_James A. Garfield_ (1880): “Whoever controls the volume of currency is absolute master of the industry and commerce of the country.” _Senator Mills_, of Texas (House, February 3, 1886): “But the crime that is now sought to be perpetrated on more than fifty millions of people comes neither from the camp of a conqueror, the hand of a foreigner, nor the altar of an idolator. It comes from the cold, phlegmatic marble heart of avarice—avarice that seeks to paralyze labor, increase the burden of debt, and fill the land with destitution and suffering to gratify the lust for gold—avarice surrounded by every comfort that wealth can command, and rich enough to satisfy every want save that which refuses to be satisfied without the suffocation and strangulation of all the labor of the land. With a forehead that refuses to be ashamed it demands of Congress an act that will paralyze all the forces of production, shut out labor from all employment, increase the burden of debts and taxation, and send desolation and suffering to all the homes of the poor.” _Leland Stanford_ (Senate, March 10, 1890): “An abundance of money means universal activity, bringing in its train all the blessings that belong to a constantly employed, industrious, intelligent people.... Abundant and cheap money places the power in the hands of the industrious.... Cheap and abundant money means co-operation of labor to an extent hitherto unknown.... Would go far towards aiding his [labor’s] intelligence, toward realizing his highest destiny. It seems to me that the great thought of humanity should be how to advance the great multitude of toilers, increase their power of production and elevate their condition.... To me one of the most effective means of placing at man’s disposal the force inherent in the value of property is through furnishing a bountiful supply of money.... If money were suddenly annihilated from all business affairs there would be a general suspension of business all over the country. It is the duty of statesmen to furnish the means, if possible, to find out the way by which the Creator’s design for the highest advance of civilization is to be obtained. Want, discomfort and misery are not necessarily the heritage of the industrious and provident man. So far as I can ascertain, no government has ever attempted to furnish an adequate supply of money or establish any standard by which its want could be ascertained.”