Free silver sparks farm wage clash in a husband wife debate
A Farmer Harve Grimes advocates free coinage claiming wages will fall and wheat and corn prices rise, calculating savings of 500 to 1000 dollars while his wife Jane opposes cheating hired help and questions how cheaper money helps laborers. a neighbor challenges the plan citing Andrew Jackson and wage hardships.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bryan
Jane
F. W
Mexico
BF. W
John
Dave
Boies
Harve Grimes
Wall Street
Declaration of Independence author linked to global currency talk
The article contrasts the author of the Declaration of Independence with William Jennings Bryan. It notes the author urged principled inquiry into market prices of gold across trading countries and to average them, while Bryan condemns adjusting currency to world currencies as disgraceful.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
W. J. Bryan
Bismarck and Bryan Silver Debate Echoes In Press
A Chicago Times Herald commentary argues Bismarck would back silver coinage if helpful to Germany and questions Bryan's free silver stance. It cites German demonetization of silver, Egypt’s contract to coin currency, and a critique of silver supporters. The piece mocks Bryan and questions whether free coinage would truly double farmers and workers’ purchasing power.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mr. Bryan
Bryan
Wvho
Chicago ‘Times-Herald
Bryan on eggs and silver price logic debate
A pamphlet like remark from a Kentucky speech mocks free coinage by claiming a buyer could set egg prices at 25 cents a dozen and silver at 1.29 dollars, arguing such reasoning would push prices up everywhere. The writer labels the speaker a 19th century presidential candidate amid economic critique.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bryan
Ugg
Kentucky
Free coinage of silver harms workers and prices rise
The Cordage Trade Journal argues that Bryan’s claim free silver would help workers is a mystery. Prices would rise first while wages lag or fall, as employers adjust to depreciated dollars and collect outsized debts. The piece warns against 16 to 1 silver coinage and its impact on commerce.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mgr
Bryan
Pilyer
United States
Cordage Trade Journal
Dollar standards and free silver debate in 19th century
Article recounts arguments against demonetizing silver, citing Great Britain’s 100 year history of the double standard and the shift to gold. It notes nations moving to single gold standard, warns that double standards hurt business, and highlights writings on cheap money and laboring class impacts. It ends with references to John Whiske’s Critical Period and the moral of stable money for workers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Iver
Great Britain
Madison
Ind
John Whiske
Economic Rift Over Silver and Egg Production
A fragment argues for action on silver while noting the United States has twice the value of eggs produced as silver. It questions why eggs are not used as a monetary standard, highlighting pricing and debt issues without presenting a clear policy solution.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
United States
Farmers Push Free Coinage to Ease Debts and Hire Labor
The piece portrays western and southern backers of free silver as driven by debt relief and cheaper labor. James Kitchen of Grayson Kentucky explains support as a way to pay debts with less money and to hire farm workers more cheaply if coinage is liberalized. The argument frames free coinage as a test of honesty in policy.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
West
South
Bryan
James Kitchen
Grayson
Pensioner’s dollar and silver coinage questioned
The exchange questions the impact of free coinage at 16 to 1 on pension payments to 970,000 veterans. It criticizes Bryan for dodging how the policy would affect purchasing power and the future value of pensions, urging clear answers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bryan
Milwaukee
An Object Lesson In Silver From Senator Lodge Speech
Senator Lodge argues that the American dollar is a limited gold backed coin, while silver coins circulate in both gold and silver standard countries. He notes Mexico France and China use silver differently and explains why gold standard nations drive silver out of circulation.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
France
United States
Mexico
China
Japan
Senator Lodge
Warning on free coinage risks for farmers with mortgages
The note warns farmers with overdue or soon-renewed mortgages to beware of free coinage. It argues that while dollars may become cheaper like in Mexico, interest will rise to nearly double or match rates in silver standard countries. It urges immediate mortgage payment or studying the interest question before voting on cheap dollars.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mexico
Nothing to eat on the silver question debate
In Detroit Journal dialogue, a satirical exchange questions free silver’s impact on urban workers. Farmers lament lack of markets for produce while the piece mocks political platitudes. It asks how doubling prices under free silver would let city workers buy more, highlighting economic tension and consumer purchasing power.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mollie
Mybody
Detroit Journal
Farmers Real Grievance Lies in Banking in Rural Canada
The article summarizes Mr. Thomas G. Shearman in the London Times arguing that farmer distress stems from lack of proper banking facilities in rural districts. It notes high store credit costs, distant or absent banks, and farmers preferring cheap-money cries over real banking reform, with Canada not sharing the same free silver agitation.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Canada
Scotland
Shearman
United States
Which Dollar Do Democrats Want in 19th Century Debate
A New York World editorial questions which side of the dollar dispute Bryan favors, asking which dollar would prevail for workers or farmers. It contrasts free coinage advocates and western farmers with eastern audiences, noting the tension between wage power and farm debt, and queries which group ultimately bears the price of policy. It also cites a Boston Congregationalist piece on capital and risk, arguing fear of rapid dollar devaluation keeps investment stagnant and prosperity idle.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mr. Bryan
Bryan
West
New York World
The Silver Question In A Nutshell
L Carroll Root argues that government can set a dollar by brick or by metal content but cannot alter real value. He warns that coining bricks as legal tender would inflate or deflate dollars, creating a new parity where one thousand bricks equal one thousand dollars, and that the dollar’s value would be tied to the least valuable standard.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bates
L. Carroll Root
Populist "Sixteen to One" Silver Stamps Debates Wordy Cash Reform
A satirical verse attacks Populists and silver coinage plans, mocking their push to coin silver at sixteen to one. It ridicules sound money rhetoric, predicts fiscal consequences, and suggests political slogans will amount to promises that fade with debts.
Government should grain price fix by Sam Jones
Rev Sam Jones of Georgia warns that if the government owned all mills and Congress passed a law for free grinding, corn at 18 cents a bushel would lead to 60 cents a bushel for meal via government stamps. He argues keeping meal affordable is difficult.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sam Jones
Georgia
Congress
The Bargain Counter Candidate
Reporters describe the candidate as a bargain counter figure who draws attention along the campaign trail. The metaphor contrasts editors and suggests he aims to lower price points, with a quip noting women’s reactions at various stops.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bryan
Pittsburg
Telegraph
Free coinage price effects on farmer and worker
The writer questions whether free coinage can double farmer prices without raising workers' living costs. It criticizes repaying farmer debts with half dollars, implying creditors would lose value if 100 cent dollars were issued.
Also Mentioned on This Page
Silver
Andrew Jackson
Bismarck
Culberson
Texas
Prince Bismarck
Europe
May Bryan
Empire
Prussia
Germany
Egypt
London Economist
Myryan
State Library
Nebraska State Journal
Boston Congregationalist
Rome
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