value of a dol
lar aud the market price of money. Is
there a marfcet for money the same as
for hogs, cattle and grain? If so, where
is it, and who has the power to say
what it is worth? Whoever heard of
gold dollars being worth so much, pay
able in gold dollars. What sense is
there to that, or that wheat is worth so
much a bushel payable in wheat? It is
true there is au intrinsic value to all
things. Gold and silver have a value
and the only real value is for mechani
cal purposes. It is not the real value
of a thing that makes it used as money,
but whatever a government powerful
enough to gain the confidence of the
people says is money, goes. Money is
merely something used in exchange
and to save the trouble of swapping one
thing for another. A starving man
would give all the money in the world
if he had it for a loaf of bread; a
drowning man would give justasmuch
to be rescued from a watery grave. We
hear that gold and silver are worth so
much in the market (presumably to
make into watch cases and jewelry.)
Can we base our money upon the price
of jewelry? But we hear nothing
about the intrinsic value of greenbacks.
Why don’t some great financier tell us
what paper rags are worth in England?
When we talk about the value of
money it is well to enquire who sets
that value. Is it Wall street, is it for
eign countries, is it the populists, the
greenbacks, democrats or republicans?
To avoid a different value by different
persons the constitution of the United
States settles the question. It says in
article 8, “congress shall have power to
coin money and regulate the value
thereof.” Silver, gold and copper have
been used as money since the world be
gan, not because of their intrinsic
value, but because of their durability
and because they neither stain nor
corrode. All the silver men ask is that
the same three metals may be con
tinued in use; that silver shall receive
the same treatment as gold; that silver
shall be coined on the same terms, and
that as the capacity of the mints is less
than $60,000,000 a year and at least half
would be gold there is no danger of aH
overplus of silver; but what addition
there is we want just as good as our
present silver certificates. We want
selling bonds in time of peace stopped;
we want no deficiency in the revenue;
we want fanners to sell their products
for at least enough to pay the expense
of raising; we want general prosperity
throughout the laud, but we don’t
I want any foreign country or any set of
gold bugs to dictate our financial
policy. We want them to distinctly
understand that we can get along with
out them as well as they can without
us. We want to see one election won
by the people and for the people in
spite of the influence of the combined
wealth of the country.
H. A. Bigelow.
Fair Meeting.
At the meeting of the Agricultural
Society held at the court house Satur
day afternoon, a thorough and explicit
report of the financial standing of the
society was given, showing the receipts
of this year’s fair to be $1714, and the
expenses $1550, thus leaving a balance
of $164 in the treasury. All of the
expenses of the fair except the
premiums for display had been paid,
and it was voted to pay fifty per cent
of each premium. Those who have
premiums due may obtain them from
Ben Bear, the treasurer of the society.
A meeting will be had soon after
election to make decisions and ar
rangements as to a fair next year. The
date will be announced later.
The management are to be congratu
lated upon their earnest efforts to make
the fair a success. With practically
one day’s fair all expenses have been
paid, leaving a balance for premiums
in the treasury. Had the weather been
favorable even two days there would
undoubtedly have been money enough
to have paid all premiums, with a
snug sum left in the treasury. The
society by their efforts has been placed
on a firmer basis than for years, and
the people of Winneshiek couuty feel
indebted to them for their interest and
work in their behalf.
Remember This.
That that new job outfit of ours, is up
to date in every respect. Everything
is brand new, and of course is the
best. We would be pleased to have
you try us the uext time you have any
job work. Our readers tell us that
our paper looks tasty and ueat; our job
work looks the same. We are iu the
race for our share of the patronage, and
will endeavor at all times tosatisfy our
customers, by given them the best
kind of work at reasonable prices.
The more thinking a man does the
more certain it is that he will vote for
McKinley, who stands upon a plat
form of business and common sense
principles, which appeals to no preju
dice and requires neither intoxication
nor excitement to make friends and
supporters.
Stampeding a convention and
stampeding a majority of the voters in
this country are two very different
things, us some people are all ready
finding out.
No. 31.
GOLD*CURE NEEDED.
There never was a time in the his
tory of this country when so many
voters needed treatment by the “gold
cure” as in this year 1896. Drink?
Dunno. It has the symptoms of rabies,
mania-potu, and the ghost dance. It
develops most rapidly on those who
have the least antidote in the house —
people, the disease of whose brain leads
them into the delusion that they know
more about what the financial system
of this coutry should be than all the
administrations and congresses that
were ever called to administer the af
fairs of goverment. The same indivi
duals, if possessed of a fortune this year
would blow it all in next year. If all
the silver in the world were coined in
to United States dollars and put into
circulation in the United States it
would not raise the value of a single
marketable product. Value and price
are separate terms. Values are
measured by the gold standard every
where. The price is regulated by the
supply and demand and the value of
the article to be received in exchange.
Get this fact once in your mind and
you will understand the ruinous effects
of a change to a cheap currency based
on a reckless regard of existing con
tracts in the business world. -Posta
Card.
DEMOCRATIC MEETING.
Ex-Gov. Boies arrived on the Bur
lington Friday, and, as was advertised,
addressed the people of this vicinity
upon the present political issues at
Steyer’s opera house. By the time for
the meeting to open, the house was
crowded full, and the ex-governor was
introduced with a fitting speech by At
torney Dan Shea. He entered im
mediately upon a discussion of the
money questiou and his addresfe was
very satisfactory and pleasing to those
of the free silver persuasion. He is a
forcible speaker, is not given to abuse,
and his argument would probably be
considered conclusive bv one of his be
lief. While we do not agree with him
as to the result in case either of the
great parties should come into power,
we concede that the address was a very
able one. He rehearsed the history of
the money question and the effect of
the coinage laws of the United States "
and drew his conclusions in a seem
ingly candid manner. We would be
pleased to hear a discussion between
Mr. Boies and a sound money man be
fore the campaign closes.
A CARD.
Decorah, lowa, Sept. 21, 1896.
Eds. of public opinion:
The clash of interests over the other
officers having become so serious as to
handicap me in my race for the nomi
nation for county attorney, and pre
vent my realizing my full strength, I
desire to say through your columns
that my name will not be presented to
the Republican County Convention
this coming Thursday. I feel very
grateful for the earnest and warm sup
port which my friends have given me
and thank each and every one of them.
I trust that all will give the nominee
of the party their hearty support.
Yours Respectfully,
N. Willett.
THE DIFFERENCE.
The difference between Major McKin
ley and Mr. Bryan is that in one case
Mahomet goes to the Mountain, while
in the other, the mountain goes to Ma
homet; or in other words, Mr. Bryan
hunts for the crowds while Mr. Mc-
Kiuley quietly and in a dignified way,
becoming a candidate for the office of
president of the United States, remains
at his home and receives the crowds
which visit him there.
We Invite Disussions.
We have been asked if we would de
vote some of our space to articles from
our friends of both political persuasions,
to which we cheerfully reply, yes.
Our columns are open to communica
tions from democrats and republicans,
and we will gladly publish articles
brought or sent to us, whether they
favor gold or sliver. Mr. H. A. Bige
low contributes an article this week
which we publish without comment,
thus giving auy of our readers, who
may desire, an opportunity to answer
it.
To the Waukon Fair.
The Decorali City Band have been
engaged to play at the Waukon Fair
next Thursday, and will probably
drive over early that morning. A let
ter from Secretary Hart asks us to tell
the people that they may expect the
best fair ever held in northern lowa.
A good many first-class attractions
have been secured, and an endeavor is
being made to make this year the best
in its history. Let’s all go and make
it “Decorah Day.”